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List of museums in the San Francisco Bay Area facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This list of museums in the San Francisco Bay Area is a list of museums, defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.

Museums

San Francisco

Name Image Type Summary
Academy of Art University Automobile Museum Automobile Non-profit automobile museum
Aquarium of the Bay Aquarium of the Bay.jpg Aquarium A variety of San Francisco Bay living habitats house the diverse animal collection, including walk-through tunnel exhibits, transparent touchpools, and a bubbling mountain stream exhibit
Alcatraz Island Alcatraz dawn 2005-01-07.jpg Prison Operated by the National Park Service, former federal prison, access by private ferry
American Bookbinders Museum History website, The history of bookbinding and bookbinders in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco Tibetan Mahakala.jpg Art Arts of India, China, western Asia (including Persia), South-East Asia, Korea & Japan
Beat Museum Beat Museum front 2.JPG Literary The Beats memorabilia and bookstore
Cable Car Museum Cable Car Station.jpg Transportation
California Academy of Sciences CaliforniaAcademyofSciences.jpg Natural history
California Historical Society California Historical Society San Francisco.jpg Local history State history and culture
Cartoon Art Museum Art Art of comics & cartoons, including original animation cels, comic book pages & early newspaper comic strips
Children's Creativity Museum Zeum in SF.jpg Children's
Chinese Historical Society of America Museum and Learning Center Ethnic History of Chinese in U.S.
Chinese Culture Center Art Exhibitions of traditional & contemporary Chinese & Chinese-American art
Contemporary Jewish Museum Contemporary Jewish Museum.jpg Ethnic Contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art and ideas
de Young Museum DeYoungMemorialMuseum.JPG Art American painting, sculpture & decorative art, African, Oceanic, Meso-American, Central & South American art, textiles, contemporary craft, graphics art
EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park Exterior building of EcoCenter.jpg Education center A unique education facility that combines environmental education, experience-based learning and habitat restoration
Exploratorium Exploratorium Exhibits 2.jpg Science Hands-on science exhibits
Fort Point National Historic Site Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge.JPG Military Part of The Presidio
GLBT History Museum GLBTHistoryMuseum.FrontWindows12 10.jpg History History and culture of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, communities and movements
Haas-Lilienthal House Haas-Lilienthal House.jpg Historic house 1886 Victorian house with period rooms
International Art Museum of America International Art Museum of America building.jpg Art Eastern and Western art including works by Chinese masters, Yun sculptures, classic 18th to 20th-century European portraits and landscapes
The LAB Redstone Building (San Francisco).jpg Art Interdisciplinary arts organization with public gallery
Legion of Honor Palace Legion Honor SF.jpg Art Mostly French & European art
Letterform Archive Art website, materials on the history of lettering, typography, printing, and graphic design
Madame Tussauds San Francisco Wax Located in Fisherman's Wharf, includes San Francisco celebrities, movie stars, music performers, sports stars, politicians and world leaders
Mexican Museum Ethnic Historic and contemporary art and culture of the Latino, Chicano, Mexican, and Mexican-American people
Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center Multiple website, history of Military Intelligence Service in the Presidio, Japanese American history, art and culture, operated by the National Japanese American Historical Society
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Art website, cultural arts center and gallery
Mission Dolores Religious Oldest original intact Mission in California and the oldest building in San Francisco
Musée Mécanique Musée Mécanique 003.JPG Amusements Penny arcade games, mechanically operated musical instruments, video arcade games
Museo ItaloAmericano Ethnic Italian and Italian-American art and culture
Museum of Craft and Design Art website, contemporary craft and design
Museum of Performance & Design SFOperaHouse.jpg Art Performing arts
Museum of Russian Culture Ethnic website, part of the Russian Center of San Francisco
Museum of the African Diaspora Museum of the African Diaspora.jpg Cultural Diasporan histories of people of African origin & their influence & adaptation throughout the world
North Beach Museum Local history Located on the 2nd floor of the Eureka Bank building
Octagon House 1861 Historic house Operated by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
Pacific Heritage Museum Pacific Heritage Museum.JPG Ethnic Artistic, cultural and economic achievements of the peoples of the Pacific Rim
The Presidio 6in Rifled Gun No 9.jpg Multiple Park with several visitor centers with a fort, marine, military and historical exhibits
Randall Museum Multiple Art, science, natural history, live animals
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Entertainment Near Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery Art Contemporary art, three locations in San Francisco
San Francisco Fire Department Museum Firefighting website
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Historic ships of the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park.jpg Maritime Includes a fleet of historic vessels, a visitor center, a maritime museum and a library/research facility
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2011.jpg Art website
San Francisco Music Hall of Fame Gallery
Building Picture
Local history website, The gallery displays around 90 iconic San Francisco Bay Area artists and bands.
San Francisco Railway Museum Conductor's tools 1 SFRM.JPG Railway Antique streetcars, cable cars, earthquake of 1906
San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center SFOperaHouse.jpg Performing arts Tours of the various performance spaces
Sea Lion Center Sea lion center interior.jpg Education center A colony of wild California sea lions now permanently established in this unusual urban location. The center provides free educational programming on the natural history of California sea lions
SFO Museum Multiple website, Aviation Museum and a selection of temporary exhibitions in the terminals at San Francisco International Airport
Society of California Pioneers Local history California art, history, and culture
SS Jeremiah O'Brien Jeremiah O'Brien (Liberty ship, San Francisco).JPG Museum ship World War II Liberty ship located at Fisherman's Wharf
Tenderloin Museum Local history website, History of the tenderloin neighborhood
Walt Disney Family Museum Disney Museum 1.JPG Biographical Walt Disney's life, awards & memorabilia
USS Pampanito Pampanito (submarine, San Francisco).JPG Museum ship Submarine located at Fisherman's Wharf
Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts Art Part of California College of the Arts
Wells Fargo History Museum History First location of the Wells Fargo company, history of the company and the California gold rush
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Ybcfta side and yb gardens.jpg Art Contemporary arts center with several galleries

