The California Science Center in Exposition Park is one of the best free museums in Los Angeles, and it is about to get a lot more famous. On November 13, 2026, the museum opens the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, where Space Shuttle Endeavour stands upright in launch position, about 20 stories tall, with its external tank and twin rocket boosters. It is the only complete, authentic space shuttle stack on display anywhere in the world.
General admission is free, and the hands-on galleries are a hit with kids. This guide explains how to see Endeavour, how reservations work, what else is inside and how to plan your day in Exposition Park.
In this guide
For more ideas with children, see things to do in Los Angeles with kids.
California Science Center at a glance
- Address: 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles
- Admission: free general admission; timed reservations strongly encouraged
- Reservation fee: $4 per person (members exempt)
- Endeavour: on view in the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center from November 13, 2026
- Typical hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; check the website before you go
- Nearest Metro: Expo Park/USC station on the E Line
Seeing Space Shuttle Endeavour
Endeavour flew 25 missions between 1992 and 2011, including the first mission to start building the International Space Station. It arrived in Los Angeles in 2012 with a famous slow-motion parade through city streets, and it was displayed lying flat in a temporary pavilion until the end of 2023. Since then, crews have stacked the orbiter with a real external tank and solid rocket boosters inside a new building.
The new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opens on November 13, 2026. Highlights include:
- The Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery: Endeavour in vertical launch position, with walkways at several heights.
- A gantry-style elevator that rises alongside the shuttle stack.
- A replica flight deck you can explore.
- The Shuttle Descent Slide: a 45-foot slide with the sounds of a shuttle landing.
- The Korean Air Aviation Gallery on the science of flight.
- The Kent Kresa Space Gallery on space exploration.
Reservations and tickets
General admission to the California Science Center is free, but timed reservations are strongly encouraged, especially in the first months after the Air and Space Center opens. A $4 per person reservation service fee applies; members do not pay it and get priority access.
Reservation tips
- Book online on the Science Center’s website, or call (213) 744-2019.
- One booking can include up to 19 people per entry time; groups of 20 or more must call.
- Expect high demand from opening day through the holidays. Weekday mornings are the easiest times to get.
- IMAX films and some special exhibitions are ticketed separately.
Other galleries to see
The rest of the museum is packed with interactive exhibits, and you can easily spend half a day:
- Ecosystems: a 188,000-gallon kelp forest tank with fish and sharks, a walk-through tunnel and a desert flash-flood demonstration.
- World of Life: how living things work, from cells to the human body.
- Creative World: how people build things, from houses to transportation and communication.
- Discovery Rooms: hands-on areas for younger kids.
- Air and Space exhibits: aircraft and spacecraft hang throughout the building.
The High Wire Bicycle, where you pedal across a cable three stories above the floor, is a long-running favorite (separate small fee).
The IMAX theater
The Science Center’s IMAX theater has a seven-story screen and shows science and nature films. Tickets are sold separately and can be added to your reservation.
Getting there and parking
The California Science Center is in Exposition Park, south of downtown LA next to USC.
- Metro: take the E Line to Expo Park/USC station, a few minutes’ walk from the entrance. See our LA Metro guide.
- Parking: Exposition Park has paid parking structures and lots. Rates are higher during USC football games and events at BMO Stadium and the LA Memorial Coliseum, and lots can fill completely, so check the event calendar before you drive.
Plan your day in Exposition Park
The Science Center shares Exposition Park with other great stops:
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: dinosaurs, gems and a butterfly pavilion next door.
- Exposition Park Rose Garden: a free garden with thousands of rose bushes, best in spring.
- California African American Museum: free art and history exhibitions.
- Lucas Museum of Narrative Art: George Lucas’s new museum on the park’s west side.
Tips for visiting
- Come early on weekends and school holidays; the museum is busiest from late morning.
- Bring snacks to eat outside; there is also a cafe on site.
- Strollers are welcome, and the building is accessible.
- Plan time for Endeavour separately; the Air and Space Center has its own entry time during busy periods.
Frequently asked questions
Is the California Science Center free?
Yes. General admission is free. Timed reservations are strongly encouraged and carry a $4 per person service fee. IMAX and some exhibits cost extra.
When can I see Space Shuttle Endeavour again?
Endeavour returns to public view on November 13, 2026, standing upright in the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.
How tall is the Endeavour display?
The full shuttle stack with external tank and boosters stands about 20 stories tall.
How long should I spend at the California Science Center?
Plan three to four hours to see Endeavour and the main galleries.
What is the closest Metro station?
Expo Park/USC on the E Line.
Photo credits
Featured image: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
