What's New and Upcoming Events
Nikon Small World
August 27 - October 17, 2010
For a limited time at The Tech Museum, guests can experience the intersection of science and art normally unseen by the naked eye in the 35th Annual Nikon Small World Museum Tour.Nikon Small World recognizes the best professional and amateur photomicrographers, all of whom are dedicated to furthering creativity and excellence in photography through the microscope. The exhibition features 20 award-winning photomicrographs - including an anglerfish ovary, cotton fibers and fish scales - that have been shown at museums and science centers throughout the United States and Canada.
The Tech Challenge Gallery
New Permanent Gallery now open!
The Tech Challenge Gallery: Inspiring the Innovator in Everyone, the West Coast's only permanent exhibition featuring Bay Area students who use video to teach visitors a range of simple science concepts from magnetism to levers to circuitry.The gallery, uniquely developed without labels, is the first of its kind to have students describe science principles in their own words. Visitors can test their own knowledge using twenty clever, hands-on exhibits.
The Tech Challenge, a signature program of The Tech Museum, is an annual team challenge, for youth in 5th-12th grades, introduces and reinforces the scientific process with a hands-on project geared to solve a real-world problem.
NEW Fall Schedule!
Segway Tours presented by Silicon Segway
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Tours now available.*
The capital of Silicon Valley now has a one-of-a-kind way to tour it! Atop your Segway Personal Transporter, you will experience downtown San Jose in a whole new way. After a brief training session, riders will enjoy a guided tour of downtown sites and the Guadalupe River Trail nature area. Tours are now available Thursday through Sunday for groups of 2 or more. To book your Segway tour please call Group Reservations at (408) 294-TECH (8324).
- Maximum attendance per tour: 6 guests (minimum of 2 required per tour)
- Minimum age: Must be at least 16 years of age.
- Weight Limit: Min 100 lbs /Max 260 lbs
- Time: Saturdays at 10am and 2pm. Sundays at 2pm.
- Program Length: 3 hours (includes training session).
- Location: The Tech Museum (Group Entrance)
- Cost: $75 per rider
Invention at Play
New special exhibition now open for a limited time.
Explore the playful side of invention and the inventive side of play in this unique hands-on exhibit. Learn more about the creative process of actual inventors.
Developed by the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
Genghis Khan: The ExhibitionHurry! Time is running out.
Exhibition closes October 24!
Discover the innovation, technological mastery, and culture of one of the world's greatest and most misunderstood conquerors in this one-of-a-kind exhibition.
Learn about the two faces of Genghis Khan: Conqueror Statesman. Khan's infamous brutality is well known, but there is another side of the man who formed the first united Mongol nation.
View more than 200 artifacts - many of which have never been outside Mongolia.
For more info on the Genghis Khan: The Exhibition click here.
The Tech Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery
New permanent gallery opens this September!
This September, visit The Tech Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery and experience unique hands-on exhibits in the exciting world of digital art, maps and nanotechnology!Better than any other place, Silicon Valley makes the machines that revolutionize human thought, creativity and communication. The Tech Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery shows how computers not only bring knowledge to everyone, but also empower people to create together. Discover how Silicon Valley's inventions have revolutionized all human endeavors, including art, geography, communications, math and science.
01SJ Biennial
September 16-19, 2010
01SJ is about how powerful ideas and innovative individuals from around the world can make a difference and come together to build a unique and distributed city-wide platform for creative solutions and public engagement.Under the theme "Build Your Own World," ZER01, in collaboration with dozens of partners, will present over the course of 4 days, from September 16-19, hundreds of artworks, performances, events, and artist talks, which not only imagine the future of the world) but begin to build it.
For more information, visit http://01sj.org/.
San José Mexican Heritage and Mariachi Festival
September 15-26, 2010
Now in its 19th year, the San José Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival presents a weeklong schedule of music and educational events. The Tech Museum will be showing five documentaries and films at the Hackworth IMAX Theater on the following dates:- Monday, September 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. - La Misma Luna
- Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. - Cruz Reynoso: Sowing the Seeds of Justice and Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano
- Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. - Cartas a Elena
- Friday, September 24, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. - The Storm That Swept Mexico
San Francisco Latino Film Festival
September 16-28, 2010
The San Francisco Latino Film Festival is an annual showcase of the work from emerging and established filmmakers from the United States, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. The Tech Museum is proud to partner with the festival and will be showing a selected film at the Hackworth IMAX Theater on Thursday, September 23, 2010.
Visit http://www.sflatinofilmfestival.com for more information.
The Tech Challenge Info Clinics
Once you've registered for The Tech Challenge, a signature program of The Tech Museum, be sure to attend one of the upcoming informational clinics. They are tons of fun and participating will help your team be in top shape for the final Event Day!
September 25, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. - Kick-off Info Clinic
October 9-10 and 23-24 at 10:30 a.m. - Info Clinics
October 9-10 and 23-24 at 12:30 p.m. - Advisor Training
October 9 and 10 at 12:30 p.m. - Team Workshops
The Great ShakeOut
October 21, 2010
This October, The Tech Museum will serve as the "EPIcenter" (education & public information center) in Northern California's annual "ShakeOut" preparedness drill. As the key ShakeOut venue, the museum will be staged to carry out the "drop, cover, hold on" drill in three museum locations at exactly 10:21 a.m.
The Great California ShakeOut is a day of special events featuring the largest earthquake drill ever, organized to inspire Californians to get ready for big earthquakes, and to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes.
ScholarShare Free Second Sunday at The Tech Museum
Enjoy Free admission to our regular galleries every second Sunday.
The next Second Sunday is Sunday, September 12.
Sponsored by the ScholarShare College Savings Plan, California's official 529 Plan and Fidelity Investments.Carefully consider the Plan's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For this information, contact Fidelity for a Fact Kit. Read it carefully before investing. If you are not a California resident, check with your home state to learn if it offers tax or other benefits for investing in its 529 plan. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 300 Puritan Way, Marlborough, MA 01752.
Museums on Us
September 4 and 5
Presented by Bank of America
Bank of America Cardholders, get one free admission when you show your Bank of America ATM credit or check card with a photo ID during the first full weekend of every month.
The Tech Challenge
April 30, 2010
Trash Island: The Great Pacific Gyre
The Tech Challenge is an annual team design challenge for youth in grades 5 through 12. A signature program of The Tech Museum, the challenge introduces and reinforces the scientific process with a hands-on project geared to solve a real-world problem.
Register your team today at http://techchallenge.thetech.org/
National Robotics Week
April 9-17, 2011
National Robotics Week, which occurs annually on the second full week of April, recognizes the transformative role of robotics technology, the ability of robotics to inspire and educate, and the need to underscore technology education at all levels.The Tech Museum is proud to partner with National Robotics Week 2011. Join us for exciting hands-on activities and much more!
Space Week
May 2011
The Tech Museum is excited to be a part of Space Week once again. Last year, guests had the opportunity to meet the people who built the Hubble Telescope, featured in IMAX Hubble, NASA scientists, and learn the science behind the Space Shuttle. We also premiered the popular IMAX Hubble.Be sure to join us next year for more exciting space activities!