By Brenda Tucker
World-class aquariums, interactive science exhibits, and diverse art collections make San Francisco’s museums a must for any visitor.
It’s not just the collections that are magnificent; critically acclaimed architecture and some of the most breathtaking vistas in the city also make San Francisco’s museums worth the visit.Be sure to see some of the following extraordinary museums now thatthe arts are openin San Francisco.
Save on admission to San Francisco's Top Museums
Save 44% on three days' unlimited cable car rides and admission to San Francisco's top attractions with San Francisco CityPASS®. Includes California Academy ofSciences and Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure, plus two other attractions of your choice: Aquarium of the Bay, The Walt Disney Family Museum, The Exploratorium, or San Francisco Zoo & Gardens.
Aquarium of the Bay
Perfectly convenient onPIER 39, the Aquarium of the Bay provides unforgettable encounters with marine life. Stroll through 300 feet of clear acrylic tunnels holding 700,000 gallons of Bay water, touch tidepool animals, and delight in viewing playful river otters up close. Available withSan Francisco CityPASS®.
Asian Art Museum
Located in theCivic Center neighborhood, this stately museum is home to one of the world’s most diverse collections of art and objects from across the Asian continent. Spanning 6,000 years of human history, visitors to Asian Art Museum can enjoy beautiful paintings, sculptures, furniture, textiles, and armororiginating from Turkey, China, India, Japan, the Philippines and other Asian cultures.
California Academy of Sciences
Home to an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and world-class research and educational programs, the California Academy of Sciences is one of San Francisco's must-see destinations. From the splashing penguins in the African Hall to the wildflowers on the roof, the building is bursting with life. A four-story rainforest and awe-inspiring coral reef ecosystem delightvisitors of all ages, while immersive planetarium shows transportyou through space and time for a new perspective on our planet. The Academy is also topped by a 2.5-acre living roof, which is a crucial part of its eco-friendly design and operations in Golden Gate Park. Available withSan Francisco CityPASS®.
California Historical Society
The California Historical Society has been preserving the rich and fascinating history of California for more than 140 years. Enjoy informative exhibits in their downtown location near the Contemporary Jewish Museum and MoAD, or catch one of their citywide exhibits at one of San Francisco’s many museums and libraries.
Children's Creativity Museum
For families traveling with kids to San Francisco, the Children’s Creativity Museum is a fun way to spend a day. In Yerba Buena Gardens, the Children’s Creativity Museum is filled with interactive exhibits that teach kids about animation, music, digital media, and other creative pursuits. Don’t miss a ride on the historic, hand-carved Leroy King carousel that makes a perfect companion to a day at the museum.
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Located in downtown San Francisco near the Museum of African Diaspora and the California Historical Society, the Contemporary Jewish Museum presents dynamic exhibitions and educational programs, exploring contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, and ideas. Drop-In Art Studios and Textile Lab Gatherings are offered year-round, free with museum admission, and are programs that are fun for the whole family!
de Young Museum
Located in San Francisco'sGolden Gate Park, the de Young’s collection exceeds 27,000 works and is renowned for its American art from the 17th through 21st centuries, modern and contemporary art, photography, international textiles and costumes, and art from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. Be sure to visit the ninth-floor Observation Level of the de Young's Hamon Tower and enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean.
Exploratorium
Locatedon Pier 15 of the Embarcadero, the Exploratorium is an interactive museum inspiring creativity in people of all ages. Explore more than 600 hands-on exhibits and enjoy breathtaking views of the city and bay in the spectacular glass-and-steel Bay Observatory. Available withSan Francisco CityPASS®.
Legion of Honor
Built to commemorate Californian soldiers who died in World War I, the Legion of Honor is a beautiful neoclassic building overlooking Lincoln Park and theGolden Gate Bridge. The museum’s collection features more than 4,000 years of ancient and European art and also houses the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, one of the largest collections of works on paper in the country. Don’t miss a performance on the Skinner pipe organ and enjoy the impressive sound of 4,500 pipes playing everything from Bach and Gershwin to great film scores. Public concerts are presented each weekend on Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.
Museum of African Diaspora
MoAD showcases the history, art, and cultural richness that resulted from the dispersal of Africans throughout the Africa Diaspora. MoAD connects all people through shared African heritage and detailed immersive exhibits. Throughout the year, they offer special programs that bring together people of all ages through dance, music, art talks, and more.
Museum of Craft & Design
A non-collecting institution, the Museum of Craft and Design is one of North America’s few institutions dedicated to contemporary practices in craft and design. The museum’s mission is to explore the active roles craft and design play in everyday life through original and traveling exhibitions, collaborations with museums from around the world, and hands-on opportunities to learn how to make your own crafts.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
Founded in 1935 as the first West Coast museum devoted to modern and contemporary art, the transformed San Francisco Museum of Modern Art re-opened in2016. The Snohetta-designed expansion includes 170,000 square feet of new and renovated galleries, enabling SFMOMA to display more of its 33,000 modern and contemporary artworks, withan entire floor dedicated solely to photography. Free access to 45,000 square feet of ground-floor galleries for visitors 18 and younger makes SFMOMA more welcoming and connected to the city than ever before. Available with San Francisco CityPASS®.
