Want a fun celebration for Pi Day?
On Thursday, March 14, 2019, the Exploratorium will celebrate the 32nd Pi Day, an annual celebration of the mathematical constant and never-ending number—and Albert Einstein’s birthday—invented by the non-profit institution.
The Exploratorium will open its doors to the community in honor of the celebration, asking visitors to pay what they wish for entry between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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Over the course of the day, Pi-themed activities will be offered throughout the museum, including demonstrations, discussion by Exploratorium educators, a traditional procession to the museum’s Pi Shrine, live music by Pi Day band “Mission Delirium,” and slices of fruit pie. The museum’s ongoing adult-only program, After Dark, will continue the exuberant Pi-themed celebration from 6 to 10 p.m.
“At the Exploratorium, we celebrate learning through play and creating learning experiences that help us make sense of the world around us,” says Chris Flink, the Exploratorium’s Sakurako and William Fisher Executive Director. “Pi Day really brings these ideals to life. It’s our 50th anniversary year and our 32nd Pi Day, and we are excited to share our history and creative traditions with the community.”
Pi Day was initiated at the Exploratorium by the late staff physicist, tinkerer, and media specialist, Larry Shaw. Shaw also created and installed the “Pi Shrine,” site of the annual Pi procession at the museum. Staff and visitors form a line and wind around the museum towards the Shrine. The procession ends with all participants circumnavigating the Pi Shrine 3.14 times while singing “Happy Birthday” to Albert Einstein.
An annual tradition for Exploratorium staff and visitors, Pi Day has grown into a worldwide event that is celebrated by math lovers and educators across the globe. In March 2009, Pi Day became an official U.S. national holiday. Pi Day is one of five Community Days at the Exploratorium, during which visitors are invited to pay what they wish. Museum entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Community Pi Day
Thursday, March 14, 2019 • 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
All Ages
Note: On March 14, we look to fans of Pi Day to support our work, ideally in denominations of Pi. During our Community Days visitors pay what they wish for entry, and museum entry is on a first-come, first-served basis. Entry is subject to capacity; admission is not guaranteed. We don’t accept group or field trip reservations; group entry is discouraged due to large crowds.
Welcome to the 32st annual Pi Day, the mathematical holiday founded at the Exploratorium and celebrated by number lovers around the world. To honor the never-ending number 3.14159… (and Einstein’s birthday), we’ll serve up Pi-themed activities, rituals, antics, and plenty of pie. Find out what’s so special about this famous mathematical constant, and take your (decimal) place in our annual march to the Pi Shrine!
About the Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a portal to the astonishing scientific phenomena that animate our world and shape our actions. We create extraordinary learning experiences that ignite curiosity, upend perceptions, and inspire brave leaps forward.
Since 1969, the Exploratorium’s museum at Pier 15 in San Francisco has been home to a renowned collection of exhibits that draw together science, art, and human perception, and that have helped change the way science is taught. Our award-winning programs provide a forum for the public to engage with artists, scientists, policy-makers, educators, and tinkerers to explore the world around them. We celebrate diversity of thought, inspired investigation, and collaboration across all boundaries.
Open Hours : Open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m Tuesday through Sunday; 6:00–10:00 p.m. every Thursday night (ages 18+). Closed Mondays except select Monday holidays. Easily accessible by BART and Muni. Ample parking nearby. For directions. For tickets and pricing information.
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