California Science Center

What California Science Center does

The California Science Center, operated by the California Science Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the West Coast's largest hands-on science center, located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. The institution operates as a direct-to-consumer attraction with free general admission to core galleries, including the Ecosystems gallery (featuring a 188,000-gallon Kelp Forest tank), the Life! gallery, and rotating free exhibitions such as GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play. Paid revenue comes from IMAX with Laser ticketed films, special exhibitions (e.g., Mummies of the World at $27.95 adult), on-site parking ($20-$24 per car), a 4,000 sq ft ExploraStore plus online retail, a recurring membership program, private event rentals for up to 6,000 guests, and fundraising events including the annual Discovery Ball.

The center's core product surface includes interactive hands-on exhibits, IMAX 3D documentary screenings, ecosystem simulations, and a curated artifact collection featuring flown spacecraft. Its signature holdings are Space Shuttle Endeavour (donated by NASA), the ET-94 external tank (the last flight-qualified external tank in existence), and loaned artifacts from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum including the Apollo-Soyuz Command Module, Mercury-Redstone 2, and Gemini 11 capsule. The 200,000-square-foot Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, completed in April 2026 and opening November 13, 2026, will house Endeavour in a 184-foot vertical launch configuration alongside the Korean Air Aviation Gallery (a donated Boeing 747-400 fuselage) and the Kent Kresa Space Gallery, making it the only venue globally to display a complete authentic shuttle stack with a flown orbiter.

The business model combines freemium admission (free entry driving footfall, paid add-ons capturing value), a $450M EndeavourLA capital campaign (~410M raised from 900+ donors), and diversified commercial revenue across ticketed experiences, retail, parking, memberships, and event rentals. The center serves over 1.4 million visitors annually, targets families, K-12 school groups, and the general public, and operates education programs serving more than 17,000 youth per year. Distribution is overwhelmingly onsite at Exposition Park, supplemented by group sales, online ticketing, virtual field trips, and a recently added airport-channel partnership at Ontario International Airport.

Name

California Science Center

Legal name

California Science Center Foundation

Website

https://californiasciencecenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The California Science Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Los Angeles, is the West Coast's largest hands-on science center. It serves over 1.4 million annual visitors through free general admission galleries, IMAX, ticketed special exhibitions, and the upcoming Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center housing Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum and Educational Institution

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

Keywords

• Hands-on science exhibits
• Interactive science museum
• STEM education programs
• Aviation and space exhibits
• Science center admissions

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Core exhibit galleries are free to the public, serving as the primary attraction to drive foot traffic. This free admission model encourages repeat visits and broad accessibility.
2. Ticketed Experiences: Revenue generated from IMAX Theater tickets, special exhibition admissions (e.g., Mummies of the World at $27.95 adult/$19.95 child), and combo packages. Service fees of $4 per ticket apply.
3. Parking Fees: On-site parking at $20 until 5pm and $24 after 5pm for cars; $42 for charter buses. All parking revenue remains in Exposition Park.
4. Retail Sales: ExploraStore (4,000 sq ft) and Endeavour Online Store sell educational merchandise, toys, books, apparel, and science-themed gifts.
5. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers offering benefits including discounted IMAX tickets, waived service fees, advance reservation access, parking validations, and exclusive events.
6. Fundraising & Donations: EndeavourLA Campaign raising funds for Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center ($450 million goal, nearly $410 million raised). Annual Discovery Ball gala raising over $1.8 million.
7. Event Rentals: Private event rentals including corporate meetings, weddings, and social events for 40-6,000 guests in various event spaces including Celestial Ballroom, Sky View Terrace, and Garden View Terrace.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The California Science Center operates a hands-on science museum in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, offering free general admission to permanent exhibit galleries (Ecosystems, Life!) alongside paid ticketed experiences including IMAX films, rotating special exhibitions (e.g., Mummies of the World), and educational programs. Its centerpiece is the forthcoming Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center (opening Nov 13, 2026), which will display Space Shuttle Endeavour in a complete vertical launch configuration alongside a Korean Air Boeing 747 gallery.

