Bones NightLife

This night, we pay tribute to Ray “Bones” Bandar, long-time friend of the Academy and legendary collector, with close-up views into his world-renowned bone collection. During his lifetime, he collected over 7,000 specimens—most of them skulls—which will now join the Academy’s scientific collections. Make no bones about it, Ray designed some of NightLife’s most memorable and personalized displays. As a nod to his exhibiting prowess, we’re creating a pop-up “Hall of Bones” showing off dozens of his specimens. A San Francisco native, Ray Bandar was a beloved member of the community—from science teacher to beach fixture—and inspired short documentaries and videos that will be on view throughout the evening.