museums

Exploring San Francisco’s Museums: A Guide to Art, Science, and Culture Renowned for its active arts and culture, San Francisco offers an amazing array of museums to fit every kind of interest. Nestled close to Golden Gate Park are the California Academy of Sciences, a haven for science aficionados with its living roof and spectacular planetarium, and the de Young Museum, which features exceptional worldwide art. The Conservatory of Flowers is the name for the historic greenhouse and living museum spread over the park. The Yerba Buena region has a unique cultural history thanks to the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) and the Contemporary Jewish Museum; modern art aficionados find refuge at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), downtown. The imaginative museum created by the children inspires the adjacent children. The San Francisco National Historical Park surrounds tourists in the city’s nautical legacy, while the Exploratorium on the waterfront lets people of all ages explore science through interactive exhibits. While the Asian Art Museum in the Civic Center offers one of the largest collections of Asian art globally, the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio honors Walt Disney’s legacy. Every museum in San Francisco provides a different insight into history, culture, or creation, from the eccentric Musée Mécanique at Fisherman’s Wharf, where old arcade machines come to life, to the moving exhibits at Alcatraz Island. The City is perfect for those who want to explore. American Bookbinders Museum Location: 355 Clementina St. Those who value the art of storytelling must visit this museum. The only one of its kind in America, this unusual museum highlights the amazing history and technology behind bookbinding. The collection includes over 400-year-old objects that chronicle how bookbinding transformed world packing, distribution, and intellectual consumption. Tuesdays through Saturdays, the museum provides self-guided audio tours or docent-led visits for parties of five or more; its unique displays are free of charge!Buy tickets. Aquarium of the Bay Location: Embarcadero and Beach Street Located conveniently on PIER 39, this museum provides a stress-free and remarkable encounter with aquatic life. Wander over three hundred feet of pristine acrylic tunnels containing 700,000 gallons of bay water, touch tidepool life, and get an up-close view of lively river otters. Asian Art Exhibition Location: 200 Larkin St. Located in the Civic Center, the Asian Art Museum is a magnificent institution with one of the most varied collections of art and artifacts from throughout the Asian continent. Covering 6,000 years of human history, the museum presents a broad range of exquisite paintings, sculptures, furniture, textiles, and armor from Turkey, China, India, Japan, the Philippines, and other Asian civilizations. California Academy of Science Location: Golden Gate Park 55 Music Concourse Dr. One of San Francisco’s must-see sites, the California Academy of Sciences has an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and world-class research and teaching activities. The structure is alive, from the splashing penguins in the African Hall to the wildflowers on the top. For guests of all ages, a four-story rainforest and amazing coral reef environment delight. Immersion planetarium performances simultaneously take you beyond space and time for a fresh viewpoint on our earth. The 2.5-acre living roof of the academy is a key element of its environmentally friendly building and Golden Gate Park activities. Children’s Creative Museum Location: 221 Fourth Ave. Families heading to San Francisco with children might find the Children’s Creativity Museum to be a delightful afternoon activity. Situated in the Yerba Buena Gardens, the Children’s Museum has interactive displays covering animation, music, digital media, and other creative interests. Don’t miss a ride on the hand-carved, antique Leroy King carousel—the ideal partner for a day at the museum. Modern Jewish Museum Location: 75 Mission St. Located in San Francisco’s downtown next to the California Historical Society and the Museum of African Diaspora, the Contemporary Jewish Museum offers vibrant displays and educational initiatives examining modern viewpoints on Jewish history, art, and ideas. The entire family will enjoy the drop-in Art Studios and Textile Laboratory, which are free events that take place all year long with museum admission. De Young Museum Location: 50 Hagiwara Drive Comprising more than 27,000 pieces, the de Young collection is housed at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco It is well-known for its American art from the 17th through the 21st centuries, modern and contemporary art, photography, foreign fabrics and costumes, and work from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. See amazing 360-degree views of San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean by visiting the ninth-floor observation deck of the de Young’s Hamon Tower. Exploratorium Location: Pier 15 The interactive museum Exploratorium is housed on Pier 15 of the Embarcadero. Comprising more than 600 hands-on displays, the museum offers families an entertaining and instructive environment. In the magnificent glass-and-steel Bay Observatory, visitors can also savor amazing views of the city and bay. Institute of Contemporary Art Location: 340 Montgomery St. ICA SF relocated to the famous Cube building right in the middle of downtown. Although it does not maintain a permanent collection, this unusual museum exhibits new and intriguing artwork from all around the globe. ICA SF investigates major concerns concerning society and culture, therefore making modern art accessible to everybody and significant. The museum is always changing; better still, entry is free! Legion of Honor Location: Lincoln Park at 100 34th Ave.Designed to honor Californian men who lost their lives in World War I, the elegant neoclassical Legion of Honor edifice faces Lincoln Park and the Golden Gate Bridge. The collection of the museum consists of more than 4,000 years of ancient and European art. It also has one of the biggest collections of works on paper in the nation—the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts. Don’t miss a concert on the Skinner pipe organ and savor the amazing sound of 4,500 pipes covering anything from Bach and Gershwin to superb movie soundtracks. The Skinner pipe organ hosts public Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m. performances every weekend. Museum of African Diaspora Location: 685 Mission St.