Long Lines and Long Waits: Free California Academy of Sciences grand opening draws big crowds September 28, 2008
Posted by californiabeat in San Francisco.Tags: California Academy of Sciences, crowds, Golden Gate Park, Living Roof, long lines, Opening Weekend, Rainforest
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By Tim Jue / Beat Staff Writer
Photo: Chronicle/SFGate.com
If there’s anything as an event being too successful, today’s grand opening at the new California Academy of Sciences building in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park could have been described as such. There were throngs of people out there – 35,000 visitors, according to the museum staff – who hoped to get their chance to see the new living rooftop and partake in the offer of a free admission into the new facility.
Residents in the nearby Sunset District of the city (it neighbors Golden Gate Park) said that traffic in the area was just abysmal, that it took hours just to get past the gridlock on the city streets surrounding the park. Transit buses and streetcars on the San Francisco MUNI system were all packed. They too were stuck in the traffic congestion in the streets.
In the gigantic line to get into the museum, visitors reported being in a mile-long line for hours and having museum staff turn them away because there were just too many people in the building. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that some folks waited for more than five hours to get their chance to get inside the building.
“By 1 p.m. 5,000 patient ones were inside, and at least 25,000 more were in line,” The Chronicle reported. ”The staff estimated that 20,000 might get in before closing time at 9 p.m. and suggested the rest would only be taking a chance if they waited – or they could come back on the next free admission day, Oct. 15.”
Some folks who were in line had come from out of state, scheduling their visit to San Francisco to coincide with the opening of the museum. They were peeved that they didn’t get to see it.
It was a different story inside. There were dancers, music by live bands and speeches from politicians eager to welcome the crowd.
The hilly “living rooftop” also proved to be a major hit. Folks made a point to see the new albino alligator, which awed youngsters who said they’d never seen a thing like it ever before.
So, what do you think?
If you’re one of those lucky ones who made it in, or part of everyone else who didn’t, please leave your comment on this post and tell us about your experience. You can also e-mail us your story, photos and video, and we’ll post it up on our Share Your Story section this week.
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New California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park opens Saturday
it was intense. I live in the Inner Sunset and Lincoln way was a parking lot as was 9th avenue. There were heroic efforts to deal with the influx, but they should have barred left turns on Irving and 9th to make things go a little faster.
That said, I think it is AWESOME a science center creates this much interest from people around the bay area. and the fact these folks spent money at local businesses in the Inner Sunset was great too…sure it was a bit inconvenient but God bless the citizens of the yay area for coming out for science!