The National Air And Space Museum: Washington Dc
The National Air and Space museums is one of the most recognized and impressive museums both in the United States and across the globe. Once you start looking at what the museum offers and the history it carries, its not hard to see why it has gained such prestige.
The museum allows you to touch an actual moon rock, is home to the 1903 Wright Flyer, and holds some of aviation historys most iconic and innovative aircrafts.
Additionally, the museum holds an IMAX theater, observatory, planetarium, 3-D simulators, and over 20 interactive exhibits.
Become enriched and enthralled by space discovery, aviation science, and an extensive collection of aviations most iconic explorations.
Choosing Drupal : A Masterpiece In The Making
The project promised to be challenging from the start, given the level of interaction and the short timeline. To ensure close alignment with the exhibits, Palantir collaborated with the museums education staff to create a prototype. While the educational staff were the experts on the content, they relied on Palantirs technical recommendation for the website development platform. The agency recommended Drupal 8.
We thought Drupal 8 really leveraged paragraphs for these interactive components, and they could work out these sites as individual pages, says Bill Sprowl, Senior Frontend Developer for Palantir. That was a unique aspect of this project. A single node was considered a self-contained site.
The design process was highly collaborative, with the FAMSF educators and Palantir experts working through several iterations over the short timeline to get the right fit for interactions. On the Monet site, for instance, viewers can zoom in on a painting, with an explanation simultaneously layering on top. The Summer of Love site reveals audio and text as viewers examine photos.
Society Of California Pioneers
The Society of California Pioneers was established to record the culture and history of 19th-century California settlers and their descendants.
In addition to archives and a library , the Society also runs a museum chronicling some of the events that shaped and changed the area forever. The Gold Rush years and the 1906 earthquake are two of those events.
The museums collection features letters, pioneer diaries, daguerreotypes and photographs, maps, newspapers, and historic artifacts. Their Gold Rush collection contains a number of impressive items, including documents on San Franciscos first master goldsmith, necklaces featuring gold nuggets, and a gold cane head.
In addition to rotating exhibitions, the museum also hosts events, public tours, and a number of online exhibitions throughout the year.
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San Francisco Railway Museum
If youve fallen in love with the vintage cable cars still riding the streets of San Francisco, this small museum is a great stop to learn more about San Franciscos rail transit history.
Although compact, theres plenty to see here, including a replica of a 1911 motormans platform, where youre more than welcome to play with the controls.
There are also audiovisual presentations, historical photographs and artifacts, and plaques full of interesting tidbits of information. Temporary exhibits usually focus on things of local importance, such as the 1906 earthquake or the history of transportation in San Francisco.
Entrance to the museum is free and visitors can also pick up unique memorabilia and San Francisco-themed souvenirs at the museums gift shop.
Uss Hornet Sea Air And Space Museum
This massive aircraft a survivor of WWII carrier holds a number of fascinating exhibits.
Visitors can start at the flight deck outside, where an early supersonic jet used in the Gulf War is permanently parked.
The hangar deck and first deck below hold more retired aircraft, including anti-submarine warfare aircraft, a WWII torpedo bomber, and a 1950s utility helicopter.
The USS Hornet was used as a recovery ship for the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 moon missions. Many items connected to the missions are exhibited onboard, including the command module, memorabilia, and photos.
Docent-led tours are available for restricted areas like the flight deck of the ship.
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Fort Mason Center For Arts & Culture
This former military base is worth a visit even if its just to enjoy its stunning views of the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture , however, has a lot more to offer to visitors than great photo opportunities.
The FMCACs main focus is on rotating exhibits and performances that include everything from art by SF Bay Area residents, seminars on social and cultural topics, and a theater season filled with plays and performances.
Free walking tours organized by the center take visitors to nearby historical areas and great viewpoints while sharing details about the military background of the FMCAC.
Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center
Located in the heart of the Crissy Field public recreation area, the Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center focuses on one very specific time in history.
To understand the background, you have to travel back to 1941, at a time of growing tensions between the United States and Japan. To help support the war effort, the US Army trained thousands of Japanese American soldiers as linguists to join combat units.
Building 640 a renovated hangar where the first soldiers were trained houses the museum today. The exhibits inside photographs, historical documents and personal stories of the soldiers who were part of the mission.
There are also details about the war companies they were involved in, as well as personal effects.
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African American Art & Culture Complex
Established as an Afro-centric artistic and cultural center, the AAACC offers Black creatives an art gallery, library, exhibition spaces, and a theater. There are also multi-purpose spaces that are used to host dance performances, plays, and conferences and the AAACC hosts a community garden nonprofit.
The complex offers a number of summer programs for both children and adults, including dance and theater classes and arts and crafts.
Although there are no permanent exhibits in place here, rotating ones are always in place throughout the year. Recent ones have focused on the role of Black women artists and Bay Area mural artists helping redefine outdoor art.
