San Francisco Guide » Attractions & Activities » Museums
San Francisco Attractions & ActivitiesMuseums
If you're a history buff, art aficionado, archaeology fiend, or dabbler in the sciences, our museum picks are perfect for a rainy day or afternoon excursion! Our selections center around notable collections of historical and cultural items. Many have excellent rotating displays in addition to exceptional permanent collections.
Address: 200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
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The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art. Its holdings began with the generous donations of collector Avery Brundage, and now, the facility houses nearly 15,000 treasures that span 6000 years of history. More than 2500 extraordinary works...
Address: 1201 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108
This museum has been called "one of the top 10 free attractions in the world" by travel guru Arthur Frommer. Watch the machinery that makes San Francisco's most famous form of transportation possible. Also go upstairs for photographs, memorabilia, and other displays related to the history of cable cars. Located at the...
California Palace of the Legion of Honor
Address: 34th Ave and Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121
The structure that houses this museum is as beautiful as the artwork within. The extensive collection features works from the 13th to the 20th centuries, including those by Monet, Manet, Rubens, Van Gogh, Picasso, Seurat, and other European artists. Earlier works date from approximately 2500 B.C. An original cast of...
Address: 655 Mission St, Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA 94103
First envisioned in 1984, this museum gained prominence following support from Charles M. Schulz, creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. In 1987, the museum established a home in Yerba Buena Gardens, the city's art center. The facility now offers nearly 6,000 original items, including comic books, comic strips, and...
Address: 3601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123
Founded by physicist Dr. Frank Oppenheimer in 1969, Exploratorium makes learning fun through hands-on participation. More than 650 exhibits keep visitors attentive, and for an additional $3 (and a lot of fun), folks can brave the Tactile Dome. This attraction lets you crawl, climb, and slide through a pitch-dark,...
Address: Laguna St and Marina St, Fort Mason Center, Bldg D, San Francisco, CA 94123
[NOTE: GALLERIES AT THE FORT MASON CENTER ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED DURING CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUILDING. CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR A LIST OF INTERIM PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY.] You'll discover a small but pleasing display of Mexican cultural items at this museum. Pieces represent Mexico's entire history, from pre-conquest to...
Address: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118-4500
First opened in 1895, the de Young is San Francisco's oldest, most diversified art museum. In late 2005, after many months of renovation, the facility reopened with a new, copper-clad exterior and updated, newly fashioned exhibits. The museum's collections feature primarily American art from the colonial period to the...
Address: 51 Yerba Buena Ln, Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA 94103
Seeking to elucidate the relationships between experience and craft and between culture and folk art, this fascinating museum explores relevant connections in a variety of exhibits. Traditional and contemporary items are displayed, representing domestic and international populations. Past exhibits have focused on...
San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design
Address: 550 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Fronted by a charming courtyard, this museum occupies the elegant building that once housed Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Salon. Today, beautiful objects rather than bodies are the focus, showcasing both the creative process and the products of design. Past exhibits have been dedicated to industrial design, textile...
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Address: 151 3rd St, Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA 94103
This exciting museum offers five floors of gallery space that house more than 15,000 pieces of artwork, some of which are part of the permanent collection. A free, 45-minute tour is recommended to help visitors get their bearings. Exhibits change often, ensuring something new and challenging throughout the year. A...