East Bay Area

Name Image Town/City County Region Type Summary
Aftel Archive of Curious Scents Berkeley Alameda East Bay Perfume The first museum in the U.S. dedicated to perfume and the experience of fragrance. website
Aggregate Space Gallery Aggregate Space Gallery 2021 Video Open Call. Installation view.jpg Oakland Alameda East Bay Art A non-profit, artist-run exhibition and performance space in West Oakland. website
Alameda Museum Alameda Alameda East Bay Local history Operated by the Alameda Historical Society
Alameda Naval Air Museum Alameda Alameda East Bay Military website, history of the Alameda Naval Air Station, ship and airplane models
Alvarado Adobe San Pablo Contra Costa East Bay Historic house website, operated by the San Pablo Historical Society, former home of Juan Alvarado, the governor of Mexican Alta California
African American Museum and Library at Oakland African American Museum and Library at Oakland (2008).jpg Oakland Alameda East Bay African American
Ardenwood Historic Farm Memorial-Day-2003.jpg Fremont Alameda East Bay Historic house park includes a farm, a large forest and the 19th century Patterson House
Badè Museum of Biblical Archaeology Berkeley Alameda East Bay Archaeology Part of Pacific School of Religion, artifacts from ancient Israel and Palestine, Greek and Cypriot ceramics, Egyptian scarabs, cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia, and over 300 historic Bibles from around the world
Bailey Art Museum (now permanently closed) Crockett Contra Costa East Bay Art website, ceramic and metal sculptures by Clayton Bailey, watercolor drawings by Betty Bailey, and pseudo-scientific curiosities by his alter-ego Dr. Gladstone
Bancroft Gallery Berkeley Alameda East Bay Multiple Exhibitions from the collections of the Bancroft Library
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive BAMPFA entrance.jpg Berkeley Alameda East Bay Art Part of University of California, Berkeley, strengths in historical and contemporary Asian art, early American painting, mid-20th-century, Conceptual, contemporary international art, and California and Bay Area art
Berkeley History Center Berkeley Alameda East Bay Local history website, operated by the Berkeley Historical Society
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve Antioch Contra Costa East Bay Mining Park of former coal and sand mine
Blackhawk Museum Blackhawk Contra Costa East Bay Automotive Classic cars
Blume House San Pablo Contra Costa East Bay Historic house website, operated by the San Pablo Historical Society
Camron-Stanford House Oakland Alameda East Bay Historic house website, Victorian house museum
Casa Peralta San Leandro Alameda East Bay Historic house
Chabot Space and Science Center Chabot SSC entrance.jpg Oakland Alameda East Bay Science
The Cobra Experience Martinez Contra Costa East Bay Automotive history website, Museum committed to the promotion, conservation, education and preservation of the cars produced by Shelby American
Cohen-Bray House Oakland Alameda East Bay Historic house website, late 19th-century Victorian period house, operated by the Victorian Preservation Center of Oakland
Crockett Museum Crockett Contra Costa East Bay Local history website
Diablo Valley College Art Gallery Pleasant Hill Contra Costa East Bay Art website
Duarte Garage Museum Livermore Alameda East Bay Automotive website, operated by the Livermore Heritage Guild, classic cars and auto memorabilia, also called Lincoln Highway Museum
Dublin Heritage Park and Museums 2009-0724-CA-Dublin-MurraySchoolhouse.jpg Dublin Alameda East Bay Open air website, includes 1856 Murray Schoolhouse, 1859 St. Raymond's Church, Kolb House and outbuildings and Dublin Pioneer Cemetery
Dunsmuir House Dunsmuir-house.jpg Oakland Alameda East Bay Historic house 37-room Victorian mansion and estate grounds
Essig Museum of Entomology VLSB.jpeg Berkeley Alameda East Bay Natural history Insect research museum of the University of California, Berkeley, collections are only open to the public during the annual open house
Galindo House and Gardens Don Francisco Galindo House (Concord, CA).JPG Concord Contra Costa East Bay Historic house 19th century period historic house
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site Danville Contra Costa East Bay Historic house website Tao House, home of Nobel Prize winning playwright Eugene O'Neill
Forest Home Farms San Ramon Contra Costa East Bay Open air 16 acre park with 2 houses, fourteen outbuildings, and the Victorian period Glass House Museum
Golden State Model Railroad Museum Richmond Contra Costa East Bay Railroad Features dozens of realistic city and country scenes, with model trains from different eras running on several layouts in different scales
Golden Gate Railroad Museum Sunol Alameda East Bay Railroad Houses 12 locomotives and over 25 pieces of rolling stock, which are shown for special events
Habitot Children's Museum Berkeley Alameda East Bay Children's website
Hayward Area Historical Society Hayward Alameda East Bay Local history Operates the HAHS Center for History and Culture
John Muir National Historic Site John Muir Home (Martinez, CA).JPG Martinez Contra Costa East Bay Biographical website Home of John Muir, "father of the national park service" and founder of the Sierra Club
Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles Berkeley Alameda East Bay Textile website
Lawrence Hall of Science LawrenceHallofScience2007.jpg Berkeley Alameda East Bay Science
Lightship RELIEF – WLV 605 Lightship Relief (Oakland, CA).JPG Oakland Alameda East Bay Museum ship U.S. Coast Guard lightship
Lindsay Wildlife Museum Walnut Creek Contra Costa East Bay Nature center Natural history exhibits, animals, wildlife rehabilitation center
Livermore Carnegie Museum Livermore Alameda East Bay Local history website, operated by the Livermore Heritage Guild
Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life Berkeley Alameda East Bay Ethnic Art & history of the Jewish community in the thirteen western United States, now part of the University of California, Berkeley
Martinez Museum Martinez Contra Costa East Bay Local history website, operated by the Martinez Historical Society
Meek Mansion Cherryland Alameda East Bay Historic house Operated by the Hayward Area Historical Society, open for special events
McConaghy House Hayward Alameda East Bay Historic house Operated by the Hayward Area Historical Society in Kennedy Park, Victorian estate
Mills College Art Museum Oakland Alameda East Bay Art Part of Mills College, creative work of women as artists and curators
Mission San José Mission San José.jpg Fremont Alameda East Bay Historic church
Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment Oakland Alameda East Bay Computer Games Play vintage video games.
MOCHA: Museum of Children's Art Oakland Alameda East Bay Children's website, hands-on children's art programs
Museum of the San Ramon Valley Danville Contra Costa East Bay Local history website, housed in the Danville Southern Pacific Railroad Depot
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology VLSB.jpeg Berkeley Alameda East Bay Natural history Research museum of the University of California, Berkeley, collections are only open to the public during the annual open house, but a limited number exhibits are on display outside of the collection
Museum on Main Pleasanton Alameda East Bay Local history website, operated by the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society
Niles Canyon Railway Fremont Alameda East Bay Railway Heritage train and bus rides
Niles Depot Museum Fremont Alameda East Bay Railway Model railroads
Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum Fremont Alameda East Bay Media Silent films and their history
Oakland Asian Cultural Center Oakland Alameda East Bay Culture Asian Pacific arts, culture and history
Oakland Aviation Museum Oakland Alameda East Bay Aviation Formerly the Western Aerospace Museum, over 30 vintage and modern airplanes, both civilian and military, and other displays that highlight noted aviators and innovators
Oakland Museum of California Oakland Alameda East Bay Multiple Art, history, culture and natural environment of California
Orly Museum of Hungarian Culture Berkeley Alameda East Bay Ethnic website
Pacific Pinball Museum Alameda Alameda East Bay Amusement Formerly the Lucky JuJu Pinball Museum, history, science and art of pinball machines
Pardee Home Oakland Alameda East Bay Historic house 1969 Victorian mansion with decorative artifacts
Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology Berkeley Alameda East Bay Anthropology Formerly the Lowie Museum of Anthropology, part of the University of California at Berkeley, collections include Native California, China, Africa ancient civilizations of Egypt, Peru, North America and the Mediterranean
Richmond Museum of History Richmond Contra Costa East Bay Local history website
Saint Mary's College Museum of Art Moraga Contra Costa East Bay Art website, part of Saint Mary's College of California, collection includes works by Andy Warhol, William Keith and over 4000 art objects
San Leandro History Museum & Art Gallery San Leandro Alameda East Bay Local history website
Shadelands Ranch Museum Walnut Creek Contra Costa East Bay Local history Operated by the Walnut Creek Historical Society
SS Red Oak Victory RedOakVictory2.JPG Richmond Contra Costa East Bay Maritime Part of Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, World War II Victory ship
Takara Sake Museum Berkeley Alameda East Bay Food website, historical sake-making process, sake artifacts and implements, history of sake-making in the United States
Thorsen House Thorsen House.jpg Berkeley Alameda East Bay Historic house American Craftsman style house
Union City Historical Museum Union City Alameda East Bay Local history
University of California Museum of Paleontology VLSB.jpeg Berkeley Alameda East Bay Paleontology Collections are only open to the public during the annual open house, but a limited number of fossil exhibits are on display outside of the collection
USS Hornet Museum USS-Hornet-CV-12-Dsc08437.jpg Alameda Alameda East Bay Museum ship United States Navy aircraft carrier that served in World War II, the Vietnam War, and also played a part in the Apollo program
USS Potomac (AG-25) Uss-potomac-at-oakland.jpg Oakland Alameda East Bay Museum ship President Franklin Roosevelt's presidential yacht
Washington Township Museum of Local History Fremont Alameda East Bay Local history Focused on southwestern part of Alameda County, the museum has exhibits, walking tours, and classes.