Museum Of African Diaspora
685 Mission St.MoAD showcases the history, art, and cultural richness that resulted from the dispersal of Africans throughout the Africa Diaspora. MoAD connects all people through shared African heritage and detailed immersive exhibits. Throughout the year, they offer special programs that bring together people of all ages through dance, music, art talks, and more.
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Choosing Pantheon: A Renaissance For A Tight Timeline
Before these dazzling sites could launch, they needed a website management platform. The museum team had agreed upfront to own deployment and originally opted to launch the sites on their existing Drupal hosting platform.
However, as the project progressed, Sprowl learned that the previously determined website hosting platform wasnt working with Drupal 8 yet.
There were red flags each time I checked in on deployment preparations, Sprowl says. It was near the launch date when they decided to switch over to Pantheon.
Once it was clear that the original website host was not sufficiently compatible with Drupal 8, it took only a day for the FAMSF leaders to decide on Pantheon for its broader capabilities and ability to support Drupal 8.
San Francisco Art Institute
As a private and very small art college, the San Francisco Art Institutes primary goal has always been education. Originally established in 1871, it was completely destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fires that followed, which destroyed the institutes art collection completely.
After an extensive restoration, a student-directed art gallery, a lecture hall, and studio space were added to the original building. This allowed students and faculty to focus on exhibitions, open performances, and other cultural and artistic activities that werent possible before.
Famous artists like photographer Annie Leibovitz, Academy Award for Best Director Kathryn Bigelow, and portrait painter Kehinde Wiley all went to school here.
The museum hosts a number of events and exhibitions throughout the year covering everything from contemporary sculpture to abstract photography.
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Fun Is Number One At The Museum Of Illusions
Our dedication to pure fun is the reason why the Museum of Illusions is the ideal destination for groups of any age range and size. There are so many San Francisco museums to see, and each one has its own treasures. The Museum of Illusions, however, makes for a particularly easy outing no matter who you go with. You dont need a special knowledge of art to enjoy our creations. You wont need to whisper and contemplate the art quietly. Kids and adults alike can explore the art with boisterous glee and let their imaginations run wild.
The 12 Best Museums In San Francisco
As well as being a city blessed with incredible natural scenery and a melting pot of cultures from around the world, San Francisco is a cultural jewel of the West Coast. As one of the first big cities on the West Coast, established by Spanish colonizers in 1776, San Francisco has a rich and interesting history that few other cities in the area can match. Plus, San Francisco has been a haven for artists almost from its very inception. Put all of that together, and you have a city that’s at the forefront of arts and culture, and has museums and art galleries to match.
You certainly won’t struggle to find interesting museums in San Francisco. Whether you want to learn more about the history of the city, appreciate modern art, explore different cultures from around the world, or take the kids to a science center that will entertain and educate them with interactive exhibits, you’ve come to the right place. Plus, in a city not generally known for being affordable, you may be surprised to find that some of the museums listed below are among the best free things to do in San Francisco.
But before you start planning your route between the museums of the city, take a minute to drop off your unneeded bags at a Bounce luggage storage in San Francisco. Traveling light will make it easy to get around, and many of the best museums in San Francisco don’t have facilities to store bags. It makes sense to get your bags safely put away before you dive into San Francisco’s cultural scene.
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Imagine Picasso A New Type Of Immersive Exhibition
Imagine Picasso is a new type of immersive exhibition which highlights and celebrates the work of the Modern Art Master : Pablo Picasso.
This artistic experience is the result of a meeting between Annabelle Mauger, pioneer of immersive art, and Rudy Ricciotti, Grand Prix National darchitecture, both fascinated by Picasso. Together, with Julien Baron, they imagine a spectacular scenography, inspired by Picassos tender gaze on childhood. The image is projected onto gigantic origami to deconstruct and restructure the work of the Master of Modern Art.
Educational in substance and moving in form, this exhibition is a way of looking at art with new eyes, said Androula Michael, the curator specialising in Picassos work. The aim of this immersive exhibition, accessible to all, regardless of age, language, and culture, is to open the space to emotion, dreams and contemplation for everyone, even the youngest visitors.
Choosing their own route in close proximity to the paintings, visitors can feel the power of Picassos work. Each visitor is swept along without noticing the technological innovation that lies behind an exhibition like this.
Museum Of The African Diaspora
When this small museum first opened its doors, its main focus was on the original African Diaspora .
Over the next few years, the museum switched its focus to contemporary art that celebrates Black cultures and inspires learning.
The museum has five art galleries and they often feature five different exhibits at the same time. Some of these are part of their Emerging Artists Program or in partnership with other museums around the country, such as the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.
The museum is also home to the Toni Rembe Freedom Theater, which presents short films and documentaries, live concerts, and special talks and workshops.
