Free Monthly Museum Days
Whether the economy is strong or sour, most of the museums in San Francisco and the Bay Area throw their doors open once a month to allow free admission to all comers.
Generally on the first Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of each month, these free days are often crowded, but if you arrive early you’ll stand a great chance of seeing some of the Bay Areas best museums for free.
Free Admission to San Francisco Bay Area Museums
California Academy of Sciences
FREE Sundays (only once a quarter) – 9:30am to 5pm
Change for 2012: Replacing the free third Wednesday, the Academy now only has four free days a year – once a quarter on Sundays. Free Dates for 2012 are February 5, June 3, September 16 and December 9th. Other free admission deals – San Francisco Free Days (for SF residents only)
- 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Asian Art Museum
FREE First Sundays – 10am to 5pm
One of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art with a collection of over 17,000 artworks spanning 6,000 years of history. Special collection surcharges may apply.
- 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco – BART: Civic Center
SFMOMA: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
FREE First Tuesdays – 11am to 5:45pm
The striking Mario Botta designed building houses the West Coast’s most comprehensive collection of 20th century art including master works by Ansel Adams, Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera and more.
- 151 Third Street, San Francisco – BART: Powell Street
Legion of Honor
FREE First Tuesdays – 9:30am to 5:15pm
This exquisite Beaux-Arts building located on a perch with an unbelievable view overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge housed a collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European arts. Special exhibition surcharges may apply.
- 100 24th Ave. San Francisco
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
FREE First Tuesdays – Noon to 8pm
Multidisciplinary art center features exhibitions, performances, film/video and rotating art exhibits with a focus on contemporary and emerging artists form the Bay Area and beyond.
- 3rd and Mission, San Francisco – BART: Powell Street
de Young Museum
FREE First Tuesdays – 9:30am to 5:15pm
One of the most visited art museums in the country, the de Young showcases a priceless collection of American art from the 17th through 20th centuries along with art from Central and South America and the Pacific and an impressive collection of textiles. Special exhibition fees may apply.
- 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
The Exploratorium
FREE First Wednesdays – 10am to 5pm
House within the Palace of Fine Arts, The Exploratorium is a museum of science, art and human perception with over 400 interactive exhibits, many geared towards children and families.
- 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco
Bank of America Free Days
Free weekends at seven Bay Area museums for cardholders
Holders of Bank of America credit cards and debit cards get free admission to seven Bay Area museums for one weekend each month. Museums include Contemporary Jewish Museum (SF), Legion of Honor (SF), de Young Museum (SF), San Jose Museum of Art (SJ) and The Tech Museum of Innovation (SJ).
Oakland Museum of California
FREE First Sundays – 11am-5pm
Covering four city blocks on Oakland, the museum specializes in collections of art, history and natural science to tell the story of California.
- 1000 Oak Street, Oakland – BART: Lake Merritt
Contemporary Jewish Museum
FREE First Tuesdays – 11am to 5pm
The Contemporary Jewish Museum engages audiences of all backgrounds through dynamic exhibitions and programs that explore contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas. And the architecture of the Museum itself is a work of art.
- 736 Mission Street San Francisco – BART: Montgomery Street
Other Free Days
Conservatory of Flowers (Golden Gate Park) – First Tuesdays
Cartoon Art Museum (SoMa) – First Tuesdays “Pay What You Can” Day
San Francisco Zoo (Outer Sunset) – First Wednesdays (SF residents only)
SF Camerawork (SoMa) – First Tuesdays
GLBT Museum (Castro) – First Wednesdays
Pez Museum (Burlingame) – First Thursdays
Chinese Historical Society (Chinatown) – First Thursdays
Berkeley Art Museum (Berkeley) – First Thursdays
Pacific Film Archive (Berkeley) – First Thursdays
Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito) – First Wednesdays
Submitted by Johnny Funcheap
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