San Francisco, California is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. With its distinctive architecture, breathtaking scenic views, and cultural diversity, it has a lot to offer visitors. Among these offerings are its wonderful museums. This article highlights the museums that offer free admission that will help while tightening your belt during the recession.
Cable Car Museum
The Cable Car Museum offers free admission all the time to those wishing to learn the history and look behind the scenes of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars. The museum’s website at: http://www.cablecarmuseum.org highlights the things a visitor would see at the museum – antique cable cars from the 1870’s, cable car memorabilia, cable car bells, and the actual engines and wheels that propel the current cable cars. Located at 1201 Mason Street in the historic Washington/Mason cable car barn, the museum is open from 10 am – 6 pm, April 1 through September 30, and 10 am – 5 pm, October 1 through March 31. This is a good place to start or end your ride on the famous cable cars.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) was founded in 1935. It was the first West Coast museum to feature modern and contemporary art according to its website at: http://sfmoma.com/. SFMOMA has a collection of artworks, prints, photographs, and various design objects that exceed more than 27,000 pieces. The museum has free admission on the first Tuesday of every month. Active military and kids under 12 also can enter free. SFMOMA is open Friday to Tuesday from 11 am to 5:45 pm, 11 am to 8:45 pm on Thursday. The museum is closed on Wednesdays. It is located at 151 Third Street (between Mission & Howard).
Museum of Craft and Folk Art
Exhibitions in the Museum of Craft and Folk Art highlight unique traditional and contemporary folk art and craft that has been collected from around the globe. Visitors to the museum will be pleasantly surprised at the variety of exhibits that will capture their interest. Located at 51 Yerba Buena Lane in the Yerba Buena Museum District in downtown San Francisco, the museum offers free admission every Tuesday. Hours are Monday-Friday: 11 am – 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm, and closed on Wednesdays. http://www.mocfa.org.
Museo ItaloAmericano
When it was established in 1978, the Museo ItaloAmericano was the only museum in the United States that had Italian and Italian-American art and culture as its sole focus. The museum presents the work of Italian and Italian-American artists. It also sponsors educational programs that encourages the preservation and awareness of Italian art, heritage and culture. The Museo ItaloAmericano has free admission all the time. It is located at 99 Marina Blvd. in the Fort Mason Center, Building C. The museum hours are: Tuesdays through Sundays 12-4 pm and on Mondays by appointment. http://www.museoitaloamericano.org/.
Chinese Cultural Center Gallery
The Chinese Cultural Center Gallery was established in 1965 to preserve and highlight Chinese and Chinese American art, history and culture. The mission was also to promote the appreciation and understanding of these areas by the general public. The gallery features exhibits, educational programs, and serves as cultural center for the community. It sponsors musical events, performances and festivals that further enhance its mission and role in the community. The gallery hours are: Tuesday -Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm and is located at 750 Kearny St, 3rd Floor. Admission is free all the time. http://www.c-c-c.org/
San Francisco Fire Department Museum
The San Francisco Fire Department Museum, according to its website at:
http://www.sffiremuseum.org/, functions to document the history and maintain the cultural heritage of the San Francisco Fire Department. It features documents, fire memorabilia, apparatus, graphic items, and other items related to firefighting. Admission to the museum is free and it is open Thursday through Sunday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The San Francisco Fire Department Museum is located at 655 Presidio Avenue at Pine.
Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art as stated on its website at: http://www.asianart.org/. It has a collection amassing more than 18,000 artworks spanning more than six millenniums. The museum features the Target First Free Sundays that provides free admission to all the public on the first Sunday of every month. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am-5:00 pm with extended hours on Thursday to 9:00 pm. It is closed on Monday. The Asian Art Museum is located at 200 Larkin Street (at Civic Center Plaza).
Cartoon Art Museum
For those who love cartoons presented in all of its different forms that include comic books, Saturday morning cartoons, anime, Sunday paper, and graphic novels, the Cartoon Art Museum is the place to visit in San Francisco. The museum has a mission to promote the appreciation of cartoon art through collections and displays. It houses some of the finest representations of original cartoon art and many unique works according to its website at: http://www.cartoonart.org/. The first Tuesday of each month is “Pay What You Wish Day.” The Cartoon Art Museum is located at 655 Mission Street in San Francisco.
Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a collage of hundreds of science, art, and human perception exhibits located in the Palace of Fine Arts, one of the most recognized landmarks in San Francisco. The museum presents a hands-on laboratory for the research and development of innovations in exhibits, Web publishing, and scientific programs. The Exploratorium has free admission on first Wednesday of each month and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. The science museum is located at 3601 Lyon Street in the Palace of Fine Arts. http://www.exploratorium.edu/
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is an innovative museum that highlights the contemporary art of the Bay Area and from locations around the world. It showcases art that explores and symbolizes contemporary issues and ideas. The museum features galleries, exhibits, performances, and other activities that strive to expand artistic horizons. The YBCA galleries are free to the public on the first Tuesday of every month. The operating hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm, with extended hours on Thursdays to 8 pm. It is closed on Mondays. YBCA is located at 701 Mission Street in downtown San Francisco. http://www.ybca.org/
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco: deYoung Museum & Legion of Honor
deYoung Museum
The de Young Museum was founded in 1895 and the art museum heralds an outstanding collection of American art that spans the period from the 17th century until present day. The museum also includes art of the native Americas, Africa, and the Pacific cultures. The de Young Museum is located at 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The museum is free to the public on the first Tuesday of every month. http://www.famsf.org/deyoung
Legion of Honor
The Legion of Honor contains a collection of ancient and European art that spans more than 4,000 years. Rodin’s Thinker is one of the more famous works of art found at the museum. The building has magnificent Beaux-Arts architecture that is a work of art itself. It is located on a crest that has dramatic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. The museum is located in Lincoln Park near 34th Avenue and Clement Street. Admission to the museum is free to the public on the first Tuesday of every month. http://www.famsf.org/legion
Museum of Performance & Design
The Museum of Performance & Design presents exhibits highlighting the performing arts and theatrical design. It is the nation’s first museum that focuses exclusively on this area. The museum has a collection of more than 3.5 million items, programs, oral histories and other documents that examines the historical backdrop of the performing arts in California and other areas of the nation and world. The museum is open Wednesday – Saturday 12 pm to 5 pm. The Museum of Performance & Design is located on the 4th floor of 401 Van Ness Avenue, next door to the San Francisco Opera House. The museum is free of charge to the public. http://www.mpdsf.org