Bay Model Visitor Center

Scale model of the Bay Area water system, just over the bridge in Sausalito. The water tank actually simulates the tides every 12 minutes and the little tabs in the water help simulate flow. Cool!

Admission is free. Fascinating for young and old alike. Self-guided, but tours are available for groups with advanced reservations . Has been featured on MythBusters.

I mostly enjoyed being able to walk around the model and get an understanding of the relative geography of the Bay Area .

Scale model of the Bay . The tide is simulated ever 12 minutesBuilt by the Army Corps of Engineers and supposedly still really accurate! Learn all about CA water infrastructure!

It's pretty neat. The facility/museum is definitely dated, but it's fun for a quirky afternoon visit.

It is huge! See if you can listen to a lecture when you visit - otherwise you might not get the most of it.

Learn about the Bay Area 's watershed, test the tides , and see a hypothetical oil spill under the Golden Gate Bridge .

Before there were computers, they built these models.

The model itself it neat. The water changes are underwhelming.

What a wonderful place to come to work every day. The view of Richardson Bay in awsome.

Another day at work in paradise. What a wonderful view of the from my window at the Richardson Bay .

Although the model is open, staff expects renovations to complete and water to be refilled October 1.

If you go now (June 2011), keep in mind that the model is under renovation and is dry. Read more

Government shut down.

It is closed on Sundays