Free Admission to San Francisco Attractions
San Francisco has an amazing assortment of museums and scientific collections. Whether your interest lies in ancient art or snow leopard conservation, the chance is that San Francisco will have something of interest for you. Luckily for travelers with lower income, many San Francisco attractions offer free days, where admission is free or heavily discounted.
Free attractions in San Francisco are heavily concentrated at the beginning of the month, and you may want to consider scheduling your trip so that you can catch a few of them. If you use your time well, you can catch a couple of museums in a day without breaking the bank, and save your money for some of the myriad fine dining options in the evening.
The first Tuesday of every month offers free admission to a large number of museums including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Cartoon Art Museum.
Asian Art Museum: 200 Larkin Street
The Asian Art Museum is located in the downtown area close to Civic Center, and has a very large collection of Asian Art ranging from antique to contemporary. In addition to the permanent gallery collections which include art from Tibet, Ancient China, and the Pacific Islands, the Asian Art Museum also has a rotating gallery highlighting aspects of Asian society and culture.
The collection of Indian art is stunning, and features many carvings from Indian temples. The Asian Art Museum also has a large collection of Buddha statuary from all over Asia, along with an impressive collection of Chinese and Japanese arms and armor. If you are interested in porcelain and jade carving, the Asian Art Museum also maintains an amazing collection of Chinese decorative art.
Cartoon Art Museum: 655 Mission Street
The Cartoon Art Museum can also be found in the downtown area. The collections range from World War Two era cartoons to work by modern superstars of the cartoon world. It is one of the only museums on Earth dedicated to the study and preservation of cartoon art, and has rotating displays with features of interest in addition to the regular collection, along with a lecture series for people interested in learning more about cartoon art. Other museums in the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts complex also offer free admission on Tuesdays.
The permanent collection of the Cartoon Art Museum is comprised of over 6,000 items, and the museum also includes a working classroom and library for students of cartoon art. The collections include cartoons rejected from the New Yorker, a history of children's book illustration, and a large assortment of original art by Charles Schultz, creator of Peanuts.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: 151 Third Street
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) has a large permanent collection of modern art from all over the world, along with rotating displays. The SFMOMA also sponsors art events and educational lectures. The SFMOMA's new facility is also worth a visit: the striking architecture complements the museum collections very well.
In addition to sizable permanent collections, the SFMOMA also has a large collection of electronic art available online, including installations of art which are specially designed for the medium of the Internet. The collections include painting, sculpture, architecture, furniture design, and photography, and feature many famous artists.
The de Young Museum: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
The de Young's stunning new facility is located in Golden Gate Park, in close proximity to the Legion of Honor. The de Young has a large collection of California art, along with art and sculpture from all over the world. Early American art can be found at the de Young along with textiles, a very large African collection, a famous collection of American painting, and a series of rotating exhibitions.
The de Young's American painting collection spans American history from the colonial period to the modern day, and has over 1,000 paintings. American sculpture and decorative art from many eras including the Arts and Craft era can be experienced at the de Young as well, with work from stars in their field like Frank Lloyd Wright and David Smith. The de Young also has sizable collections of Oceanic and African art, which are among the finest in the world.
The Legion of Honor: Lincoln Park, Presidio
The Legion of Honor showcases a stunning selection of ancient and European art ranging from painting to sculpture and beyond. The museum is also housed in a stunning Beaux-Arts building with beautiful flooring, unique ceiling panels, and beautifully maintained grounds. The Legion of Honor has a large collection of European decorative art, furniture, painting, and porcelain, along with ancient art from the Near and Middle East.
The Near and Middle Eastern collections at the Legion of Honor are among the most spectacular in the United States, with a heavy emphasis on art from antiquity although modern Middle Eastern art is also on view. Mesopotamian, ancient Greek, Assyrian, and Roman artifacts can all be viewed at the Legion of Honor, in addition to the substantial collection of European decorative art. The Legion of Honor also has one of the largest collections of printed artist's books in the world, providing an amazing and interesting view of the minds of many well known artists.
Conservatory of Flowers: John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park
The Conservatory of Flowers is located in Golden Gate Park, an interesting destination on its own. If you have an interest in tropical flowers and conservation, the collections at Conservatory of Flowers are well worth a visit. The buildings feature orchids, palms, bromeliads, carnivorous plants, and other unusual and rare tropical plants. The Conservatory of Flowers have five galleries filled with horticultural delights for all ages.
Wander through the Conservatory of Flowers to look at aquatic plants, lowland tropical species, potted tropical plants, highland tropical species, and a rotating special collection. In addition to the flowers, the Conservatory also has an extensive education program with lectures, films, and field trips.
If you're not exhausted by this busy Tuesday, stay tuned for the next offering in this series: free admission to San Francisco museums and attractions on Wednesdays!
