Fun Things

1849 Washington St

We are open! Please stop by our Polk Street location to take a peek at our unique Antique Vibrator Museum, open every day between the hours of 12:30-6:30pm. We're just over a block from the California Street cable car line! The story of our favorite household helper is stranger than fiction. See a century's worth of vibes-- admission is free to this San Francisco must-see! We look forward to seeing you soon!--Good Vibrations

Bank of California Building, 400 California St

The Bob Mizer Museum and Photography Archives is a nonprofit museum and scholarly archive dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of photography that centers the male form, with a particular emphasis on mid-20th century homoerotic imagery, physique culture, and queer visual history. We promote and preserve of progressive and controversial photography and believes that the most disputed works of art are the most important to the progress of society.

1715 Octavia St

The California Migration Museum is a museum without walls, creating immersive experiences that tell the stories of immigrants and refugees in California. our immersive neighborhood walks combine dramatic audio and Extended Reality scenes and invite you to step into the hidden histories of California. Explore free and self-guided tours in San Francisco and Downtown LA.

Promoting and preserving the history, legacy and contributions of Chinese in America.

653 Kearny St

1485 Haight St

The museum showcases the rich history of French Speaking immigrants and their influence on the San Franciscan and Californian community through a wide range of exhibits, educational programs, and events. We also host temporary modern art exhibit (paintings, pictures, ... ).

The GLBT Historical Society collects, preserves, exhibits and makes accessible to the public materials and knowledge to support and promote understanding of LGBTQ history, culture and arts in all their diversity. Founded in 1985, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Historical Society is recognized internationally as a leader in the field of LGBTQ public history. Our operations are centered around two sites: our GLBT Historical Society Museum, located since 2011 in the heart of San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood; and our Dr. John P. De Cecco Archives and Research Center, open to researchers in the Mid-Market district.

8th Ave at, John F Kennedy Dr

30 Clarion Alley

Guardians of the City Museum & Safety Learning Center (formally the San Francisco Fire Museum) is a nonprofit museum and educational center dedicated to preserving public safety history, honoring service, and engaging the community through learning. Through exhibits, programs, and partnerships, we highlight the legacy of first responders, public servants, and civic leadership while inspiring future generations through safety, resilience, and community connection.

Built in 1886, the Haas-Lilienthal House functions as a house museum, a popular venue for meetings, lectures, social events, as well as the home office of the nonprofit San Francisco Heritage. Members of the Haas-Lilienthal family donated the house to SF Heritage in 1973 with most of its contents and furnishings intact. The house is open for public tours and attracts visitors from around the world. It also serves as a classroom for SF Heritage’s educational programs such as “Heritage Hikes,” an interpretive tour for 3rd graders begun in 1981.

1111 California St

The Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF) is guided by a bold ambition: to activate San Francisco’s most significant public and architectural spaces with experimental, boundary-pushing, museum-scale contemporary art. We commission the best artists working today from the Bay Area and across the world.

451 Galvez Ave

Unique octagonal house & garden from 1861, today a decorative arts museum open twice a month.

Petite museum offering rotating exhibits of Italian-American art, classes & cultural programming.

The world-class Museum Of 3D Illusions has finally arrived in San Francisco! Bring your families, friends and loved ones and create memories that will last a lifetime. The Museum of 3D Illusions is founded as a place to let the mind soar through a world of optical illusions. A visitor to the Museum of 3D Illusions is not a passive observer but a full-fledged participant of the paintings created by some of the world’s best artists. We’re not like other museums, the 40+ exhibits you will see are completely interactive and yes, photography is highly encouraged!

2450 Sutter St

The Museum of San Francisco, located in downtown San Francisco, is the site of the first mint in the West. The museum showcases San Francisco’s unique and colorful history through a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits. The museum is also available to rent for private events. The Museum of San Francisco is operated by the San Francisco Historical Society.

949 Clay St

1240 Valencia St

The Museum of Advertising is a one-of-a-kind space dedicated to the art, craft, and cultural impact of advertising. Housed inside our working offices, the museum brings together original artifacts, memorabilia, and iconic pieces from landmark campaigns by some of the world's most celebrated brands — including a genuine Cannes Lions trophy, one of the industry's highest honors. Part gallery, part living archive, it's a place to walk through the ideas and creativity that shaped modern advertising. Visitors are welcome to explore the collection and see the stories behind the campaigns that defined generations.

Showgirl Magic Museum is the brainchild of Cynthia Yee, president of the Clarion and director of Grant Avenue Follies; dancer, magician and impresario. ​ The museum pays tribute to the vibrant nightclub scene in San Francisco Chinatown during the 1940’s to 70’s and the people who made it happen. ​ Beautiful headdresses, costumes and other memorabilia from that enchanting era are displayed in the underground alcove of the Clarion, giving an extra layer of intrigue to tourists and residents alike.

335 Powell St

*July 2026 Update: museum temporarily closed, but public programs continue! Visit our website for more info!* Community history museum of the Tenderloin neighborhood. All are welcome! Visitors will find a permanent exhibit on the TL's history, a rotating gallery featuring resident artwork and/or archival deep dives, Thursday evening public programs, Saturday afternoon walking tours, + a small bookstore & gift shop. Since April 2025, TLM has produced "The Compton's Cafeteria Riot" play at 835 Larkin. A significant expansion is planned for 2027-2028.

Dedicated to the poets, writers, artists, and musicians of the Beat Generation, part of the San Francisco Renaissance, the Beat Museum is an historical exhibition of the lives and work of these important artists. For the novice and the knowledgeable alike, the museum features photography, artworks, personal effects and other artifacts to tell the story of this extraordinary group of people, whose ideas changed America and the world through the 1950s and 1960s.

A University museum and learning lab for the SFSU Museum Studies program, located at San Francisco State University. Serving the campus and community with exhibits open Tues/Weds/Thurs 12-4pm during Fall and Spring semesters (closed for campus recesses and summer, visits arranged by appointment). Always free and open to the public.

Find animation, innovation, and inspiration in the remarkable life story of Walt Disney, the man who raised animation to an art, tirelessly pursued innovation, and created a distinctly American legacy that transformed the entertainment world. Located in the scenic Presidio of San Francisco, the museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that features contemporary, interactive galleries with state-of-the-art exhibits narrated in Walt’s own voice alongside early drawings, cartoons, films, music, a spectacular model of Disneyland, and more.

50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr

How do you see the world? Find out at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Truhlsen-Marmor Museum of the Eye®. It is the world’s only free, public museum dedicated to the fascinating science of sight. Through high-tech exhibits and a renowned collection of ophthalmic artifacts, you’ll discover surprising facts about how your vision works and the field of medicine devoted to protecting it.

WW II Submarine Museum and Memorial. Visitors tour through the submarine with a self guided audio tour. School age children learn history and technology in daytime and overnight programs.

Temporary Closure Notice for Immersive Exhibition Preparation We hope this message finds you well. We want to inform you that our museum will be temporarily closed for a brief period as we prepare to bring you an exciting and immersive exhibition experience. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to welcoming you back to our museum soon