California Science Center

Discover an aquarium with a giant kelp forest, an actual space shuttle and numerous educational displays and exhibits inside this remarkable facility.

The California Science Center is one of the United States’ foremost museums. Watch a film on the center’s giant seven-story IMAX cinema screen. See historic spacecraft, including the Space Shuttle Endeavour and several planetary probes.

The center features a tropical rainforest, teeming with wildlife. Watch a star show in the renowned planetarium. The California Science Center also hosts the annual California State Science Fair, typically held in May each year.

Admire the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the fifth and final operational space shuttle built. The Endeavour first launched in 1992 and was retired in 2012. Study this important piece of space exploration history and watch an educational film about the shuttle in the center’s IMAX cinema.

See other aspects of human and robotic space travel in the permanent Air & Space exhibit. Learn about the information gathered from telescopes on the ground and orbiting in space.

Marvel at the center’s giant kelp forest, a wonderful ecosystem typical of natural surroundings supporting over 800 wildlife species. This amazing underwater forest hosts leopard sharks, moray eels, rays, spiny lobsters, rockfish and more. Learn about kelp and other organisms inside this ecosystem.

See how earthquake-resistant buildings and solar cars work in the Creative World ongoing exhibit, which showcases feats in human innovation and creativity. Discover how technology influences transportation with interactive displays.

Check the official website for information on upcoming special exhibits, events, live shows and educational demonstrations. Find the California Science Center within Exposition Park, which features a number of other attractions, including the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California African American Museum and the Exposition Park Rose Garden.

The center is located about 14 miles (23 kilometers) from Los Angeles International Airport. The center’s permanent galleries are free to view; however, the IMAX theater and special exhibits charge admission fees.

The California Science Center is filled with unique scientific artifacts and many opportunities to learn about these fascinating items.

Hotels near California Science Center

Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza

251 S Olive St

Rated 4.5 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this luxury hotel is within a 5-minute walk of The Broad and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Museum of Contemporary Art and Los Angeles City Hall are also within 15 minutes. Civic Center Station is 6 minutes by foot and Pershing Square Station is 7 minutes.

The Mayfair Hotel Los Angeles

1256 W 7th St

Rated 2.9 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this historic hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Good Samaritan Hospital and Loyola Law School. Los Angeles Convention Center and Staples Center are also within 15 minutes. 7th Street - Metro Center Station is 12 minutes by foot and Westlake - MacArthur Park Station is 13 minutes.

The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, Los Angeles

404 S Figueroa St

Rated 4.2 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this romantic hotel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Walt Disney Concert Hall, Staples Center, and Microsoft Theater. L.A. Live and Los Angeles Convention Center are also within 1 mi (2 km). 7th Street - Metro Center Station is 7 minutes by foot and Pershing Square Station is 9 minutes.

Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles

506 S Grand Ave

Rated 3.8 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this historic hotel is within a 10-minute walk of U.S. Bank Tower and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Staples Center and Los Angeles Convention Center are also within 1 mi (2 km). Pershing Square Station is only a 4-minute walk and 7th Street - Metro Center Station is 7 minutes.

Hollywood Inn Express South

141 N Alvarado St.

Rated 2.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this motel is within a 15-minute walk of MacArthur Park and Echo Park. Melrose Avenue and Los Angeles Convention Center are also within 3 mi (5 km). Westlake - MacArthur Park Station is 18 minutes by foot.

JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE

900 W Olympic Blvd

Rated 4.5 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this luxury hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Microsoft Theater, Staples Center, and Los Angeles Convention Center. L.A. Live and Walt Disney Concert Hall are also within 2 mi (3 km). Pico Station is 10 minutes by foot and 7th Street - Metro Center Station is 12 minutes.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown

120 S Los Angeles Street

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Little Tokyo, this hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Grand Central Market and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Dodger Stadium and Los Angeles State Historic Park are also within 2 mi (3 km). Civic Center Station is 8 minutes by foot and Little Tokyo/Arts District Station is 9 minutes.

Miyako Hotel Los Angeles

328 E 1st St

Rated 4.0 / 5 by Guests

Located in Little Tokyo, this hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Grand Central Market and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Dodger Stadium and Staples Center are also within 3 mi (5 km). Little Tokyo/Arts District Station is only a 4-minute walk and Civic Center Station is 10 minutes.

O Hotel

819 S Flower St

Rated 3.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this spa hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Staples Center, Los Angeles Convention Center, and Microsoft Theater. L.A. Live and Walt Disney Concert Hall are also within 1 mi (2 km). 7th Street - Metro Center Station is only a 4-minute walk and Pico Station is 11 minutes.

Sheraton Grand Los Angeles

711 S Hope St

Rated 4.4 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Pershing Square and Staples Center. Los Angeles Convention Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall are also within 1 mi (2 km). 7th Street - Metro Center Station is only a 2-minute walk and Pershing Square Station is 10 minutes.

Ramada by Wyndham Los Angeles/Koreatown West

3900 Wilshire Blvd

Located in Wilshire, this hotel is 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Wiltern Theatre and within 3 mi (5 km) of Melrose Avenue and La Brea Tar Pits. Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Petersen Automotive Museum are also within 3 mi (5 km). Wilshire - Western Station is only a 3-minute walk and Wilshire - Normandie Station is 12 minutes.

