A New Chapter for the Fleet

The Fleet has officially stepped into a new chapter, and we’re bringing San Diego with us! With the completion of the second phase of the Science Starts Here Capital Campaign, the museum has transformed its flagship experience in Balboa Park, creating new spaces, expanding access, and offering more opportunities for San Diegans to connect with the power of science than ever before.

Designed with the community in mind, the renovation reimagines how visitors experience STEM, ensuring the Fleet remains a hub for scientific exploration and innovation for generations to come.

Since officially opening our new doors to the public on our Grand Reopening Weekend in June, San Diegans have flooded the halls to explore the reimagined Fleet. The energy is immediate. Families gather under the soaring ceilings, children dart from exhibit to exhibit, and conversations about STEM ignite in every corner of the room.

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Children flock to the trolley tubes exhibit to send colorful balls flying through a giant pneumatic map inspired by the San Diego MTS transit system. They speed past Ocean Beach and Little Italy and across town through Hillcrest and Barrio Logan, and howls of laughter fill the room as learning, curiosity, and joy intertwine.

The discovery continues in the new rotunda exhibit, Mindbender Mansion, where visitors roam from the map room to the library, to the parlor and back around again, gathering secret clues for a chance to join the exclusive and elusive Mindbender Society. Children frantically work together to load a tray before it reaches the end of the conveyor belt to retrieve their third clue, while adults on the other side of the mansion methodically organize color-coded puzzle pieces to gather their first. Teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation prove paramount for all visitors of the mansion, presenting San Diegans with a unique experience and unforgettable memories.

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Downstairs, visitors are met with an atmosphere unlike any other at the Fleet. Under dimmed lights, stars from galaxies near and far illuminate the space through some of the highest quality images of the cosmos ever captured. The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Exhibit, presented by Royal Museums Greenwich, offers visitors a respite from the excitement of the floors above. A space for reflection, exploration, and out-of-this-world observation, this exhibit provides young adventurers and adults alike an opportunity to travel beyond our building into unknown galaxies.

After embarking on new adventures, explorers gather in Element 8 Cafe. Fresh-brewed local coffee, hearty quinoa bowls drizzled with maple miso glazes, and the Fleet’s park-famous ice cream help visitors cool down, recharge, and reconnect before heading back into the museum.

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The renovation did more than just add new exhibits and a new dining experience, however. It reimagined how visitors move through the entire museum. The entrance was restored to its original location outside the IMAX® Giant Dome Theater, and a dedicated space was carved out for theater queuing and concessions. This reorganization created space for the new entrance gallery, which has been made free to the public in a monumental step toward STEM accessibility.

Throughout the museum, the Fleet has also revamped fan-favorite exhibit pieces to improve accessibility, including new features that make hands-on learning easier for young children and guests with mobility needs. Every change was made with the same goal in mind: helping more people experience science in ways that are engaging and empowering.

“This transformation represents our dedication to the community and to connecting San Diegans to the power of science for generations to come,” said Steve Snyder, President and CEO of the Fleet Science Center. “By investing in our flagship experience here in Balboa Park, we are deepening our commitment to the almost half a million students, adults, and families that visit the center 363 days each year to engage with science.”

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The completion of this second phase represents a major milestone in the Science Starts Here Capital Campaign. Following the modernization of the Heikoff Giant Dome IMAX® Theater in 2023, and in the years to come, the development of two permanent exhibits, this phase is one part of a larger vision for the Fleet. Together, these investments reflect the Fleet’s dedication to the community, and to ensuring STEM access for all San Diegans for generations to come.