San Francisco Peninsula

Name Image Town/City County Region Type Summary
Anderson Collection Stanford Santa Clara San Francisco Peninsula Art One of the world's most outstanding private assemblies of modern and contemporary American art.
Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia Burlingame San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Toy Pez dispensers, includes the Classic Toy Museum with toys of the past
Colma Historical Museum Colma San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Local history website, operated by the Colma Historical Association
CuriOdyssey San Mateo San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Natural history Natural history and environmental education center with an aviary and over 50 non-releasable native animals, formerly the Coyote Point Museum
Filoli Filoli.JPG Woodside San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Historic house 43-room country estate with 16-acre (6.5 ha) formal garden
Hiller Aviation Museum Hiller Aviation Museum front.JPG San Carlos San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Aviation Vintage and futuristic aircraft, prototypes, photographic displays and models
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts Stanford University Santa Clara San Francisco Peninsula Art website Art including the largest collection of works by Auguste Rodin in the USA
Millbrae Museum Millbrae San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Local history website, operated by the Millbrae Historical Society, antique furnishings, clothing, household items, transportation
Millbrae Train Museum Millbrae San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Railroad website, operated by the Millbrae Historical Society
Peninsula Museum of Art San Bruno San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Art Changing exhibitions of work by outstanding artists of the Greater Bay Area
Sanchez Adobe Sánchez Adobe exterior 1.JPG Pacifica San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Historic house Operated by the San Mateo County History Museum
San Mateo County History Museum Redwood City San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Local history History of San Mateo County including natural resources, immigration, important figures, industries, maritime history
South San Francisco Historical Society Museum SSF Historical Society Museum.jpg South San Francisco San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Local History website, artifacts, memorabilia, oral histories, photograph collection
The Foster Museum The Foster Museum exterior.jpg Palo Alto Santa Clara San Francisco Peninsula Art website Single-artist museum exhibiting the artwork Journeys of artist-explorer Tony Foster
Woodside Store Woodside San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Historic site Operated by the San Mateo County History Museum, general store restored to 1880s appearance

