Academy to Unveil Claude Memorial Sculpture on Oct 22

The California Academy of Sciences will honor the beloved albino alligator with a new alebrijes-style sculpture.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Fine Art

Bold vector editorial illustration of a colorful alebrijes-style alligator sculpture on a museum pedestal, representing the tribute to the museum's mascot. — The California Academy of Sciences will unveil a custom alebrijes-style sculpture by artist Carolina Argote on October 22 to honor Claude, the museum's longtime resident albino alligator. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The California Academy of Sciences will host a special after-hours tribute for Claude, the museum’s famed albino alligator, on October 22, 2026. This event features the unveiling of a custom alebrijes-style sculpture created by artist Carolina Argote to memorialize the late reptile.

Why it matters

The sculpture honors the legacy of Claude, who served as an unofficial mascot for the museum for nearly two decades before his death at age 30. The tribute marks a permanent recognition of his place in the institution’s history near the street recently renamed Claude the Alligator Way.

Claude lived at the California Academy of Sciences for two decades after arriving from a Louisiana alligator farm, reaching age 30 before his death in December 2025. The upcoming memorial event requires a minimum age of 21 and a $26 entry fee.

The players

California Academy of Sciences

This San Francisco-based research and educational institution houses an aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum.

Carolina Argote

She is an artist affiliated with Balam Arts who was commissioned to create the memorial sculpture.

Claude

He was an albino alligator who served as an unofficial mascot at the museum for nearly two decades.

The details

Artist Carolina Argote of Balam Arts was commissioned to craft an alebrijes-style sculpture that commemorates the alligator. The unveiling is scheduled during an exclusive after-hours event held at the California Academy of Sciences, which has also renamed a nearby street to Claude the Alligator Way.

Claude arrived at the California Academy of Sciences in 2008.
Claude the albino alligator died in December 2025.
The tribute sculpture will be unveiled on October 22, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The museum is incorporating a permanent tribute into the annual Día de los Muertos celebration, a shift that expands the scope of its existing cultural event programs. This integration aligns the institutional recognition of a former mascot with broader, community-focused festival traditions.

Visitors interested in the unveiling must be at least 21 years old to attend the after-hours event. Tickets for the evening programming are priced at $26 per person.

The takeaway

Memorializing non-human residents represents a growing trend in institutional curation and community engagement. Supporters looking to commemorate local icons can often find public memorialization efforts tied to established cultural calendars or institutional anniversaries.