PIER 39 Competitors

Most people know that the National Park Service cares for national parks, a network of over 420 natural, cultural and recreational sites across the nation. The treasures in this system – the first of its kind in the world – have been set aside by the American people to preserve, protect, and share the legacies of this land. People from all around the world visit national parks to experience America's story, marvel at the natural wonders, and have fun. Places like the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Gettysburg are popular destinations, but so too are the hundreds of lesser known yet equally meaningful gems like Rosie the Riveter in California, Boston Harbor Islands in Massachusetts, and Russell Cave in Alabama. The American system of national parks was the first of its kind in the world, and provides a living model for other nations wishing to establish and manage their own protected areas. The park service actively consults with these Nations, sharing what we've learned, and gaining knowledge from the experience of others. Beyond national parks, the National Park Service helps communities across America preserve and enhance important local heritage and close-to-home recreational opportunities. Grants and assistance are offered to register, record and save historic places; create community parks and local recreation facilities; conserve rivers and streams, and develop trails and greenways.

The Exploratorium is the global leader in informal learning, designed to ignite curiosity and inspire creativity in people of all ages. The world-renowned science museum creates original, interactive exhibits, on display at more than 1,000 science centers, museums and public spaces around the world. Dedicated to education reform in and out of the classroom, the Exploratorium is a premier professional development center for educators and a creator of award-winning educational resources. Since 1969, the Exploratorium has influenced generations of entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, teachers, students, children, museum professionals and everyday doers, reaching nearly 200 million people annually from around the globe. In the spring of 2013, the Exploratorium will move to Pier 15 in the heart of San Francisco's waterfront district, where it will celebrate a new era of experiences that encourage critical thinking and awaken wonder for generations to come. Founded in 1969 by Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, our mission is to create a culture of learning through innovative environments, programs, and tools that help people nurture their understanding about the world around them. We believe that following your curiosity and asking questions can lead to amazing moments of discovery, learning, and awareness, and can increase confidence in your ability to understand how the world works. We also believe that being playful and having fun is an important part of the process for people of all ages.

Located on San Francisco's Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf, Aquarium of the Bay provides an inspiring window to San Francisco Bay's diverse ecosystem and wildlife. We share our conservation message with over half a million local and international visitors each year. In addition to inspiring and empowering the public to protect and restore San Francisco Bay and its watershed, we provide an array of education programs to Bay Area kindergarten through high school students focused on expanding watershed and environmental literacy. Aquarium of the Bay is a non-profit institution, Smithsonian Affiliate, accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and certified as a Green Business by the city of San Francisco. OUR MISSION Enabling conversations on climate resilience and ocean conservation globally, while inspiring actionable change locally by protection and preservation of the San Francisco Bay and its ecosystems, from Sierra to the sea™. OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY Our education programs strive to motivate, inform, and empower people to make choices that benefit our environment by demonstrating how their actions can have positive results. As a founding member of the San Francisco Bay Area Sustainable Seafood Alliance, Aquarium of the Bay is committed to educating our guests about sustainable seafood and the impact of personal choice. We take a leading role in promoting and enhancing the sustainable seafood movement in the Bay Area and actively recruiting new restaurants to join the Alliance.