Santa Clara Valley

Entries in this list are generally according to Santa Clara Valley.

Name Image Town/City County Region Type Summary
Agnews Historic Cemetery & Museum Santa Clara Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Medical website, historic cemetery and museum about the Agnews State Hospital and later Agnews Developmental Center from 1888 to 2009, museum open by appointment
Ainsley House Ainsley House.jpg Campbell Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Historic house 1925 Craftsman-style house, Morgan Gallery in the carriage house features exhibits of local history
Berryessa Adobe Santa Clara Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Historic house website, 1840s adobe house
California History Center Cupertino Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley History Education center and exhibit hall on regional and California history, part of De Anza College
Campbell Historical Museum Campbell Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Local history Small history museum located in the city of Campbell's first public building, Firehouse No. 1. Features interactive exhibits that rotate once a year.
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose.jpg San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Children's
Computer History Museum Mountain View Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Computer Museum about the history of computing and information technology
Cupertino Historical Society and Museum Cupertino Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Local history website
De Saisset Museum De Saisset Museum.jpg Santa Clara Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Multiple Part of the Santa Clara University, art & history, includes paintings, jewels, silver, tapestries, California & Native American historical artifacts
Euphrat Museum of Art Cupertino Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Art Part of De Anza College
Gilroy Museum Gilroy Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Local history website, Gilroy Historical Society, history of Gilroy and the South Santa Clara County area, housed in the historic 1910 Carnegie Library Building
Harris-Lass Museum Santa Clara Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Historic house website, operated by the Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara, 19th-century Italianate farmhouse
Headen-Inman House Santa Clara Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Local history Exhibits on local history, located on the grounds of the Triton Museum of Art
History Park at Kelley Park San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Open air Includes 27 original and reproduction homes, business and landmarks, Portuguese Historical Museum, Viet Museum, trolley barn with vehicles, art gallery
Hoover Institution Library and Archives Stanford Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley History Part of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, changing exhibits from the collections in the Herbert Hoover Memorial Exhibit Pavilion
Intel Museum Santa Clara Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Science Transistors, computer memory, microprocessors, how computer chips are made, history of Intel
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Music Life and works of composer Ludwig van Beethoven, operated by San Jose State University and the American Beethoven Society
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts, Stanford, California - 20060728.jpg Stanford Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Art Formerly the Stanford University Museum of Art, part of Stanford University, includes Auguste Rodin sculpture garden
Japanese American Museum of San Jose San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Ethnic Located in Japantown, Japanese American art, history and culture
Junior Museum & Zoo Palo Alto Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Multiple website, owned and operated by the City of Palo Alto, hands-on science and natural history exhibits, live animals
Los Altos History Museum Los Altos Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Local history Includes the early 20th century J. Gilbert Smith House, area agriculture, cultural history
Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA) San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Art A contemporary Latino visual arts and performing arts space, as well as a community arts education program.
Moffett Field Historical Society Museum Moffett Field Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Aviation website, history of Moffett Federal Airfield, Navy airship USS Macon
Museum of American Heritage Palo Alto Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley History Also known as MOAH, inventions and technology of the 19th and 20th century in a series of settings typical of the era
NASA Ames Exploration Center NASA Ames Visitor Center.JPG Moffett Federal Airfield Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Science NASA technology, missions and space exploration
New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum New Almaden Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Mining Exhibits about the history of mercury mining and the lifestyles of mining communities at New Almaden
New Museum Los Gatos Los Gatos Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Multiple Local history and art
Palo Alto Art Center Palo Alto Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Art Art and artists of the San Francisco Bay Area
Peralta Adobe PeraltaAdobe-cropped.jpg San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Historic house Open by appointment
Portuguese Historical Museum PortugueseHistoricalMuseum-cropped.jpg San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Ethnic Part of History Park at Kelley Park, Portuguese history and culture, immigration into the Santa Clara Valley
Rengstorff House Rengstorff House.jpg Mountain View Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Historic house Victorian Italianate mansion with period rooms
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum Rc egyptian museum.jpg San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Archaeological Ancient Egypt
San Benito County Historical & Recreational Park Hollister San Benito Santa Clara Valley Open air website, operated by the San Benito County Historical Society, historical village includes a school, dance hall, bar, jail, several houses, print shop and antique farm vehicles
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Art Contemporary art by emerging and established Bay Area artists
San Jose Museum of Art San-Jose-moa.jpg San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Art Focuses on West Coast artists and artists of the Pacific Rim
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Textile Quilts and textiles as an art form
South Bay Historical Railroad Society Museum USA-Santa Clara-Railroad Depot-2.jpg Santa Clara Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Railroad Also known as the Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History, housed in the Santa Clara Depot
Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum Sunnyvale Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Local history
The Foster Museum The Foster Museum exterior.jpg Palo Alto Santa Clara San Francisco Peninsula Art website Single-artist museum exhibiting the artwork Journeys of artist-explorer Tony Foster
The Tech Museum of Innovation The Tech Museum of Innovation 01718.JPG San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Science
Thompson Gallery at San José State University San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Art website, located in Art Building No. 127
Triton Museum of Art Santa Clara Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Art Contemporary and historical works of art by artists of the Greater Bay Area
Viet Museum Vietmuseum.jpg San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Ethnic Part of History Park at Kelley Park, experience of Vietnamese Americans and their journey from Vietnam to the United States
Villa Mira Monte Morgan Hill Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Multiple website, operated by the Morgan Hill Historical Society, 1884 Hiram Morgan Hill House with Queen Anne and Stick/Eastlake design, Morgan Hill Museum with a rock and mineral collection
Villa Montalvo VillaMontalvoMansion.jpg Saratoga Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Art Historic mansion, houses the Montalvo Arts Center with a gallery and performing arts
Wapple House Museum Hollister San Benito Santa Clara Valley Local history website, operated by the San Benito County Historical Society
Winchester Mystery House Winchester House Front.jpg San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Historic house 160-room Victorian mansion with many unexplained oddities
Wings of History Museum San Martin Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Aviation Antique aircraft and aircraft engines
Works/San Jose San Jose Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley Art website, alternative community art and performance center with exhibit gallery

