Letter from
the Chairman
of the Board
community-based programming. We take our goal of changing
the way the world learns seriously, and we are gratified that
you believe in our work and have a joint stake in our success.
We truly appreciate your support. We’re proud to be the
centerpiece of a waterfront renaissance—an important part
of the renewal of one of San Francisco’s most vibrant urban
areas. The outpouring of generosity from our donors has been
nothing short of phenomenal, transcending expectations and
generations.
Dear Donors and Friends,
A decade of planning, countless hours of work, and
unflinching dedication by our community of donors have
finally come to fruition. It took everyone’s help to make it
happen, but with your incredible support, we’ve done it!
Our new home at Pier 15 opened on April 17 with
excitement and fanfare, featuring everything from a
high-profile dedication ceremony with San Francisco
Mayor Ed Lee, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, and other
dignitaries to celebrations and presentations that revealed
the creativity of this remarkable institution. The response
from the public and the press has been overwhelmingly
enthusiastic, and we are ecstatic to be so well received.
Besides showcasing our new home, our grand opening
gave us a chance to continue to demonstrate why the
Exploratorium is a uniquely valuable institution, not
just for our local community, but also for a worldwide
audience. Already, our influence extends throughout the
Bay Area and around the globe—as it should. Our new
home is a platform that allows us to multiply our impact—
through teacher professional development; exhibit
development for global institutions; and new, unique
Donors at every level contributed to our new home and
continue to show their enthusiasm by participating in ways we
could never have imagined, becoming part of the deep content
research, innovation, and dynamic programming that makes
this place truly one of a kind. Like our audience and staff,
our donors are becoming more and more a part of our active
community. You want to know what’s going on, see what’s next,
be a part of it. And that’s what we want, too. No matter when
you come, there will be something new and special. We hope
you will visit us often, whether for a Thursday evening “date
night” at our adults-only After Dark series, on a weekend with
your family, or at one of our many lectures and forums.
Whether you are attracted to our work in the arts, sciences, or
education—or the intersection of all three—we want you to feel
welcome at the Exploratorium. This is your home as much as
it is ours. We wouldn’t be here today without your generous
support. With our ongoing partnership, we can make the
Exploratorium’s extraordinary vision a reality.
We are grateful for your support and participation and excited
to see what the future holds. The work we do is vital. We hope
you’ll be there with us as we lead the way forward.
Sincerely,
George W. Cogan
Chairman, Board of Directors