Enter the neo-gothic portal into the new bat exhibit at Coyote Point Museum in San Mateo and you see the world as a bat does -- upside down. And you’ll see centuries of bat lore from different cultures -- all upside down.

“Master of the Night: The True Story of Bats” debunks popular misconception of bats as bloodsucking, blind, squeaky creatures that get tangled in your hair. Instead the new exhibit draws visitors into the world of bats; special effects and interactive exhibits illustrate the diversity, benefits and skills of bats.

“This exhibit separates fact from fiction about bats,” said Michelle Martin, acting executive director at the museum. "Bats are in fact gentle animals and invaluable to our ecosystem."

The bat exhibit runs through May 6 at the Coyote Point Museum, 1651 Coyote Point Drive in San Mateo.

For information, call the museum at 342-7755, or go to coyotepointmuseum.org.