Here is a round up of three of the biggest pieces of news from San Francisco this year
1. The New Exploratorium opened on Piers 15 and 17 of the city’s northern waterfront at Embarcadero and Green streets this year.
The museum of sciences, art and human perception features 150 new exhibits, a Bay observatory, outdoor gallery and free civic space.
2. Aquarium of the Bay opened a new permanent exhibit this summer entitled Otters: Watershed Ambassadors.
Based at pier 39 it revolves around North American river otters and will educate guests about the importance of the health and conservation of natural resources.
River otters were chosen as the ambassador species for this conservation issue because they depend on healthy watersheds to survive. The new exhibit features three otters—Shasta, Tubbs and Wildcat—in freshwater pools of varying depths stocked with minnows and crayfish, plenty of dry land and dig pits for the otters to enjoy.
3. This year San Francisco became home to the world’s largest LED sculpture to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Bay Bridge.
The Bay Lights was installed on the western span and is viewable from San Francisco and points north, but not by drivers crossing the bridge.
Measuring 1.8-miles-long and 500-feet-high, the high-tech light sculpture design features 25,000 individually programmable, energy-efficient LED lights mounted on the bridge’s vertical cables.
The Bay Lights will remain on the bridge for two years and is projected to add $97 million to the local economy and displays take place every day from dusk to 2am.