The Walt Disney Family Museum
Dedicated to the life and work of Walt Disney, creator of some of America’s most beloved animation including Mickey Mouse, this museum is housed in a historic building in thePresidio. Contemporary interactive galleries and state-of-the-art exhibits are narrated in Walt's own voice and feature early drawings, cartoons, movies, music, listening stations, more than 200 video screens, and a spectacular model of Disneyland. While you're there, enjoy daily screenings of Disney movie classics.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Located in the heart of Yerba Buena Gardens, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts presents cutting-edge, contemporary visual art, performances, film/video, and community engagement programs that celebrate innovation and experimentation by local, national, and international artists working today. Distinguished by its support for contemporary artists from around the world, YBCA is also recognized for the important role the organization plays in the San Francisco Bay Area arts ecology and in the community at large. Artistically, YBCA is decidedly cutting edgepresenting and exhibiting work by artists who are pushing the boundaries of their art in form and/or content.
Brenda Tucker
Brenda Tucker is the Director of Arts Marketing at San Francisco Travel. She has lived in San Francisco since 1998, after driving cross-country to a home she secured sight unseen. Brenda enjoys swimming out-of-doors year-round, being inspired by the incredible art scene in the City, and living in the best place on earth.
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San Francisco is home to a wide range of extraordinary museums that offer visitors the opportunity to explore art, science, history, and culture. These museums showcase diverse collections and provide immersive experiences for visitors of all ages. Some of the notable museums in San Francisco include:
Aquarium of the Bay
Located on PIER 39, the Aquarium of the Bay offers unforgettable encounters with marine life. Visitors can stroll through 300 feet of clear acrylic tunnels holding 700,000 gallons of Bay water, touch tidepool animals, and view playful river otters up close [[1]].
Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum, located in the Civic Center neighborhood, houses one of the world's most diverse collections of art and objects from across the Asian continent. The museum's collection spans 6,000 years of human history and includes beautiful paintings, sculptures, furniture, textiles, and armor from various Asian cultures [[2]].
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is a must-see destination in San Francisco. It is home to an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and world-class research and educational programs. Visitors can explore the splashing penguins in the African Hall, the four-story rainforest, and the awe-inspiring coral reef ecosystem. The Academy also features a 2.5-acre living roof, which is an integral part of its eco-friendly design [[3]].
California Historical Society
The California Historical Society has been preserving the rich history of California for over 140 years. Visitors can enjoy informative exhibits at their downtown location near the Contemporary Jewish Museum and MoAD. The society also organizes citywide exhibits at various museums and libraries in San Francisco [[4]].
Children's Creativity Museum
The Children's Creativity Museum, located in Yerba Buena Gardens, offers interactive exhibits that teach kids about animation, music, digital media, and other creative pursuits. The museum also features a historic, hand-carved Leroy King carousel [[5]].
Contemporary Jewish Museum
The Contemporary Jewish Museum presents dynamic exhibitions and educational programs that explore contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, and ideas. The museum offers drop-in art studios and textile lab gatherings that are fun for the whole family [[6]].
de Young Museum
The de Young Museum, located in Golden Gate Park, houses a collection of over 27,000 works of art. The museum is renowned for its American art from the 17th through 21st centuries, modern and contemporary art, photography, international textiles and costumes, and art from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. Visitors can also enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean from the ninth-floor Observation Level of the de Young's Hamon Tower [[7]].
Exploratorium
The Exploratorium, situated on Pier 15 of the Embarcadero, is an interactive museum that inspires creativity in people of all ages. It features over 600 hands-on exhibits and offers breathtaking views of the city and bay from the Bay Observatory [[8]].
Legion of Honor
The Legion of Honor is a beautiful neoclassic building overlooking Lincoln Park and the Golden Gate Bridge. The museum's collection features ancient and European art spanning over 4,000 years. It also houses the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, which has one of the largest collections of works on paper in the country. The Legion of Honor offers public concerts on weekends, featuring performances on the Skinner pipe organ [[9]].
Museum of African Diaspora
The Museum of African Diaspora (MoAD) showcases the history, art, and cultural richness that resulted from the dispersal of Africans throughout the African Diaspora. The museum offers immersive exhibits and special programs that bring together people of all ages through dance, music, art talks, and more [[10]].
Museum of Craft & Design
The Museum of Craft & Design is dedicated to contemporary practices in craft and design. It explores the active roles craft and design play in everyday life through original and traveling exhibitions. The museum also provides hands-on opportunities to learn how to make your own crafts [[11]].
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
SFMOMA is the first West Coast museum devoted to modern and contemporary art. It reopened in 2016 after a transformational expansion. The museum features a wide range of modern and contemporary artworks, with a dedicated floor for photography. SFMOMA also offers free access to ground-floor galleries for visitors 18 and younger [[12]].
The Walt Disney Family Museum
Dedicated to the life and work of Walt Disney, this museum is housed in a historic building in the Presidio. It features contemporary interactive galleries and state-of-the-art exhibits that showcase early drawings, cartoons, movies, music, and more. The museum also offers daily screenings of Disney movie classics [[13]].
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts presents cutting-edge, contemporary visual art, performances, film/video, and community engagement programs. The center supports contemporary artists from around the world and plays an important role in the San Francisco Bay Area arts ecology [[14]].
These museums offer a wide range of experiences and are a testament to the vibrant arts and culture scene in San Francisco. Whether you're interested in art, science, history, or culture, there is something for everyone to enjoy in these extraordinary museums.