Other San Francisco Bay Area

Name Image Town/City County Region Type Summary
Arts Benicia Benicia Solano San Francisco Bay Area Art website, art center with exhibit gallery
Bay Area Discovery Museum Sausalito Marin San Francisco Bay Area Children's
Bay Model Visitor Center Bay model interior.jpg Sausalito Marin San Francisco Bay Area Science Three-dimensional hydraulic model of San Francisco Bay and Delta areas capable of simulating tides and currents, over 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) in size, operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers
Benicia Capitol State Historic Park Benicia state capitol exterior.JPG Benicia Solano San Francisco Bay Area History California's third capitol building, restored to 1850s appearance
Benicia Fire Museum Benicia Solano San Francisco Bay Area Firefighting website, historic fire engines, trucks, equipment
Benicia Historical Museum Benicia Solano San Francisco Bay Area Local history website
Bolinas Museum Bolinas Marin San Francisco Bay Area Art website
California Indian Museum and Cultural Center Santa Rosa Sonoma North Coast Native American website, California Indian history and culture from an Indian perspective
California Missions Museum Sonoma Sonoma North Coast History Located at Cline Cellars, models of the California missions
Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center.JPG Santa Rosa Sonoma North Coast Biographical Life and art of cartoonist Charles M. Schulz
Children's Museum of Sonoma County Santa Rosa Sonoma North Coast Children's website
China Camp State Park San Rafael Marin San Francisco Bay Area Open air Exhibits about former Chinese shrimp-fishing village including a house museum
Cloverdale History Center and Museum Cloverdale Sonoma North Coast Historic house website, operated by the Cloverdale Historical Society, includes the late 19th-century Gould-Shaw House
Depot Park Museum Petaluma Sonoma North Coast Local history website, operated by the Sonoma Valley Historical Society, includes railroad artifacts and displays, a Victorian kitchen and historic schoolroom
Dixie Schoolhouse San Rafael Marin San Francisco Bay Area Education One room schoolhouse
Dutra Museum of Dredging Rio Vista Solano San Francisco Bay Area Industry website, private collection of dredging equipment and fossils, open by appointment
Falkirk Cultural Center San Rafael Marin San Francisco Bay Area Art website, owned and operated by the City of San Rafael
Fort Ross State Historic Park FortRoss-chapel-reconstructed.jpg Fort Ross Sonoma North Coast Open air early 19th-century Russian-American Company settlement
Hamilton Field History Museum Novato Marin San Francisco Bay Area Military website, history of Hamilton Army Airfield
Hand Fan Museum Healdsburg Sonoma North Coast Decorative arts Museum about fans and the cultures and people who use them
Healdsburg Center for the Arts Healdsburg Sonoma North Coast Art website, community arts center
Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society Healdsburg Sonoma North Coast Local history website
Jack London State Historic Park LondonCottage.jpg Glen Ellen Sonoma North Coast Biographical Also known as Jack London Home and Ranch
Jack Mason Museum of West Marin History Inverness Marin San Francisco Bay Area Local history website
Jesse Peter Museum Santa Rosa Sonoma North Coast Native American Native American art of North America and ethnographic art of parts of Mesoamerica, Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia
Luther Burbank Home and Gardens Santa Rosa Sonoma North Coast Historic house
Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm Gold Ridge Caretaker Cottage 3520.jpg Sebastopol Sonoma North Coast Historic house
Marin History Museum San Rafael Marin San Francisco Bay Area Local history Marin County history and culture
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Novato Marin San Francisco Bay Area Contemporary Art Presents new work by emerging and established artists
Marin Museum of the American Indian Novato Marin San Francisco Bay Area Native American Situated on an actual site of a Miwok village
McCune Room at JFK Library Vallejo Solano San Francisco Bay Area Literary website, collection of rare and unique books, printing equipment and binding tools
Military Antiques & Museum Petaluma Sonoma North Coast Military website
Mission San Francisco de Solano Mission San Francisco Solano.jpg Sonoma Sonoma North Coast Biographical One of the sites of Sonoma State Historic Park, 19th-century Spanish mission
Mission San Rafael Arcángel Interior of Chapel at Mission San Rafael.jpg San Rafael Marin San Francisco Bay Area History Early 19th-century Spanish mission
Mount Tamalpais State Park Mill Valley Marin San Francisco Bay Area History East Peak Visitor Center includes museum about the park's history and natural history, including the former railroad used to bring up visitors
