Discover the best museums to visit in San Francisco today.
San Francisco thrives on a wealth of culture and experiences as it has over 50 incredible museums, each one more distinct than the next. Experience the impressive architecture of the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum while exploring San Francisco's culture in just one day. Below are the 22 best museums in San Francisco.
1. Museum of Modern Art
This building with seven floors displays temporary paintings from artists such as David Park, Rene Magritte, and Diego Rivera, among others. The collection also includes permanent pieces by Doris and Donald Fisher, creators of the clothing brand GAP. In May 2016, Snohetta's newly designed structure for the museum expansion was revealed.
2. Museum of Russian Culture
The Museum of Russian Culture, located at 2450 Sutter St. in Lower Pacific Heights, San Francisco, is a respected collection focusing on Russian history, the Bolshevik Revolution, the initial Russian immigration wave (1917-1922) from Siberia, China, and the far East, and honoring the Russian-American community in San Francisco.
This place, founded in 1948 to store Russian artifacts in America, was converted into a museum in 1953 to honor Russia's impact on the American environment. The museum houses various artifacts such as newspaper clippings, magazines, letters, diaries, photos, military flags and uniforms, the Ipatieff bomb, an Ampex video recording system, and other important historical items from Russian history.
This place, founded in 1948 to store Russian artifacts in America, was converted into a museum in 1953 to honor Russia's impact on the American environment. The museum houses various artifacts such as newspaper clippings, magazines, letters, diaries, photos, military flags and uniforms, the Ipatieff bomb, an Ampex video recording system, and other important historical items from Russian history.
3. de Young Museum
De Young is a top-notch art museum showcasing remarkable pieces created by African-American and Native American-artists for those who appreciate art. The Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is where it can be found. Its special displays change regularly, featuring pieces by Oscar de la Renta and Frida Kahlo.
4. The Legion of Honor
This permanent display features decorative art, photos, sculptures, paintings, and artifacts by famous artists like Louis XV, Rodin, Salone Dore, and Gerome, among others. It also presents rotating exhibits of works by Tissot, Rubens, Degas, and various global artists. The museum hosts exhibitions by Bill Owens, Eadweard Muybridge, John Gutmann, and others, along with theatre events and organ concerts. The cafe provides great food choices and the shop sells a variety of books, puzzles, and accessories.
5. California Academy of Sciences
The Academy originated in 1853 as an organization focused on carrying out research. The Academy offers four primary museum programs: the Kimball Natural History Museum, the Morrison Planetarium, Rainforests of the World, and the Steinhart Aquarium. The interactive exhibits throughout the museum offer families a chance to learn together in an enjoyable and educational manner.
6. GLBT Historical Society Museum
The GLBT Historical Society was established to advocate for LGBTQ acceptance and validate their basic rights. The museum features a reading room archive housing a vast array of photos, publications, personal audiovisual recordings, and stories.
It presents Harvey Milk's life displays as a gay politician, his murder, and related topics like AIDS awareness, drag queens, and the activism of Angela Davis, Gay Pride, and so on. Along with this, panel conversations, movie showings, and formal parties are organized there. The museum's gift shop provides a variety of clothing, accessories, and bags for sale.
It presents Harvey Milk's life displays as a gay politician, his murder, and related topics like AIDS awareness, drag queens, and the activism of Angela Davis, Gay Pride, and so on. Along with this, panel conversations, movie showings, and formal parties are organized there. The museum's gift shop provides a variety of clothing, accessories, and bags for sale.
7. Asian Art Museum
San Francisco's Asian Art Museum boasts a magnificent array of various types of Asian art spanning many years. It strives to connect Asian and American cultures by exploring outstanding historical treasures from Vietnam, China, and other nations.
8. Musée Mécanique
This location has an impressive assortment of more than 280 mechanical entertainment devices, including mechanical orchestras that play on their own and classic slot machines. It holds one of the largest assortments of these games globally with private individuals owning them.
9. Cartoon Art Museum
It is a visually pleasing brick structure with plenty of room for displays and art exhibitions. The museum displays a captivating assortment of cartoon art, including comic strips, comic book pages, anime, and digital cartoon art.
10. Walt Disney Family Museum
This showcases 10 unique galleries that depict the life of Walt Disney and honor his memory. The museum features numerous captivating exhibits showcasing Walt Disney's original artwork for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Fox and the Hound, Disney's contributions during World War II, and more. Visitors can enjoy translated audio tours, noise-canceling headphones, and continuous video screenings that delve into Walt Disney's vision and groundbreaking artwork.
11. Randall Museum
Randall Museum blends the feel of a science and arts center with the environment of a natural history museum. The museum is dedicated to science, nature, and the arts. The amenities consist of the theater, carpentry workshop, artistic space, and pottery studio.
12. Museum of Performance + Design
The Museum of Performance & Design preserves the history of performing arts and theatre in the Bay Area, chronicling its growth from the Gold Rush era of California to the present day. The museum in San Francisco displays pieces from artists and performing groups, as well as presenting preserved live theatrical shows.
