Constructed as a temporary attraction for the 1915 Pan-Pacific International Exhibition, this Grecian temple of a monument continues to enchant and enhance the city. The original plaster, which made up the bulk of the monuments exterior, has been gradually replaced with funds raised by bond measures and the donations from the Marinas well-heeled residents who were loath to lose such a graceful part of their landscape. EXPLORATORIUM: Developed by physicist Frank Oppenheimer and opened in 1969, this innovative, interactive museum, located behind the Palace of Fine Arts, is dedicated to art, science, and human perception. The hands-on displays unveil the mysteries of science and language (trace hundreds of languages through family trees!). The exhibits present theories simply and succinctly. For a different kind of hands-on experience, check out the tactile dome, a labyrinth of different textures that explorers negotiate in the dark. Seminars on quirky subjects are offered on weekends. .Wed July 2nd, 2008 is also a free day.

Fun, hands-on Science Museum

Founded in 1969 by noted physicist and educator Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, the Exploratorium houses a playful array of over 650 hands-on science, art, and human perception exhibits. From salt volcanos and bubble bombs to fault lines and frogs, the line up tests imaginations young and old. Just the building itself, a palatial domed structure left from the San Francisco Pan Pacific Exhibition of 1916, is worth a visit.