Visit the Wolf Museum of Exploration & Innovation, or MOXI, and you'll get a sense of the experience to come even before stepping through the door. The building has tall and inviting front windows, revealing a glimpse of colors and lights inside. The stunning building, designed by the late Barry Berkus, mimics the structure of a sandcastle, paying homage to Santa Barbara's beautiful beaches and paralleling the concept of building something from scratch. It's also the county's first LEED Gold-Certified museum.
Once inside the three-story building, guests are invited to explore more than 17,000 square feet of thought-provoking space. MOXI is divided into seven themed areas: technology, sound, natural forces (think gravity, magnetism, etc.), speed, light, interactive media, and a rooftop garden. Every activity is designed to inspire for jobs of the future and to ignite learning through interactive experiences.
The third floor is home to the rooftop Sky Garden and features exhibits that take advantage of the natural elements and stunning views of the mountains, harbor, and Stearns Wharf. Here you'll find the Lookout Tower, where guests will enjoy an entirely new way of looking at Santa Barbara through a series of five scopes: a traditional telescope, a heat-sensing thermal imaging lens, a kaleidoscope, a periscope, and a LIDAR speed- and distance-detecting device. Play and experiment with fluid dynamics in a spectacular way at Whitewater, a fully interactive water feature including a giant Archimedes screw. Create a wind-, sun- and human-powered symphony with the Weather Orchestra. Walk across the glass Sky Deck for a unique view of the courtyard below.
The MOXI is for people of all ages, from established intellectuals to those still learning, there is always more to discover.
