San Francisco museums are now allowed to operate at 50% capacity under the city's current ‘Yellow' tier status, but the tier system will hopefully be a thing of the past when SF’s favorite waterfront museum reopens. In news reported by KQED Thursday morning, and since confirmed on the museum’s website, the Exploratorium will reopen July 1.

 

“The past year has really highlighted how important it is to engage with topics of science, and the Exploratorium makes learning playful and fun for all,” Exploratorium executive director Chris Flink said in a statement to the Chronicle. “We have missed our visitors tremendously, and we’re looking forward to offering everyone a safe and celebratory experience.”

 

According to the museum’s new guidelines, proof of negative test or vaccination will not be required. Masks will still be mandatory indoors, as well as six-foot social distancing. But the famed Tactile Dome will not be open, and school field trips will still be suspended until further notice.

But many of your old Exploratorium faves will be back. The Giant Mirror is still on loan there from the Smithsonian, plus the Anti-Gravity Mirror and Kirsten Berg’s Burning Man installation Compound Eye/i will resume their residencies. The newest installation Aperture Lucida also returns, though with limited hours on weekdays.

It might not be a coincidence that July 1 falls on a Thursday. The museum’s Thursday night After Dark series also returns that night with After Dark: Reopening Night! for the popular happy hour cocktail revelry.