CuriOdyssey facts for kids
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| Date opened | 1954 |
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| Location | San Mateo, California |
| Land area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Coordinates | 37°35′12″N 122°19′03″W / 37.586554°N 122.317636°W |
| No. of animals | 100 |
| Annual visitors | 75,000 |
| Memberships | AZA |
CuriOdyssey is a cool science museum and zoo located in San Mateo, California. It's a place where you can learn about science and meet amazing animals!
This special spot is home to almost 100 rescued animals. Most of these animals are native to California. They live at CuriOdyssey because they can't survive on their own in the wild. The museum also has lots of fun, hands-on science exhibits. You can play and discover how science works!
CuriOdyssey is part of important groups like the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It also helps families through the Museums for All program. This program offers free or low-cost entry to families who qualify.
Contents
History of CuriOdyssey
CuriOdyssey has had a few different names over the years. It was once called the Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education, and before that, just Coyote Point Museum. It first opened in 1954 as the San Mateo County Junior Museum. Back then, it was in a simple building called a Quonset hut.
The museum is located at 1651 Coyote Point Drive in San Mateo, California. It's part of the Coyote Point Recreation Area, which has great views of the San Francisco Bay.
In 1974, it was renamed "Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education." The main museum building that you see today opened in 1981. Then, in 1991, the museum added its wildlife exhibits. These exhibits showed live animals that represent the different natural areas of San Mateo County.
In 2006, the museum faced some money problems. But the community stepped in to help! A group called "Campaign to Save Coyote Point Museum" worked hard to raise money. They collected over $540,000 from many donors. This effort helped save the museum.
In 2007, Rachel Meyer became the new executive director. She helped the museum focus on young children. The goal was to give kids direct, exciting experiences with science and nature. On January 15, 2011, the museum officially changed its name to CuriOdyssey.
In 2013, CuriOdyssey added two public art pieces. One has over 200 pinwheels on the outside of the building. They show how the wind moves at Coyote Point. The other art piece has more than 100 weather vanes.
Explore the Exhibits
CuriOdyssey offers many ways to learn about science and nature. Young visitors can explore, discover, and interact with the natural world around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Hands-On Science Fun
- Science Exhibits: There are more than 50 hands-on science exhibits. These are made just for young visitors and their families. You can experiment with things like gravity, light, and how things move. It's a great way to learn by doing!
Amazing Wildlife Habitats
- Wildlife Habitats and Animal Ambassadors: CuriOdyssey has about 20 natural-looking habitats. These are home to nearly 100 animals that cannot be released back into the wild. You might see a bobcat, a river otter, Virginia opossum, snakes, golden eagles, gray fox, turtles, owls, western toad, turkey vultures, and raccoons. You can even go through a tunnel to see inside some animal dens! On weekends, keepers introduce you to "Animal Ambassadors." These are special education animals, like birds of prey or snakes, that you can sometimes even touch!
- Aviary: This is a large, walk-through area that's about 4,000 square feet. It's home to over a dozen native California birds that also can't live in the wild. You can walk right through their home!
- Gardens: The museum has about 1.3 acres of gardens. These gardens mostly feature plants native to California. There's even a special garden for hummingbirds and a habitat for butterflies.
Educational Programs
CuriOdyssey offers many hands-on programs for schools and groups. These programs focus on science and nature. They also have programs for everyone to help visitors explore and learn about the natural world. The CuriOdyssey Mobile Museum and Animal Ambassadors sometimes visit public parks and schools. This way, they can share their amazing animals and science fun with even more people!
Gallery
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CuriOdyssey Indoor Science Exhibits
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Entrance to CuriOdyssey
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Colorful Science for Kids
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