We finally made it to one of our favorite museums, California Academy of Science in SF, this past Wednesday. It was an impromptu visit right before our membership ended. The last time we were there Ellis got sick and ended up going getting hospitalized later that afternoon, which occurred in August 2024. I had some reservations going because my superstitious mind kept worrying me that a repeat of that would happen. I knew it was nonsense and still decided to go!
I believe we first visited this museum in 2017 to see the famous albino alligator that is the superstar here. Kids were pumped to see this novelty, but that soon turned into terror when Elliot went down into the swamp area and saw the alligator’s tail. He hyperventilated and told me to never bring him back to this place.
Before I continue, here’s a brief history of Claude, the albino alligator.
Claude was born in Florida in September 15,1995 at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Parl. Since he is albino, he has poor vision and he cannot survive in the wild since capturing prey would be difficult and predators could easily notice him.
So he made the long cross-country journey to SF and eventually became the mascot of this museum since 2008. He came with another alligator, a green one named Bonnie, but their year long stay together turned into disaster when she bit off one of his fingers, which had to be amputated. She went back to Florida and Claude remained at the museum. He gets to chill out and rest on a heated rock when his heart desires!
I couldn’t bring up this museum to Elliot without him freaking out. So the next year, Chris took a day off work so we could help him conquer this fear, because to a small kid this fear was palpable. Elliot felt more confident knowing that dad would be there to shield him from the alligator. It worked and as a show of his courage, he even got the stuffed Claude toy as a souvenir.
So this is how we were able to go this museum every year without Elliot hyperventilating!
26 responses to “California Academy of Science, SF”
My grandson loves the zoo too. My son and his family live in Berlin Germany
We love zoos too, except when it’s sweltering hot!
Wow, your son’s family live so far away from you. I hope you all get to visit each other. International travel is difficult!
I’m glad Elliott got over his fear. I’ve never heard of this alligator, although I do remember reading that albino alligators are possible. The cutest gator I’ve seen was at one of the refuges I visit. I gave him the name Freckles, because that’s what he was: more brown and tan than green, and covered in freckles.
Thank you, Linda! It was a huge breakthrough for Elliot.
Claude also has an instagram account…he’s a celebrity alligator. Freckles sounds cute and interesting! You described his characteristics well.
I’m glad you and the kids had a good time at the California Academy of Science. With that type of museum, I’m fine as long as I don’t get anywhere near the snake exhibit.
Thank you, Liz! It’s a fun story for us to revisit every time we go there. If you don’t like snakes, I’d recommend you stay away from the venom exhibition in the aquarium. They used to have a green anaconda, but they replaced it with a lizard one.
You’re welcome, Esther! I’d also need to stay away from exhibits of bats. And spiders.
I just remembered that in the rainforest part of the museum, they have spiders and something about bats at the entrance to the rainforest!
I’ll be sure to stay out of the rain forest!
You can go to the penguin section on the first floor, watch a movie in the planetarium, and go upstairs to the deck for views. No creepy crawlies in those places!
Works for me!
Sounds like a nice trip Esther – that’s a nice photo that Elliot took of you and Ellis. I am glad he long ago conquered his fear of the alligator and can enjoy the trips now. Speaking of alligators, the next city over from me had an alligator laying on a homeowner’s front lawn yesterday. Apparently it is a known drug house and a few weeks prior, there was another alligator wandering in their neighborhood. This was not a baby alligator, but a five-foot alligator!
Thank you, Linda! Elliot had his fingers crossed when I was reviewing the pictures he took, because he knew I was going to ask him to retake. lol. Since he’s taller now, the pictures come out better since it’s not looking up. lol
It was a big deal for Elliot to get over his fear of Claude and just irrational fears he had. He used to be terrified of whales and still is.
Uhhh, I don’t know what to say about the alligator wandering about that person’s front lawn. How does that even happen?! Wild.
That’s funny about Elliot taking the picture when he was shorter. My father could not take a photo to save his life and any pics he took of my mom or me, he had all kinds of nothing space or more of the car, than the person. Once I started growing tall, it was a problem as he was just 5′ 3″ to my 5′ 9″. My mom at least did not cut me out of the photo. Yes, the alligator in the front yard on the lawn. Something else.
The story of your dad taking less than stellar pictures made me laugh. Chris also takes less than stellar pictures too. He takes bad photos of us and they’re all bad pictures of me…like looking away, making the double chin more prominent, weird face expressions, etc. He’s been improving slowly, but in the meantime my selfie stick helps us take better family photos.
Oh yes, I used a photo of me as a baby sitting on their car at that time. I take up 1/10th of the photo, way over in the corner and 9/10s of the photo is the car and some landscape that goes past the car and you know how long the cars were back then.
hahaha, you explained it perfectly!!
That’s funny – I thought my father was the only one that did that. 🙂
I hear many many stories of men just like that! Lots of memes on Instagram too. I didn’t know it was that common really.
I’m glad we women are the better picture-takers, though I have come home with some duds, but squirrels and birds move fast … not stationary objects like us. 🙂
You take great pictures of fast-moving animals and you have a knack for catching animals in some kind of drama!
Thank you Esther! Today I took photos of ducklings trying to catch the Poplar tree fuzz that was flying around. However, the ducklings were so tiny, I hope the pictures come out – they would leap out of the water to catch the fuzz. 🙂
Iam so happy you and the kids had a good time at the California Academy of Science. With that type of museum. A nice photo that Elliot took of you and Ellis. Wonderful museum photos.
Best of luck. Happy trip & enjoy journey, Esther 🎆
Thank you! It was a great experience. I’m happy ne can take good pictures of us now that he’s older.
Good for Elliot to conquer his fear! Glad to hear the recent trip went well too 🙂
Thank you so much! It was a breakthrough for him and we have a great story to tell now.