The Museum's Library houses a diverse assortment of books, clippings, photos, posters, interviews, audio-video tapes, musical theatre recordings, dance performances, plays, theatre film archives, research materials on sets and costumes, and reviews from critics.
The Museum's Library houses a diverse assortment of books, clippings, photos, posters, interviews, audio-video tapes, musical theatre recordings, dance performances, plays, theatre film archives, research materials on sets and costumes, and reviews from critics.
13. American Bookbinders Museum
The sole museum in North America dedicated to bookbinding, the American Bookbinders Museum was founded to honor the tools and methods of bookbinding. They exhibit temporary displays of detailed handmade books, colorful and glittery decorative bookbinding, picture books, etc. They feature antique tools such as embossing machines, arming presses, roller backing machines, etc., and show their use in bookbinding.
The museum holds illustrated presentations, speeches, readings, and exhibit openings along with various other gatherings. Included in their collection are a bookbinding directory from the previous century, decorative book covers that were published, as well as various books and periodicals. Its space can be rented for both corporate and private events. The store provides book repair kits and bookbinder kits, among various other items.
The museum holds illustrated presentations, speeches, readings, and exhibit openings along with various other gatherings. Included in their collection are a bookbinding directory from the previous century, decorative book covers that were published, as well as various books and periodicals. Its space can be rented for both corporate and private events. The store provides book repair kits and bookbinder kits, among various other items.
14. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
This center presents art, films, dance shows, and public events. It exhibits works and partners with other organizations to support the community and combat violence. The YBCA has introduced a vibrant art project on the park's open lawn to promote social distancing and awareness.
15. Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts
The institution showcases artwork from renowned artists Julia Heyward and Sotheby. Performance art and other distinct experiences are frequently showcased on the institute's second floor. The Wattis Institute is open to the public and can be accessed free of charge. Any lover of art should make sure to see it when they visit San Francisco.
16. The Mexican Museum
This museum in San Francisco, previously called El Museo Mexicano, celebrates Mexican art and culture while providing a supportive environment for Mexican-American artists. The museum features a varied assortment of artwork including Pre-Hispanic, Colonial, Latino, Mexican, and Chicano pieces, as well as contemporary multi-faceted, modern Mexican, surrealistic paintings, and visual arts.
17. Academy of Art University Automobile Museum
The Automobile Museum at the Academy of Art University is located at the intersection of Washington and Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. This museum in San Francisco was constructed to restore and showcase the history of automobiles. The unique automobiles showcased emphasize the detailed workmanship and styles from various time periods. Design students at the university are given the opportunity to study these well-maintained and impressive vehicles.
18. Cable Car Museum
The Cable Car Museum, situated at the Washington cable car barn and powerhouse, is a remarkable museum in San Francisco that showcases the history, construction, and operation of cable cars. The city of San Francisco continues to operate a group of Powell Street and California Street cars in the area and the museum holds a yearly bell-ringing competition.
This is to recognize and honor the changing history of cable cars and those managing it. It displays old cable cars and various equipment such as rails, brakes, and mechanisms that were used to operate them. They exhibit a large selection of significant photos and offer a variety of items for sale at the museum store, such as books, clothing, mementos, and cable car bells.
This is to recognize and honor the changing history of cable cars and those managing it. It displays old cable cars and various equipment such as rails, brakes, and mechanisms that were used to operate them. They exhibit a large selection of significant photos and offer a variety of items for sale at the museum store, such as books, clothing, mementos, and cable car bells.
19. Museo Italo Americano
The only museum in America dedicated to Italian culture was founded in 1978, giving rise to the charming Museo Italo Americano. Originally situated in the Italian neighborhood of North Beach in San Francisco, the museum was eventually relocated to the Fort Mason Center on Marina Boulevard off Buchanan Street. The museum plays a crucial role in safeguarding Italian art and culture while also functioning as a gathering place for Italian-Americans.
20. Conservatory of Flowers
Constructed from both wood and glass, this vast collection is categorized into five separate sections showcasing tropical flowers and plants from various regions globally. The place is beautifully designed with decorated floors, plenty of pitcher plants, and striking fountain features. The employees are well-informed and extremely amicable, always available to provide guidance and discuss the collection.
21. International Art Museum of America
IAMA is filled with remarkable architecture, expertly designed by architect Weiya Noble. It attracts a lot of interest with its impressive arrival featuring a garden, pond, waterfall, rock formations, green hedges, and flowers all housed under a pagoda-roofed pavilion.
22. Pacific Heritage Museum
The Pacific Heritage Museum honors the cultural ancestry of those residing in the Pacific Rim region. This small museum pays tribute to different cultures from across the Pacific Ocean and contains numerous changing displays that highlight various countries. Previous shows have included 'The Art of Tea: China and Beyond' and 'Macao Memories'. Established by the Bank of Canton of California, this museum is situated in the US Subtreasury Building, opposite the Transamerica Building.
