Best Museums in San Francisco

For those who like their museum visits sprinkled with Disney magic, be sure to check out the Walt Disney Family Museum. Offering a comprehensive history of this American legend within the beautiful confines of the Presidio, the museum tracks this multibillion dollar corporation's rise from Mickey Mouse to Snow White, Mary Poppins and Disneyland. The Walt Disney Family Museum brings his legacy to life and Lots of interactive exhibits for kids (of all ages!) that invites viewers to find their own creative inspiration in Walt Disney's story. And the location of the Presidio is hard to beat, with wonderful hiking trails that start through eucalyptus forests and end up down by San Francisco Bay.

This museum has been called "one of the top 10 free attractions in the world" by travel guru Arthur Frommer. It's an excellent for all ages because it celebrates the fun whimsy of cable cars but doesn't skip the more complicated mechanics, as well. Watch the machinery that makes San Francisco's most famous form of transportation possible. Also go upstairs for photographs, memorabilia, and other displays related to the history of cable cars. Located at the intersection of Mason and Washington Streets, the Cable Car Museum is perched on the edge of the Embarcadero, which offers glistening views of San Francisco Bay.

First envisioned in 1984, this museum gained prominence following support from Charles M. Schulz, creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. The facility, now located in San Francisco's iconic and scenic Fisherman's Wharf area, is just one block from Aquatic Park, the Maritime Museum, Ghirardelli Square, and the Hyde Street cable car turnaround. Offering nearly 7,000 original items, including comic books, comic strips, and computer animation, the Cartoon Art Museum is also the only museum of its kind west of the Mississippi. Several major exhibitions are held each year within its spacious 8,000 foot area, and a bookstore is available to visitors.

Unlike some of the other museums on this list, the structure that houses this museum is as beautiful as the artwork within. The extensive collection features works from the 13th to the 20th centuries, including those by Monet, Manet, Rubens, Van Gogh, Picasso, Seurat, and other European artists. Earlier works date from approximately 2500 B.C. An original cast of Rodin's "The Thinker" dominates the museum entrance. After you wander the beautiful insides of Legion of Honor, take time to check out its distinct neighborhood, which includes cozy Clement Street and Lands End Recreational Area, which features nature trails with stunning views of the Pacific.

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art. Its holdings began with the generous donations of collector Avery Brundage, and now, the facility houses nearly 15,000 treasures that span 6000 years of history. More than 2500 extraordinary works are displayed at any one time. Together they constitute a comprehensive introduction to Asia's major cultures, including those of India, Tibet, China, Japan and Korea. The museum is located in the city's former Main Library.Take time to check their website for fascinating programs for families and other special events.

The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) is a contemporary art museum whose mission is to celebrate Black cultures, ignite challenging conversations, and inspire learning through the global lens of the African Diaspora. MoAD is one of only a few museums in the United States dedicated to the celebration and interpretation of art, artists, and cultures from the African Diaspora. The Museum presents exhibitions highlighting contemporary art and artists of African descent and engages its audience through education and public programs that interpret and enhance the understanding of Black art. Founded in 2005, the Museum continues to be a unique, cultural arts staple in the San Francisco Bay Area community. General admission is $12; Seniors, Student and Educators, $6; and Members, Active Duty Military and Children under 12, free.

First opened in 1895, the de Young is San Francisco's oldest, most diversified art museum. In late 2005, after many months of renovation, the facility reopened with a new, copper-clad exterior and updated, newly fashioned exhibits. The museum's collections feature primarily American art from the colonial period to the mid 20th century, but you'll also find textiles, crafts and decorative arts, not to mention extensive collections of African, Oceanic and pan-American art. If you visit, be sure to take the elevator to the top of the Hamon Observation Tower. Since the tower is located in the center of San Francisco, it offers a fantastic, 360-degree view of the entire city and surrounding landscape.

Although the de Young museum has the most striking of all the San Francisco museums, the Contemporary Jewish museum has to rank a very close second. Opened in 2005, the 63,000 square foot stunning museum by designer Daniel Libeskind celebrates Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas within a 21st-century perspectives. Like many of the cultural museums in San Francisco, the delight of the museum is that it can celebrate both past accomplishments and current pursuits of a specific culture. Recent exhibits on Houdini and Ezra Jack Kets reveal just how deeply Jewish imagination and thought have positively impacted American culture.

The iconic building of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is just as impressive as the internationally recognized collection inside. Five floors of gallery space house works ranging in media from painting and photography to media arts, architecture and design. Featured artists include greats like Henri Matisse, Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol and Ansel Adams. Plus, the Rooftop Garden's open-air spaces afford dramatic views of the San Francisco skyline and the museum's sculptural works. Be sure you leave time to visit the museum's Blue Bottle Coffee bar on the top floor to enjoy a cup of the signature San Francisco coffee and a spectacular view of the city.

The Exploratorium believes the fundamental childhood traits of being playful and curious should be fostered for a lifetime. Founder Frank Oppenheimer believed in intertwining art and science to make learning attractive and memorable through exhibits such as the Tactile Dome and Traits of Life. If you believe that families that learn together stay together, head to the Exploratorium for a lifetime of togetherness in one day. And even if your budget can't handle the price of admission, the Exploratorium offers fantastic exhibits outside for free, such as the "Fog Bridge" that blows misty gusts every half-hour. And the city hasn't found a way to charge for the views of the sparkling San Francisco Bay that the Exploratorium offers - at least not yet.