The Exploratorium

The founder of the Exploratorium, Frank Oppenheimer, was a physicist and educator driven by a mission to change how the world learns. Oppenheimer’s approach involved creating a museum described as “a mad scientist’s penny arcade, a scientific funhouse, and an experimental laboratory all rolled into one.” This institution pioneered participatory exhibits fostering informal learning. The Exploratorium has become a global prototype for museums engaging the public in understanding science and the world around them.