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Museums / Cultural Institutions

Built in 1894, SF's Japanese Tea Garden Stuns w/ Newly Revamped Pagoda PlazaBuilt in 1894, SF’s Japanese Tea Garden Stuns w/ Newly Revamped Pagoda Plaza
By - posted 11/27/2024
Brand New, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Only in San Francisco, Outdoorsy, Parks & Beaches, San Francisco

Historic Japanese Tea Garden Debuts Stunning Redesigned Pagoda Plaza San Francisco’s Japanese Tea Garden, the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States, has unveiled its newly redesigned Pagoda Plaza. Nestled in Golden Gate Park, this historic treasure, built in 1894, now boasts a stunning open space for cultural events and quiet more...

Free Monthly Museum DaysFree Monthly Museum Days
By - posted 11/25/2024
Get Out: Events, Museums / Cultural Institutions

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 more...

SF’s Contemporary Jewish Museum Closes (Free Visits Through December 15)SF’s Contemporary Jewish Museum Closes (Free Visits Through December 15)
By - posted 11/14/2024
Bay Area Favorites, Freebies, Museums / Cultural Institutions, San Francisco, What's Closed / What's Open

The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) in San Francisco has, unfortunately, announced it will temporarily close its galleries for at least one year, beginning December 16, 2024, due to financial challenges. The good news (if there is any, here) is that in order to give the public an opportunity to experience the more...

Free SF Art Museum Opens in Historic Downtown Bank Building "The Cube"Free SF Art Museum Opens in Historic Downtown Bank Building “The Cube”
By - posted 10/28/2024
Downtown San Francisco, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Only in San Francisco, San Francisco, What's Closed / What's Open

In a bold move bridging San Francisco’s history and future, the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF) celebrated its grand opening from October 25-27, 2024, marking a major milestone for the city’s art scene and showcasing a model for revitalizing vacant urban spaces. Known as The Cube, the 78,000-square-foot, more...

SF's Legion of Honor Celebrates 100 Years with Rare Free 3-Day WeekendSF’s Legion of Honor Celebrates 100 Years with Rare Free 3-Day Weekend
By - posted 10/24/2024
Celebrations, Fairs & Festivals, Fall, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Only in San Francisco, San Francisco

In a rare three-day event, San Francisco’s Legion of Honor museum will open its doors for free to all visitors from November 9-11, 2024, in celebration of its 100th anniversary. Known for offering a free day on the first Tuesday of every month to all visitors, and weekly free Saturdays exclusive more...

GLBT Historical Society Gets New Permanent Museum in the CastroGLBT Historical Society Gets New Permanent Museum in the Castro
By - posted 10/1/2024
Brand New, Museums / Cultural Institutions

Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Mandelman Announce New Permanent Home for LGBTQ History Museum in the Castro San Francisco will purchase 2280 Market Street to serve as the site of the nation’s first LGBTQ museum and its archives after decades of the collection being in temporary locations. Today, Mayor London N. Breed and more...

SF’s Brand New Rare Stinky “Corpse Flower” is About to BloomSF’s Brand New Rare Stinky “Corpse Flower” is About to Bloom
By - posted 2/23/2024
Brand New, Get Out: Events, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Only in San Francisco, Wow

Thanks to KRON4 for sharing the news about this brand new corpse flower from SF’s California Academy of Sciences! Hold your breath! California Academy of Sciences’ well-known stinky corpse flower is about to open up its first bloom. This huge flower will open up in the museum’s greenhouse, Osher Rainforest, sometime more...

MCD's Free Museum Weekend (December 9-10)MCD’s Free Museum Weekend (December 9-10)
By - posted 12/3/2023
Freebies, Get Out: Events, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Only in San Francisco, Partner, San Francisco, Sponsored

Celebrate the holiday season in Dogpatch during MCD’s Free Weekend December 9-10, 2023. During MCD’s Free Weekend explore what peaceful design might mean to you through MCD’s current exhibition Designing Peace. Designing Peace features 30 artists and designers from over 20 countries looking at ways to create and sustain more durable more...

SF's 1886 Victorian Haas-Lilienthal House Closes Until Spring 2024SF’s 1886 Victorian Haas-Lilienthal House Closes Until Spring 2024
By - posted 11/17/2023
Bay Area Updates, Goodbye, Museums / Cultural Institutions, San Francisco

Thanks to SF Gate for sharing the unfortunate news that the historic Haas-Lilienthal House has closed for the remainder of 2023. The 137-year-old Queen Anne home unfortunately hasn’t rebounded since the pandemic and is struggling financially. The 11,500-square-foot mansion will remain open to private events, but tours are suspended for the more...

Oakland's Free Friday Night Fall Block Parties w/ Off the GridOakland’s Free Friday Night Fall Block Parties w/ Off the Grid
By - posted 9/27/2023
Museums / Cultural Institutions, Oakland, Outdoorsy, Sponsored

Reconnect with family, friends, and community during Friday Nights at OMCA. These free events provide a gathering place each week, including live music, hands-on activities, Off the Grid (OTG) food trucks, and late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions with a Museum ticket. Limited flat rate parking for Friday more...

Check Out SF's New Bruce Lee Mural in ChinatownCheck Out SF’s New Bruce Lee Mural in Chinatown
By - posted 7/3/2023
Artsy Fartsy, Community, Murals, Museums / Cultural Institutions, San Francisco

Last week, San Francisco’s Chinese Historical Society of America Museum and  Bruce Lee’s daughter, Shannon, actress Olivia Cheng, and actor Richard Ting, for the unveiling of the new Bruce Lee mural on Joice Street alley in the place of his birth—San Francisco Chinatown—to celebrate the premiere of season 3 of more...

SF’s Rare Stinky “Corpse Flower” is Blooming!SF’s Rare Stinky “Corpse Flower” is Blooming!
By - posted 6/30/2023
Museums / Cultural Institutions, Wow

The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park has announced that one their rare super smelly “corpse flowers” is just about ready to bloom. And that means it’s going to start smelling like rotting flesh. Nice!   UPDATE – As of July 4, 2023 (1:06pm) We’re open regular hours today and it’s our more...

de Young Museum Hosts 8 Free Weekends in 2023de Young Museum Hosts 8 Free Weekends in 2023
By - posted 3/18/2023
Brand New, Museums / Cultural Institutions, San Francisco

The US Premiere of “Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence” at the de Young Museum received grant from Google.org providing eight weekends of free admission to the exhibition and support for vital public programming, including school and youth curriculum. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (the “Museums”) just announced the more...

Lawrence Livermore Lab's Discovery Center Reopens After 3 Year ClosureLawrence Livermore Lab’s Discovery Center Reopens After 3 Year Closure
By - posted 3/14/2023
East Bay, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Reopening

By Tony Hicks, Bay City News There are probably more secrets inside Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory than any single square mile in Northern California. One of them, ironically, isn’t one they try to keep: the existence of the lab’s Discovery Center. In an outbuilding of approximately 1,110 square feet on the lab’s more...

Oakland's New "Nature Playspace" for Kids at OMCAOakland’s New “Nature Playspace” for Kids at OMCA
By - posted 11/17/2022
Fun & Games, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Oakland, Sponsored, Things to Do

Calling all kiddos and future scientists! The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) invites you to experience its new interactive OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace for kids ages 2 to 5, their families, and caregivers. Explore the natural world from a kids’ eye view and learn about animals and plants that live more...