Product overview

The California Science Center is a hands-on science museum in Los Angeles offering free general admission to its core exhibit galleries including Ecosystems (featuring Kelp Forest, Desert, Poles, and more), Life! (exploring living organisms and genetics), and Air & Space collection. The institution operates the IMAX Theater (ticketed) and presents rotating special ticketed exhibitions including Mummies of the World: The Exhibition and GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play. The major upcoming expansion is the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opening November 13, 2026, which will permanently house Space Shuttle Endeavour in a complete shuttle stack configuration alongside the Korean Air Aviation Gallery (Boeing 747 exhibit), Kent Kresa Space Gallery, and ET-94 External Tank. Additional offerings include Summer Camp programs, Virtual Field Trips, and the ExploraStore retail outlet.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center A 200,000-square-foot, 20-story expansion of the California Science Center opening to the public on November 13, 2026, designed to be the only place in the world to see a complete authentic space shuttle system with a flown orbiter in vertical launch configuration. Features 100 artifacts and 100 hands-on exhibits.
• Korean Air Aviation Gallery Gallery within the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center built around a donated Korean Air Boeing 747-400 aircraft (HL7489), featuring a 70-foot forward fuselage section with interactive cockpits, virtual flight simulations, and cargo hold displays for aviation education.
• Mummies of the World: The Exhibition Ticketed special exhibition featuring over 30 naturally and intentionally preserved human and animal mummies from ancient Egypt, South America, and Europe, including specimens never-before-seen in Los Angeles, with CT scan research, interactive AV experiences, and authentic burial objects.
• GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play Free admission 17,000-square-foot special exhibition celebrating the science of sports and play through interactive challenges in baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, dance, yoga, snowboarding, and climbing, coached by Los Angeles-based mentor athletes.
• IMAX Theater State-of-the-art 7-story IMAX with Laser projection system showing 3D documentaries including Antarctica 3D, Mummies 3D, Blue Whales 3D, and The Blue Angels 3D. Requires paid tickets.
• Ecosystems Gallery Hands-on permanent gallery exploring ecological environments including the 188,000-gallon Kelp Forest tank, Desert, Poles, Rocky Shore, Deep-Sea Vents, Island Zone, River Zone, Rot Room, L.A. Zone, and Global Zone. Included with free general admission.
• Life! Gallery Hands-on permanent gallery exploring what all living things have in common, featuring the Life! Beginnings exhibit on reproduction, development, and genetics, plus Cell Lab and Nikon Small World. Included with free general admission.
• Kent Kresa Space Gallery

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 1.4 million visitors annually
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Korean AirmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Korean Air donated a retired Boeing 747-400 aircraft (HL7489) to the California Science Center, which is being converted into the Korean Air Aviation Gallery within the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. The 70-foot forward fuselage section has been installed as an interactive educational exhibit featuring virtual flight simulations, cockpit exploration, and cargo hold displays. The partnership aims to inspire future generations in aviation and science.
• Keck Medicine of USCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Keck Medicine radiologists conducted high-resolution CT scans on ancient Egyptian mummies (Nes-Hor and Nes-Min) using 320-slice CT scanner, revealing new medical details including possible ancient spinal surgery and dental issues for the Mummies of the World exhibition.
• ZGF ArchitectsmajorTechnology or IntegrationArchitecture firm responsible for designing the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a 200,000 square foot facility featuring column-free diagrid steel structure designed to achieve LEED Silver certification.
• MATT ConstructionmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for construction of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, completing the 4-year building construction in April 2026.
• ArupmajorTechnology or IntegrationEngineering firm for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center project, contributing to the technical engineering of the 20-story vertical launch display structure.
• World Heritage ExhibitionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer of Mummies of the World: The Exhibition, which returned to the California Science Center as the final stop on its international tour in February 2026.
• Los Angeles Dodgers FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for GAME ON! exhibition featuring Los Angeles Dodgers athletes, including Freddie Freeman coaching batting mechanics through the HitTrax training platform.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA donated Space Shuttle Endeavour (orbiter) and ET-94 (external tank) to the California Science Center for permanent display. Endeavour was delivered through Los Angeles streets in 2012 and will be displayed in vertical launch configuration.
• Smithsonian Institution - National Air and Space MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoans spacecraft including Apollo-Soyuz Command Module, Mercury-Redstone 2 capsule, and Gemini 11 capsule to the California Science Center for display in the Kent Kresa Space Gallery.
• Ontario International Airport (ONT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration featuring immersive Kelp Forest video experience in Terminal 4, allowing air travelers to experience Science Center content while waiting for flights.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Cosmosphere: Hutchinson, Kansas space-focused museum with flown spacecraft including Liberty Bell 7; a smaller but more space-specialized peer competing for the same aerospace-curious visitor.

Direct peers

• Liberty Science Center: New Jersey-based interactive science center with IMAX dome and rotating exhibitions; comparable scale, family/school audience, and exhibit-driven revenue model.
• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: NYC museum housing Space Shuttle Enterprise; direct comparable in operating a NASA-donated orbiter exhibit within an aviation/maritime museum setting.
• Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago): One of the largest hands-on science museums in the US, comparable in scale, exhibit-driven business model, and educational programming targeting families and school groups.
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: NASA-flavored visitor complex in Florida featuring Space Shuttle Atlantis; directly comparable in mission (commercialized space education/entertainment) and in monetizing iconic NASA hardware.
• The Franklin Institute: Philadelphia-based hands-on science museum with IMAX theater and rotating special exhibitions; comparable operating model combining free/paid exhibits, IMAX, and education programs.
• Discovery Place: Charlotte-based science museum operating IMAX and hands-on exhibits; comparable in operating model (memberships, field trips, IMAX, special exhibitions) at a similar mid-major scale.
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: The federal air and space museum, direct peer in operating aerospace-flavored exhibits at massive scale; houses flown spacecraft and is a benchmark destination for the same space-curious visitor.

Regional players

• Exploratorium: San Francisco hands-on science center; closest West Coast geographic peer with a similar interactive-exhibit model, though differentiated by its Pier 15 location and adult-leaning programming.
• Pacific Science Center: Seattle-based science center with IMAX theater and family-focused exhibits; a US West Coast peer serving a similar demographic mix of families and school groups.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/casciencecenter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CalScience
• Facebookfacebook.com/californiasciencecenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/californiasciencecenter
• TikToktiktok.com/@californiasciencecenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-science-center

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Science Center