The Standard Downtown LA

550 S Flower St

Rated 3.8 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this romantic hotel is within a 15-minute walk of U.S. Bank Tower and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Staples Center and Los Angeles Convention Center are also within 1 mi (2 km). 7th Street - Metro Center Station is only a 3-minute walk and Pershing Square Station is 9 minutes.

Garden Suite Hotel

681 S Western Ave

Rated 3.2 / 5 by Guests

Located in Koreatown, this hotel is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Wiltern Theatre and within 6 mi (10 km) of University of Southern California and Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hollywood Bowl and Hollywood Sign are also within 6 mi (10 km). Wilshire - Western Station is only a 2-minute walk and Wilshire - Normandie Station is 13 minutes.

Hilton Checkers

535 South Grand Avenue

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this boutique hotel is within a 15-minute walk of U.S. Bank Tower and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Staples Center and Los Angeles Convention Center are also within 1 mi (2 km). Pershing Square Station is 5 minutes by foot and 7th Street - Metro Center Station is 6 minutes.

Ramada by Wyndham Los Angeles/Downtown West

1901 W Olympic Blvd

Rated 3.3 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this hotel is within a 15-minute walk of MacArthur Park and Los Angeles Convention Center. Staples Center and L.A. Live are also within 1 mi (2 km). Westlake - MacArthur Park Station is 11 minutes by foot and Pico Station is 24 minutes.

Best Western Plus LA Mid Town Hotel

603 S New Hampshire Ave

Rated 3.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Koreatown, this hotel is 1 mi (1.7 km) from MacArthur Park and within 3 mi (5 km) of Melrose Avenue and Los Angeles Convention Center. Staples Center and University of Southern California are also within 3 mi (5 km). Wilshire - Vermont Station is only a 4-minute walk and Wilshire - Normandie Station is 11 minutes.

Stillwell Hotel

838 S Grand Ave

Rated 2.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Orpheum Theatre, Staples Center, and Los Angeles Convention Center. Microsoft Theater and L.A. Live are also within 15 minutes. 7th Street - Metro Center Station is 7 minutes by foot and Pico Station is 12 minutes.

Hotel Solaire Los Angeles

1710 W 7th St

Rated 3.4 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this hotel is within 1 mi (2 km) of MacArthur Park, Los Angeles Convention Center, and Staples Center. L.A. Live and Microsoft Theater are also within 1 mi (2 km). Westlake - MacArthur Park Station is 6 minutes by foot and 7th Street - Metro Center Station is 18 minutes.

USC Hotel

3540 South Figueroa Street

Rated 4.0 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of University of Southern California, Shrine Auditorium, and California Science Center. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Los Angeles Convention Center are also within 2 mi (3 km). Jefferson/USC Station is 7 minutes by foot and Expo Park/USC Station is 7 minutes.

Shelter Hotel Los Angeles

457 S Mariposa Ave

Rated 3.6 / 5 by Guests

Located in Koreatown, this boutique hotel is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from Wiltern Theatre and within 3 mi (5 km) of Melrose Avenue and Los Angeles Convention Center. Staples Center and Echo Park are also within 3 mi (5 km). Wilshire - Normandie Station is 7 minutes by foot and Wilshire - Vermont Station is 13 minutes.

Vagabond Inn Los Angeles-USC

3101 S Figueroa St

Rated 3.6 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of University of Southern California and Shrine Auditorium. Los Angeles Convention Center and Banc of California Stadium are also within 1 mi (2 km). Jefferson/USC Station is only a 4-minute walk and LATTC/Ortho Institute Station is 11 minutes.

The Los Angeles Athletic Club

431 W 7th St

Rated 4.3 / 5 by Guests

This family-friendly Los Angeles hotel is located in the business district, within 1 mi (2 km) of Walt Disney Concert Hall, Staples Center, and Los Angeles Convention Center. University of Southern California and Citadel Outlets are also within 9 mi (15 km). 7th Street - Metro Center Station is 5 minutes by foot and Pershing Square Station is 7 minutes.

The L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown

333 S Figueroa St

Rated 4.2 / 5 by Guests

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of OUE Skyspace LA and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Staples Center and Los Angeles Convention Center are also within 1 mi (2 km). 7th Street - Metro Center Station is 10 minutes by foot and Civic Center Station is 12 minutes.

Kawada Hotel

200 S Hill St

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, this hotel is 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Grand Central Market and within 9 mi (15 km) of University of Southern California and Hollywood Walk of Fame. Dolby Theater and TCL Chinese Theatre are also within 9 mi (15 km). Civic Center Station is only a 2-minute walk and Pershing Square Station is 8 minutes.

California Science Center

Discover an aquarium with a giant kelp forest, an actual space shuttle and numerous educational displays and exhibits inside this remarkable facility.

Attractions and Neighbourhoods near California Science Center

Staples Center

Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Los Angeles City Hall

Hotels near California Science Center

Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza

The Mayfair Hotel Los Angeles

The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, Los Angeles

Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles

Hollywood Inn Express South

JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown

Miyako Hotel Los Angeles

O Hotel

Sheraton Grand Los Angeles

Ramada by Wyndham Los Angeles/Koreatown West

The Standard Downtown LA

Garden Suite Hotel

Hilton Checkers

Ramada by Wyndham Los Angeles/Downtown West

Best Western Plus LA Mid Town Hotel

Stillwell Hotel

Hotel Solaire Los Angeles

USC Hotel

Shelter Hotel Los Angeles

Vagabond Inn Los Angeles-USC

The Los Angeles Athletic Club

The L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown

Kawada Hotel