Museum of International Propaganda San Rafael Marin San Francisco Bay Area Propaganda The Museum of International Propaganda features a permanent collection of propaganda posters, paintings, sculptures, and artifacts from more than 25 countries
Napa Valley Museum Yountville Napa Napa Valley Multiple Art and natural history of Napa Valley, including local Native American and wine-making history
Nike Missile Site SF-88 Golden Gate National Recreation Area Marin San Francisco Bay Area Military History of defensive missiles that protected San Francisco and other major cities in the United States. Only site that can lift a missile into launch position.
Novato History Museum Novato Marin San Francisco Bay Area Local history website
Pacific Coast Air Museum Santa Rosa Sonoma North Coast Aviation Restored American military, propeller and jet aircraft
Pena Adobe Vacaville Solano San Francisco Bay Area Historic house Operated by the Peña Adobe Historical Society, also adjacent Mowers-Goheen Museum
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park AdobeNorthWingEdit2808.jpg Petaluma Sonoma North Coast Historic house Historic ranch and adobe house
Petaluma Historical Library and Museum Petaluma Sonoma North Coast Local history Housed in a Carnegie library, exhibits include Petaluma poultry, dairy, and Miwok Indian history
Petaluma Wildlife & Natural Science Museum Petaluma Sonoma North Coast Natural history Live and taxidermied animals, housed on the Petaluma High School campus
Point Reyes National Seashore Marin San Francisco Bay Area Multiple Includes Kule Loklo (a recreated Coast Miwok village), Lighthouse Visitor Center and Point Reyes Lighthouse, the Bear Valley Visitor Center with exhibits about the park's ecosystems and cultural heritage, and the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center with exhibits about 16th century maritime exploration, marine fossils and marine environments
Rancho Obi-Wan Petaluma Sonoma North Coast Media website, private tours of a collection of Star Wars props, movie items, toys, art and memorabilia
Rio Vista Museum Rio Vista Solano San Francisco Bay Area Local history website
San Anselmo Historical Museum San Anselmo Marin San Francisco Bay Area Local history website
Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery Santa Rosa Sonoma North Coast Art Part of Santa Rosa Junior College, exhibits include art history, ceramics, computer graphics, drawing, graphic design, jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture
Sebastopol Center for the Arts Gold Ridge Caretaker Cottage 3520.jpg Sebastopol Sonoma North Coast Art website
Sonoma County Museum Old Santa Rosa Post Office, Downtown Santa Rosa,2.jpg Santa Rosa Sonoma North Coast Multiple History, art, and culture of the region
Sonoma State Historic Park Mission San Francisco Solano.jpg Sonoma Sonoma North Coast Open air Six historic sites including Mission San Francisco de Solano, the Presidio of Sonoma, the Vallejo Estate, a historic houses, a hotel and inn
Sonoma State University Art Gallery Rohnert Park Sonoma North Coast Art Exhibits of modern and contemporary art
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Sonoma Sonoma North Coast Art Works by regional, national and international modern and contemporary artists
The Space Station Museum Novato Marin San Francisco Bay Area Aerospace website, history of space exploration, collections of U.S., Russian and Soviet space exploration artifacts
Spaulding Wooden Boat Center Spauldingbw.jpg Sausalito Marin San Francisco Bay Area Maritime Restores and preserves significant, historic wooden sailing vessels
Tiburon Railroad & Ferry Depot Museum Tiburon Marin San Francisco Bay Area Transportation Railroad and ferry history and artifacts, operated by the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society
Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center Fairfield Solano San Francisco Bay Area Aviation Features over 35 outdoor aircraft
United States Immigration Station Detention center angel island.jpg Angel Island Marin San Francisco Bay Area History Located in Angel Island State Park
Vacaville Museum Vacaville Solano San Francisco Bay Area Local history website
Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum Vallejo Solano San Francisco Bay Area Local history website, local history, Mare Island Naval Shipyard and U.S. Navy history
West County Museum Sebastopol Sonoma North Coast Local history website, operated by the Western Sonoma County Historical Society
Western Railway Museum WRM087.JPG Suisun Solano San Francisco Bay Area Railroad Historic streetcars and interurban electric trains from all over California and other western states
Windsor Museum Windsor Sonoma North Coast Local history website, operated by the Windsor Historical Society in the Hembree House

