San Francisco Exploratorium Cutting Jobs Amid Poor Attendance

San Francisco's Exploratorium is laying off 18 percent of its staff because fewer people than expected are visiting its new waterfront location.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the popular science museum has decided to cut 80 of its 435 paid positions four months after it moved to Pier 15 on the Embarcadero.

Exploratorium officials say they had expected 6,000 to 7,000 daily visitors, but actual attendance has been between 3,000 and 4,000. That has resulted in 20 percent less revenue than expected.

In addition to layoffs, the museum is not filling vacant positions and letting go of seasonal employees.

Its new home cost $300 million and has more than 600 exhibits. It was previously located next to the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco's Marina District.