Museums / Cultural Institutions
Exploratorium + Asian Art Museum Offer Free Admission During SFUSD School Closures
Getting Help, Museums / Cultural Institutions, San Francisco With SFUSD schools closed due to the ongoing labor situation, a couple of San Francisco museums are stepping up with free (or heavily discounted) daytime admission for students and families. In response to SFUSD school closures, the Exploratorium and the Asian Art Museum are helping to support families during this unexpected more...
SF’s Free Immersive Pop-Up Music Museum for Super Bowl Weekend (Feb. 5-7)
Downtown San Francisco, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Super Bowl, Things to Do EMPIRE Records opens a free immersive music museum pop-up in downtown San Francisco for Super Bowl weekend, February 5-7, 2026. If you’re looking for a free Super Bowl weekend activity in San Francisco, Bay Area record label EMPIRE is opening a pop-up museum in the Financial District to celebrate its 15-year anniversary. The more...
Free Museum Days in San Francisco + Bay Area (2026)
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...
SFMOMA Ends Free First Thursdays (For Now)
Bay Area Updates, Museums / Cultural Institutions Sadly, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has confirmed that its Free First Thursday program is temporarily paused beginning February 2026. The museum says the program will be re-envisioned and relaunched at a future date, with updates to be shared once plans are finalized. As of January 15, no additional more...
SF’s Beloved Albino Alligator Claude Passes Away
Goodbye, Local Icons, Museums / Cultural Institutions San Francisco is mourning a true local icon. Claude, the beloved albino alligator who greeted millions of visitors at the California Academy of Sciences, has passed away at the age of 30. Claude arrived from Louisiana in 2008 and quickly became the unofficial mascot of both the Academy and the city more...
SF Hosts Rare “Willie Mays” Museum for One Week Only (Until Sept. 27)
Local Icons, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Wow For one week only, fans can step inside a rare “pop-up museum” dedicated to the life and legacy of baseball legend Willie Mays. Nearly 450 items from Mays’ personal collection, including his two National League MVP awards, 1954 World Series ring, Gold Gloves, and even his high school diploma, are more...
Alamo Square “Painted Lady” Hosts Rare Pop-up Museum
Artsy Fartsy, Bay Area Favorites, Brand New, Get Out: Events, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Only in San Francisco, San Francisco For the first time ever, one of San Francisco’s iconic “Painted Ladies” on Alamo Square is opening its doors to the public – and it’s housing a rare pop-up art museum from local street artist fnnch. Inside you’ll find street artist fnnch’s Honey Bear paintings over the last 10 years. There more...
A Rare “Free Week” at SF’s Asian Art Museum (July 23-Aug. 4)
Downtown San Francisco, Freebies, Museums / Cultural Institutions, Only in San Francisco From Wednesday, July 25 through Monday, August 4 (extended!), the Asian Art Museum is offering a rare week of free admission while its third-floor galleries are temporarily closed. Normally $20 for adults, this is a rare opportunity to explore two full floors of stunning art at no cost – including more more...
SF’s Giant Rare Stinky “Corpse Flower” is Blooming!
Museums / Cultural Institutions, Wow Hold your breath! The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park has announced that one of their rare super smelly “corpse flowers” is blooming. Experience the incredibly large, notoriously stinky corpse flower bloom! Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Bloom Update: It’s happening! Our lovely Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum), Chanel, is blooming! This rare bloom only lasts for 2 days and smells more...
Jerry Garcia Museum Coming to San Francisco?
Brand New, Museums / Cultural Institutions, San Francisco San Francisco may soon be home to a new museum dedicated to legendary Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia, celebrating his roots in the city’s Excelsior District. The project, spearheaded by the Jerry Day Committee, is still in its early planning stages, but organizers hope to bring Garcia’s lasting musical legacy more...
SF’s California Historical Society Closes After 154 Years
Goodbye, Museums / Cultural Institutions San Francisco’s California Historical Society (CHS), a cornerstone of the state’s historical preservation since 1871, has permanently closed due to long-standing financial difficulties. Its extensive collection, which includes books, journals, photographs, maps, and archival documents, will now be under the stewardship of Stanford University Libraries (SUL). The CHS Board of Trustees more...
Built in 1894, SF’s Japanese Tea Garden Stuns w/ Newly Revamped Pagoda Plaza
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...
SF’s Contemporary Jewish Museum Closes (Free Visits Through December 15)
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”
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 Weekend
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...