Defunct museums

Name Image Town/City County Region Type Summary
Diablo Valley College Museum Pleasant Hill Contra Costa County San Francisco Bay Area
Hall of Health Berkeley Alameda County San Francisco Bay Area sponsored by Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland, closed in 2009
Museum of Conceptual Art San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco Bay Area closed in 1984
Museum of Modern Mythology San Francisco San Francisco Bay Area Closed in 1989 following the Loma Prieta earthquake
Natural World Museum San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco Bay Area Education A mobile museum focused on environment concerns, closed in 2009.
New Langton Arts San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco Bay Area Arts closed in 2009
Playland-Not-At-The-Beach El Cerrito Contra Costa East Bay Amusement Amusement park games, memorabilia, pinball machines, antique amusement devices, live magic shows, a hand-carved miniature circus, side show acts, miniature dioramas, Fascination games, historic exhibits Closed in 2018
Treasure Island Museum San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco Bay Area Local history, Arts closed in 1997, building tours by appointment, group working to establish new museum
San Francisco Museum at the Mint San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco Bay Area Local history planned museum in the Old Mint to be operated by the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society.
Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco Bay Area closed in 2013
World of the Unexplained museum San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco Bay Area closed in 1985

See also

  • List of attractions in Silicon Valley
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List of museums in the San Francisco Bay Area Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.