San Francisco Museum Guide - A to Z
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An alphabetical directory of San Francisco museums, including a location map. Several Bay Area museums outside of San Francisco are listed at the end of the directory.
See the calendar of Free Museum Days in San Francisco, for free admission and discounts throughout the month.
For gallery shows and exhibits, see the list of San Francisco Art Galleries.
A listing of current museum exhibits is available on the San Francisco Main Event Calendar.
11. Musee Mecanique
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
Location: Pier 45/Fisherman's Wharf - FREE
Pier 45 at the end of Taylor Street
Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco, CA 94133
Telephone: (415) 346-2000
See Museum on Map
The Musee Mecanique is a unique arcade at Pier 45, filled with antique musical instruments, arcade games and posted stories covering some of San Francisco's history. Link to a full profile below.
12. Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
Location: SoMa/South of Market
685 Mission Street (at 3rd)
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone: (415) 358-7200
See: San Francisco Museum Map
MoAD is a beautiful and modern museum, with multi-media installations and traditional exhibit spaces. Visitors learn about the African Diaspora: "The scattering of people from Africa and the sowing of their cultures globally." Link to a full profile below.
13. Museum of Craft and Folk Art
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
Location: SoMa/South of Market
51 Yerba Buena Lane (at Mission, between 3rd & 4th)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Telephone: (415) 227-4888
See: San Francisco Museum Map
Through a wide variety of exhibits, the museum creates visual connections between traditional arts and crafts, and other forms of fine art. Past exhibits have ranged from African-American quilt-making to world puppet art and Native American glass work.
FREE Every Tuesday in 2008
14. Pacific Heritage Museum
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
Location: Financial District - FREE
608 Commercial Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel: (415) 227-4888
See: San Francisco Museum Map
San Francisco's Pacific Heritage Museum is in the US Subtreasury Building (1875)-- at the location of the original San Francisco Mint.
** The next Mint building -- now known as the Old Mint or Granite Lady -- is at 5th and Mission. The final Mint (known as the New Mint)opened in 1937.
The Pacific Heritage Museum's exhibits document the history and significance of the Branch Mint and Subtreasury buildings over time. You'll find architectural plans, coins, photos and other related artifacts.
15. San Francisco Fire Department Museum
Location: Pacific Heights - FREE
655 Presidio Avenue (between Pine & Bush)
San Francisco, CA 94115
Telephone: (415) 563-4630
See Museum on Map
Through a collection of documents and other memorabilia, the museum records and preserves the history of the San Francisco Fire Department. The exhibits include fire-fighting equipment and artifacts from the 1800s and the 1906 earthquake.
16. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
Location: Fisherman's Wharf
Hyde Street Pier at Aquatic Park
2905 Hyde Street (at the foot of Hyde)
Telephone: (415) 447-5000
See: See San Francisco Museum Map
Although the Maritime Museum Building is closed for renovation until 2009, the Maritime National Historical Park offers both indoor and outdoor activities throughout the year: The historical ships at Hyde Pier, special events, and guided tours. The Visitors Center (free) also offers informative exhibits on maritime history in San Francisco.
Free entrance to Hyde Pier, with fees for boarding various ships at the pier.
17. San Francisco Museum of Craft & Design
Location: Union Square - Nob Hill
550 Sutter Street (between Mason & Powell)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: (415) 773-0303
See Museum on Map
Opened in 2004, the Museum of Craft and Design focuses on crafts and objects of design, and their integration in our lives. An example is the Tools as Art exhibit held in 2007, which celebrated common tools and hardware through artists who incorporated the tools in their imagery.
18. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
Location: SoMa
151 Third Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Telephone: (415) 357-4000
See: San Francisco Museum Map
Designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a showpiece. The interior has ample natural light pouring in from a central atrium/skylight. Collections include modern works in photography, painting, sculpture, design and media arts. SF MOMA also hosts special events, screenings and lectures. The museum has a large gift shop and popular cafe, as well.
19. San Francisco Railway Museum
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
SoMa | Embarcadero - FREE
77 Steuart Street (near Ferry Building)
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone: (415) 974-1948
See: San Francisco Museum Map
The Railway Museum features artifacts related to San Francisco's history of rail transit. The small museum space houses a photographic collection and audio-visual displays. You can also purchase interesting railway-related memorabilia and gifts, including books, DVDs and posters.
20. Wells Fargo History Museum
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
Location: Financial District - FREE
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94163
Tel: (415) 396-2619
See: San Francisco Museum Map
The San Francisco branch of the Wells Fargo History Museum is one of several throughout the U.S. Exhibits inside relate to the history of Wells Fargo, to Gold Rush finances, and stage coaches and robbers.
You'll find an 1860s Concord Coach (visible through the window from Montgomery Street). Exhibits are accompanied by descriptions and other visual artifacts. If you're interested in the early express companies and Gold Rush era correspondence, the museum has a selection of items from this period in history.
See a picture of the museum in a gallery of San Francisco Financial District Photos
