Frequently Asked Questions
BOLD: Spark Curiosity, Inspire Innovation, is the campaign to raise funds for the Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM)’s campus renovation. The name BOLD reflects both the bold vision with which BADM was founded, and the bold vision we have today for the future of our community’s children.
The goal of the BOLD campaign is to reimagine the museum’s campus so that all BADM audiences have an innovative 21st century experience on-site. The financial goal of BOLD is to raise $18.5 million, to bring this vision to life.
Yes! BADM will remain open throughout renovation. Over the length of renovation, we will be installing five new exhibits and adding additional visitor amenities. Renovation will happen in phases, so keep visiting to experience our progress and enjoy our new exhibits as they open.
- A new, bigger Lookout Cove boat
- The new Try It Studio, which will house a new exhibit and BADM’s high-tech WorkShop
- A new classroom space for schoolchildren participating in our award-winning STEM programs
- New Bay-themed and Forest-themed exhibits in our toddler-only space, Tot Spot
- A new How Things Work exhibit that removes the outer shell of household objects to reveal their inner workings and inspire children’s curiosity
- Gumnut Grove, a new outdoor exhibit for older children ages 5-10
Renovations are underway. The first building to be renovated is currently unused, and so all of BADM’s exhibits will remain open as this building is updated.
Renovation will be staggered as we install five new exhibits and add additional visitor amenities. During renovation, certain non-exhibit spaces will be transformed to host temporary exhibits, so that children of all ages can have the engaging, creative experiences expected from a BADM visit. Join us to experience all of our updates as they happen!
Will there be opportunities to explore exhibits before they temporarily close for renovation?
ExpandWe will always communicate to our visitors in advance of an exhibit closing, so that they have plenty of opportunity to visit the space before it is transformed. When an exhibit is temporarily closed, our Front Desk staff is always available to recommend alternative spaces to visit.
In the last 10 years, research into early learning has shown that children ages 0-10 are capable of more complex thinking than previously believed. In order for BADM to be the best resource possible for the children, families, and educators who make up our audience, we recognized that we needed to update and modernize our exhibits to reflect this new understanding. Our new exhibits will be expertly designed, visually outstanding spaces where children can explore and engage in creative activities that build age-appropriate learning skills.
Additionally, the last significant renovation of any buildings on BADM’s campus was in 2004, when the museum welcomed 225,000 visitors. In the 14 years since, our visitorship has grown by 55 percent to 350,000, but there have not been significant updates to the site.
In addition to on-site signage, we will be communicating renovation updates—such as temporary closures, new exhibit openings, and more—to our visitors via our museum emails. If you are not already subscribed to our email list, please sign up today.
All renovation activity will take place behind secure fencing, and we are following all OSHA regulations.
We encourage you to visit BADM throughout renovation, to learn more about the project and visit new exhibits as they open. We need the support of our community to make this project possible, and if you would like to contribute to the campaign, please visit our donate page.