The Exploratorium’s popular sensory attraction, theTactile Dome, is set to reopen this week, following a three-yearCOVID-19 closure, the San Francisco institution announced exclusively through The Chronicle on Wednesday, July 12.

Starting Saturday, July 15, the museum’s largest interactive exhibit plans to welcome visitors back inside the dome to check out its mazes and chambers where they must navigate their way around in the dark, with nothing but their sense of touch to guide them.

Its March 2020 closure was prompted by concerns of COVID-19 transmission, given that the interactive sculpture requires several guests to be enclosed together in a small space and touching the same surfaces.

“The Tactile Dome embodies the type of playful learning experience that the Exploratorium is known for, and our staff has been busy preparing to host our curious and adventurous visitors,” Rachel Hyden, director of visitor services, said in a statement.

The Tactile Dome has been one of the museum’s most beloved and most recognized exhibits since it first opened in 1971. The dome was first designed and constructed by August Coppola, brother of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and father to actor Nicolas Cage. It was later redesigned and reconstructed when the Exploratorium relocated to Pier 15 in 2013.

During its closure, the Tactile Dome received ventilation upgrades and deep cleaning to minimize health concerns and keep the experience safe for visitors, said Janny Hu, the Exploratorium’s director of communications.

The Tactile Dome will continue to require reservations for entry, and guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in person or by phone in advance. Hourly reservation slots begin 15 minutes after the museum opens during its regular operating hours.

Reach Zara Irshad:Zara.Irshad@sfchronicle.com