Now Open – September 1

Rescue Exhibition

LA

Step into the action at The Rescue Exhibition — where science meets real-life heroics!

Get hands-on with the tools and technology used in daring land, sea and air rescue missions. Climb aboard a full-size helicopter simulator, spot heat signals with infrared cameras, and test your skills in jet ski navigation as you search for swimmers in distress. Fight virtual fires, perform surf rescues, and learn survival strategies in high-stakes scenarios. Along the way, discover the gear and medical techniques first responders use to save lives. Packed with interactive experiences and designed for curious minds of all ages, The Rescue Exhibition brings the world of emergency response to life like never before.

Included with General Admission or Membership.

Two kids using the Rescue Exhibition exhibit simulators.

Exhibit Areas

kids riding the helicopter in the Rescue Exhibition exhibit.

Helicopter Rescue

Helicopter Rescue

Step into the shoes of a helicopter rescue team as you climb aboard a life-size helicopter. Choose to fly a simulator or use the infrared camera to search around the exhibition.

Kid crawling through the Rescue Exhibition exhibit.

Fire Experience

Fire Experience

Enter this room and be hit by the elements. With heat topping nearly 104˚F and smoke obscuring your vision, visitors are encouraged to drop low and feel their way through this replica burning building.

Kids using the climbing wall.

Vertical Rescue

Vertical Rescue

Visitors of all ages will have fun as they tackle the climbing wall. The aim is to make it around the wall in a 360˚ loop without losing your grip. With sloping surfaces, this is no easy feat. Do you have what it takes to hang on?

Kids using the raft boat at the Rescue Exhibition exhibit.

Wave Rescue

Wave Rescue

A radio-call has come in alerting you to a swimmer who has been washed out to sea. You and your friend must navigate jet skis around the obstacles to rescue the swimmer. You have just three minutes. Who will reach the swimmer first?

Rescue sign.

Drone Rescue

Drone Rescue

Drones are being used in more rescue operations around the world. From lifesaving support to search and rescue in difficult terrain, drone operators can reach people in need faster. Visitors fly a surf lifesaving drone and deliver a flotation aid to a swimmer in distress.

Sign explaining fire extinguishers.

Fight the Fire

Fight the Fire

Would you know what to do if confronted with a ‘fat fire’? What about an ‘electrical fire’? Would you know what extinguishing device to use in each scenario and which ones to avoid? In this interactive exhibit, visitors are faced with four different fire extinguishers and must choose the correct one to put out the simulated fire.

Kids using the newsroom at the Rescue Exhibition exhibit.

Read the News

Read the News

When a disaster strikes, the media play a crucial role in informing the public. In this exhibit, one visitor takes to the news desk as the anchor, breaking the news story and informing the public, while the other visitor is the reporter live on the scene of a fire. Chromakey technology relays the vision onto a monitor so friends and family can watch the news program come together.

Kid using the Ropes and Knots exhibit.

Ropes and Knots

Ropes and Knots

Would you trust yourself to tie a knot to save a life? Knots, although simple, are used for specialist purposes. Learn where and when to use particular knots and how to tie them.

Families reading a Rescue Exhibition exhibit.

You Can Be a Rescuer

You Can Be a Rescuer

Rescue uniforms are designed to resist extreme conditions. From chemical explosions to fat fires, these outfits can mean the difference between life and death for fire fighters. Visitors can try on various real rescue uniforms including fire fighter, surf lifesaver and paramedic.

Rescue Exhibit display.

Real Life Rescues

Real Life Rescues

Large screens mounted in a collapsed building display real-life rescue videos. This makes an audio-visual impact on the visitor as they enter the exhibition. On the other side of the entrance, a visually captivating wall of newspaper articles highlights amazing rescue stories from around the world.

Adult sitting using exhibit.

Cut the Car

Cut the Car

Would you know where to cut a car to avoid hazards and rescue a trapped person? This interactive multimedia exhibit educates about the hazards in a car and the technology and techniques used by specialist rescue teams.

People playing the Escape the Rip exhibit.

Escape the Rip

Escape the Rip

You are caught in an ocean rip at the beach and have to try to escape and return to shore without losing too much energy. In this exhibit, visitors learn about the properties of rips and what a swimmer should do if caught in one.

Rescue Weekends

Dates: July 5 – 6 | 🔥 Beat the Heat!

This weekend addresses the dual nature of fire—its dangers and its role in natural ecosystems—as well as practical emergency preparedness.

Program Elements:

  • Fire Triangle Demonstration: Guests will learn about the three essential elements of fire: heat, fuel, and oxygen, and how removing any one can extinguish a blaze.
  • Nature’s Use of Fire: A station exploring how certain plants and ecosystems rely on fire to regenerate and thrive.
  • Evacuation Planning: Children will design emergency evacuation kits and identify critical items to include for various situations.
  • Community Partners: Local Fire Department, Park Rangers, and the Theodore Payne Foundation for wildland education.
  • Collectable Button #3: Distributed during this weekend.

Dates: August 9 – 10 | 👋 Bye to Summer!

As summer winds down, this event focuses on the science behind rescue tools and the environment’s effect on the human body.

Program Elements:

  • Pulley Systems: Guests will experiment with pulleys to understand how they make lifting and rescuing people easier.
  • Body Temperature Science: Demonstrations on how **heat exposure or cold environments affect human body temperature.
  • Temperature Mapping: A scientific approach to understanding how scientists collect and map temperature data across the globe.
  • Community Partners : National Child ID Program and local police officers providing safety education.
  • Collectable Button #4**: Final button in the Rescue series.

Dates: August 16 – 17 | ✈️ National Aviation Days

Celebrate National Aviation Day with a high-flying weekend focused on the science of flight and aviation safety.

Program Elements:

  • Paper Airplanes: Design and test paper airplane models to explore aerodynamics and lift.
  • Wind Tunnels: Experience how air flows over different surfaces and how lift and drag work.
  • Bottle Rocket Launches: Guests will create and launch safe, water-propelled bottle rockets.
  • Helicopter Virtual Tour: An immersive digital flight experience simulating a helicopter ride over California’s aqueduct system.

Community Partner: Van Nuys Airport (LAWA) will provide educational resources and interactive demonstrations.

***Activities and dates are subject to change