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San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park & Maritime Museum
Located near Fishermans Wharf, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park immerses visitors in Pacific Coast maritime history. The Park includes a magnificent fleet of historic ships, a Visitor Center, Maritime Museum, Maritime Research Center, and Aquatic Park Historic District.
The park includes a fleet of six National Historic Landmark vessels, all moored at Hyde Street Pier, an extension of Hyde Street. The ships are open to visitors year-round, and a Visitors Center is located across the street.
The Maritime Museum is located in the nearby Aquatic Park Bathhouse building. Built in 1939, this unique structure was designed in the Streamline Moderne style, a late offshoot of the Art Deco period, and mimics the lines of an ocean liner.
There are approximately 35,000 items on display at the museum dedicated to local maritime history.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park & Maritime Museum Hours:
- The Maritime Museum is open daily from 10am to 4pm.
Admission:
Cable Car Museum: Best For Gearheads
Hear that whirring noise coming from beneath San Francisco’s cable car tracks? Thats the sound of the cables pulling the cars, and they all connect inside the citys historic Washington and Mason Cable Car Barn. Grips, engines, braking mechanisms…if these mechanical wonders warm your heart, youll be besotted with the free Cable Car Museum.
This intriguing museum isnt just a warehouse for antiques its the functioning powerhouse that keeps the popular Powell-Mason line running. You can track the cables running down the street, through an open channel and into the powerhouse, where they wind around massive bull wheels without losing momentum or tension. Head to the upstairs deck to see the mechanisms in action and watch cables whir over the wheels as awesome a feat of engineering now as when Andrew Hallidie invented the technology in 1873.
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Top 11 Museums In San Francisco
For a city thats only 7 miles by 7 miles, San Francisco sure has a lot of museums. As of early 2022, there are 44 museums in the city of San Francisco. Some are classic art museums and others are unique, interactive science museums. Although the museums vary in ticket price, many of them also have discount days so you can pop in for free.
Whether youd rather visit a traditional art museum or if a science museum is more your thing, San Franciscos museum scene has something for everyone. Continue reading to discover the best museums you should consider for your next San Francisco vacation.
The 11 Best Museums In San Francisco In 2023
Jessica NemireLast Updated: September 23, 2022
Visiting museums is one of the most popular activities to do in San Francisco, especially for families. But with so many museums in this iconic city, how do you choose which ones to visit on your trip? Allow us to help! Weve put together our picks for the best museums in San Francisco to round out your next trip to this fabulous city.
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Walt Disney Family Museum
Ordinarily, kids and museums don’t go together all that well. However, San Francisco bucks that trend. The city has many child-friendly museums, and some of the best things to do with kids in San Francisco are to visit them.
The Walt Disney Family Museum is a perfect example. This museum tells the story of animator Walt Disney and how the company he founded became one of the biggest media conglomerates in the world. It’s also a place where kids can meet their favorite Disney characters and interact with the fascinating exhibits. The Walt Disney Family Museum also screens classic Disney movies in the afternoons, so it’s a great place to take the kids if you need a little peace and quiet.
Museum Of Craft & Design
2569 3rd St.A non-collecting institution, the Museum of Craft and Design is one of North Americas few institutions dedicated to contemporary practices in craft and design. The museums mission is to explore the active roles craft and design play in everyday life through original and traveling exhibitions, collaborations with museums from around the world, and hands-on opportunities to learn how to make your own crafts.
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Are There Any Cheap Museums In San Francisco
San Francisco has so many free museums that you can get your cultural fill without spending a penny. And even the museums that aren’t free can often be visited for free or at reduced rates at certain times. For instance, the Asian Art Museum drops the price of a ticket to five dollars every Thursday after 5 PM, and also allows people in for free on the first Sunday of every month. Also, many San Francisco museums drop their admission charges on certain days of the year. Watch out for free Museum days at the Contemporary Jewish Museum on the first Tuesday of every month, and free admission to the California Academy of Sciences on select Sundays throughout the year.
California Academy Of Sciences: Best For Nature And Science Lovers
Architect Renzo Pianos landmark environmentally-sensitive building houses 40,000 weird and wonderful animals in a four-story rainforest and a split-level aquarium, set beneath a Living Roof of California wildflowers. Add in a cutting-edge planetarium and natural history displays, and you have all the ingredients for a thoroughly engrossing day out. The Academy has been pushing non-stuffy science since 1853, but the building is like something from the 25th century.
Today, butterflies alight on visitors in the glass Osher Rainforest Dome, penguins paddle around a see-through tank in the African Hall, and Claude the albino alligator stalks the mezzanine swamp. Glimpse infinity in the Morrison Planetarium and check out the Giants of Land and Sea exhibit, where you can brave an earthquake simulation, virtually climb a giant redwood tree and get lost in a fog room.
Children will enjoy the basement Steinhart Aquarium, where visitors can duck inside a glass bubble to enter an Eel Garden and pet starfish in the hands-on Discovery Tidepool.
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