Developed by physicist Frank Oppenheimer and opened in 1969, this innovative and interactive museum is dedicated to art, science and human perception. Relocated from the Palace of Fine Arts to Piers 15 and 17, the modern space features plenty of new green technologies including the largest solar panel roof in San Francisco and offers over 600 hands-on exhibits. These hands-on displays unveil the mysteries of science and language, and present these theories simply and succinctly. Webinars, special events and seminars occur throughout the year. This San Francisco gem is a must visit.
The Asian Art Museum is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art. Home to over thousands of treasures spanning 6000 years of history, the museum serves as a portal to the rich artistic cultures throughout Asia. Renowned architect Gae Aulenti oversaw the dramatic transformation of the building, which now features a massive gallery space. This majestic destination leads a diverse global audience towards the exploration of the unique, aesthetic and intellectual achievements of Asian art and culture.
Il San Francisco Museum of Modern Art ospita una collezione permanente composta da oltre 15.000 opere, tra le quali più di 4.700 dipinti, sculture, opere su carta e oltre 9.000 fotografie. Inaugurato nel 1995, il museo ha esposto le opere di Henri Matisse, Richard Diebenkorn, Dorothea Lange, Paul Klee, Cindy Sherman, Matthew Barney e molti artisti contemporanei. Progettato dall'architetto svizzero Mario Botta, l’edificio stesso è una meraviglia architettonica da ammirare. Dopo un’estesa ristrutturazione, completata nel 2016, il SFMOMA vanta ora sette piani di opere d'arte oltre a elementi interessanti come un muro vivente, un giardino di sculture e una vista impressionante sui giardini Yerba Buena.
Situata nel Golden Gate Park, l’Accademia delle scienze della California (California Academy of Sciences) è uno degli edifici più ecologici della città e ha ottenuto la certificazione di platino dal Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Il museo ospita il rinnovato e ampliato Acquario Steinhart, completo di una vasca interattiva per le maree e della ben nota palude degli alligatori. Altre attrazioni interessanti sono il planetario Morrison, la cupola a quattro piani della foresta pluviale e la Tusher African Hall. Oltre a queste magnifiche installazioni dedicate alla conoscenza, il museo presenta altre esposizioni di storia naturale e mostre sul riscaldamento globale. Il bar Academy Café offre piatti di cucina internazionale, mentre l'elegante ristorante Moss Room rimane l’unica scelta disponibile nel parco per mangiare dopo l'orario di chiusura del museo.
Acting as a major cultural destination since 1895, the De Young Museum reopened in October 2005 in a facility designed by Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron and Fong & Chan Architects in San Francisco. The building is magnificent and from the observation tower you can get a great view of the park. It is open, airy and massive. It also has a perforated and embossed copper facade which goes very well with the greenery around the museum. The museum houses the world-renowned American Painting and Sculpture collection, dating from the 17th to the 20th Centuries. Primitive Art is highly represented with extraordinary pieces of Native American Art (from the ancient Teotihuacan City), African Art (statues and potteries) and Oceanic Art (shields, dance dress and masks). Admission is free the first Tuesday of each month.
This museum has been bringing culture, diversity, fine art and more to Berkeley since 1970. BAM houses an impressive and ever-changing collection of fine art, sculpture and artifacts that span ages and cultures, countries and places. Find the masterpieces from from Impressionists to Surrealists to Post-modernists. Past exhibits have included a collection of mandolins from Tibet from the 15th Century, as well as the paintings of famed lesbian artist Romaine Brooks. There's always something here that captures the imagination, challenges thought and establishment, and entertains as much as it intrigues.
Bolinas Museum had humble beginnings, established in 1983 as a small institution dedicated to showcasing the history of the town. Over the years, it has evolved into one of the region's finest, with a larger space, ever evolving exhibits and the addition of Fine Arts to its program. Three of its five galleries are completely dedicated to art, while one showcases the history of the area. The main gallery showcases temporary exhibits on a wide array of topics. Local and regional artists figure prominently in their temporary exhibitions, and it's a great place to check out upcoming talent.
The Fischer-Hanlon House was once the residence of Joseph Fischer. A fine example of the East Coast Federalist style of architecture, the house is one of the surviving structures of the California gold rush.
Pinball machines, although they look like cheery little things, have a troubled past. From their rise to fame during the depression to their ban in 1940s, they've seen a few ups and downs. The Pacific Pinball Museum, established in 2004 by Michael Schiess, commemorates their story. Featuring some 400 pinball machines, some of them dating back to 1879, this museum traces their history quite interestingly. If you are the regular pinball enthusiast, this place should fill you with wonder.
A trip to Angel Island is incomplete without a visit to the Immigration Station. This is the site where a large number of Asian and other immigrants were detained in the early 20th Century. Nicknamed the "Ellis Island of the West" after its New York counterpart, this station features recreated rooms with bunk beds as well as spaces and original graffiti that are a window into the life of an immigrant. A part of the National Register of Historic Places, the station is an important piece of the island's history.
The museum is set in a Mediterranean style house built in the early '90s and has restored most of its original interiors. The two-story museum features 27 rooms, known as portals, that display a completely varied universe, dimension and art in each. Every room teleports you to a different universe, way beyond your imagination. The Labyrinth is a hidden part on the second floor that features a maze of tight-spaces and is perfect for a thrilling experience. The museum acts as a draft for Velocity Circus, an art and entertainment company that creates a live installation for occasions.
The Asian Art Museum is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art. Home to over thousands of treasures spanning 6000 years of history, the museum serves as a portal to the rich artistic cultures throughout Asia. Renowned architect Gae Aulenti oversaw the dramatic transformation of the building, which now features a massive gallery space. This majestic destination leads a diverse global audience towards the exploration of the unique, aesthetic and intellectual achievements of Asian art and culture.