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10Best Museums
Asian Art Museum
(Attractions & Activities - Museums)
200 Larkin St, San Francisco  94102 • 415-581-3500
        Description: CIVIC CENTER. 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.
        User Rating: 10 / 10
       

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Cable Car Museum
(Attractions & Activities - Museums)
1201 Mason St, San Francisco  94108 • 415-474-1887
        Description: CHINATOWN. This museum has been called "one of the top 10 free attractions in the world" by travel guru Arthur Frommer. 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.
       

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Cartoon Art Museum
(Attractions & Activities - Museums)
655 Mission St Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco  94103 • 415-227-8666
        Description: SOMA. First envisioned in 1984, this museum gained prominence following support from Charles M. Schulz, creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. In 1987, the museum established a home in Yerba Buena Gardens, the city's art center. The facility now offers nearly 6,000 original items, including comic books, comic strips, and computer animation. It's also the only museum of its kind west of the Mississippi. Several major exhibitions are held each year, and a bookstore is available to visitors.
       

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de Young Museum
(Attractions & Activities - Museums)
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr Golden Gate Park, San Francisco  94118-4500 • 415-750-3600
        Description: RICHMOND DISTRICT. 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.
       

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Exploratorium
(Attractions & Activities - Museums)
3601 Lyon St, San Francisco  94123 • 415-397-5673 • 415-563-7337
        Description: MARINA DISTRICT. Founded by physicist Dr. Frank Oppenheimer in 1969, Exploratorium makes learning fun through hands-on participation. More than 650 exhibits keep visitors attentive, and for an additional $3 (and a lot of fun), folks can brave the Tactile Dome. This attraction lets you crawl, climb, and slide through a pitch-dark, soundproofed labyrinth navigated only by touch. NOT for claustrophobes! Advanced reservations are suggested for the Tactile Dome. Special hours Wednesday until 9pm. No admission fee the first Wednesday of the month. Located within San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts.
       

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Legion of Honor
(Attractions & Activities - Museums)
34th Ave and Clement St Lincoln Park, San Francisco  94121 • 415-750-3600
        Description: LINCOLN PARK. 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.
       

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Museum of Craft and Folk Art
(Attractions & Activities - Museums)
51 Yerba Buena Ln Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco  94103 • 415-227-4888
        Description: SOMA. Seeking to elucidate the relationships between experience and craft and between culture and folk art, this fascinating museum explores relevant connections in a variety of exhibits. Traditional and contemporary items are displayed, representing domestic and international populations. Past exhibits have focused on African-American quilts, Scandinavian modernists as inspiration for contemporary California design, puppets from around the world, woven silks of Laos, water spirits in folk art and legend, and items created by detainees in America's Japanese internment camps. Admission is free to everyone on the first Tuesday of each month.
       

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San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
(Attractions & Activities - Museums)
Jefferson St at Hyde St Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco  94123 • 415-561-7100 • 415-447-5000
        Description: FISHERMAN'S WHARF. [The museum is currently closed for renovations, but other attractions remain open.]Maritime National Historical Park is a treasure trove of things nautical. Authentic, turn-of-the-century ships are accessible via guided and self-guided tours, and the museum offers exhibits of boating tools, figureheads, scrimshaw, whaling guns, photographs, videos, and oral history re-creations. History, music, and craft programs for all ages are also available. In addition, the Aquatic Park/Victorian Park area features a nice lawn, a bocce ball court, and an urban beach.
        User Rating: 9.5 / 10
       

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San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design
(Attractions & Activities - Museums)
550 Sutter St, San Francisco  94102 • 415-773-0303
        Description: UNION SQUARE. Fronted by a charming courtyard, this museum occupies the elegant building that once housed Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Salon. Today, beautiful objects rather than bodies are the focus, showcasing both the creative process and the products of design. Past exhibits have been dedicated to industrial design, textile design, furniture, toys created by well-known artists, and the accumulated works of specific designers. The museum shop allows you to take home a wealth of sensual goods in a variety of media. Free docent tours can be arranged.
       

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San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
(Attractions & Activities - Museums)
151 3rd St Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco  94103 • 415-357-4000
        Description: SOMA. This exciting museum offers five floors of gallery space that house more than 15,000 pieces of artwork, some of which are part of the permanent collection. A free, 45-minute tour is recommended to help visitors get their bearings. Exhibits change often, ensuring something new and challenging throughout the year. A great collection of modern and contemporary art.
       

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