Culture of San Francisco facts for kids
The culture of San Francisco is very rich and diverse. It includes amazing arts, music, food, festivals, museums, and cool buildings. San Francisco's culture is also strongly shaped by its large Asian population. The city's unique mix of cultures and its fun, quirky side have influenced people all over the world. In 2012, Bloomberg Businessweek even called San Francisco "America's Best City."
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Awesome Museums in San Francisco
San Francisco has many fantastic museums to explore. The Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) shows art from the 1900s and today. It moved to its current building in the South of Market area in 1995. About 600,000 people visit it every year.
The California Palace of the Legion of Honor mainly displays European artworks. The De Young Museum and the Asian Art Museum have important collections of art and items from different cultures, especially from Asia. The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has one of the world's largest collections of Asian art.
The Palace of Fine Arts is a beautiful building left over from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. It used to be home to the Exploratorium. This popular science museum teaches through fun, hands-on activities. It moved to a new spot on the Embarcadero in 2013.
The California Academy of Sciences is a natural history museum. It also has the Morrison Planetarium and the Steinhart Aquarium. The San Francisco Zoo is another great place to visit. It cares for about 250 animal species. Many of these animals are endangered or threatened.
Other interesting museums include the Museum of the African Diaspora, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and the Cartoon Art Museum. There are also some "offbeat" museums. These include the Musée Mécanique (old arcade games) and Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. The Haas–Lilienthal House is a Victorian-era home. It is the only one in San Francisco that is open to the public all year.
Music and Performing Arts Scene
San Francisco has a lively music and performing arts scene. The San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera, and the San Francisco Ballet perform classical music and dance. They all perform at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center. San Francisco's Ballet and Opera are some of the oldest performing arts groups in the United States.
The city is also home to the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.). This group has been putting on original plays since 1967. The New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) is known for staging plays by the local and international LGBT community. Many smaller, alternative theaters also play a big role in San Francisco's performing arts. The oldest of these are Intersection for the Arts (started in 1965) and the Magic Theatre (started in 1967).
The Fillmore is a famous music venue in the Western Addition. It became well-known in the 1960s. Famous musicians like the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and Led Zeppelin performed there. They helped create the "San Francisco Sound." Beach Blanket Babylon is a funny musical show. It has been performing to sold-out crowds in North Beach since 1974.
San Francisco is also home to the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. This was the world's first openly gay chorus. The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band was the world's first openly gay musical group.
Exciting Theater Productions
San Francisco has many theaters and live performance venues. Local theater companies are known for being daring and creative. The Tony Award-winning non-profit American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has been in San Francisco since 1967. Other local groups that have won the Regional Theatre Tony Award include the San Francisco Mime Troupe and Berkeley Rep in nearby Berkeley.
The Magic Theatre was where playwright Sam Shepard often premiered his plays. SHN, a San Francisco-based company, brings Broadway shows to its old theaters. These include the Curran, Orpheum, and Golden Gate Theatres.
San Francisco also has a thriving improv theater community. Unlike some other cities, San Francisco improv shows are often longer. They focus on a single story, like an improvised play or musical. Groups like BATS Improv and The Un-Scripted Theater Company are key to this scene.
Many plays and productions have started in San Francisco before moving to Broadway. Some famous examples include A Chorus Line (revival), American Idiot, and Wicked.
Popular Music and Famous Songs
San Francisco has often been a hub for new rock music trends. This started with the San Francisco Sound in the 1960s. Bands like the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane began here in 1965. Other famous groups include Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, and Journey.
The city is also the birthplace of thrash metal music. Bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth started here. Punk rock, electronica, and rave scenes were also big in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Many famous songs are about San Francisco. These include Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and the Scott McKenzie song "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)". Other well-known songs are "San Francisco Days" by Chris Isaak and "Lights" by Journey.
Comedy Scene
San Francisco is known as a great city for comedy clubs. Comedian and actor Robin Williams helped make it famous. He started his career in San Francisco clubs like the Holy City Zoo in the 1970s. He also filmed seven movies in the city.
Delicious Cuisine
San Francisco is famous for its unique foods. It is the birthplace of the local sourdough bread, the Mission burrito, and steam beer. Fisherman's Wharf has been serving fresh Dungeness crab for many years.
Well-known food companies from the city include Anchor Brewing Company and the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. San Francisco is also known for California cuisine and fusion cuisine. These styles mix different food traditions. Food trucks are popular for finding diverse and gourmet street food.
Fun Festivals and Street Fairs
San Francisco hosts many different and exciting festivals, parties, and parades. The gay pride parade is held every June. The Folsom Street Fair takes place in September. The Chinese New Year Parade is in February. Carnaval is held in the spring. Other popular events include Litquake and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in October.
The city also has famous running races. These include the Bay to Breakers and the San Francisco Marathon. Many neighborhoods have annual street festivals. These feature live music, arts and crafts, and community groups. Some of the biggest are the Castro Street Fair and the North Beach Festival.
The San Francisco Opera company puts on a free Opera in the Park show in Golden Gate Park each year. The San Francisco Symphony also performs free concerts in July. On the Fourth of July, there are fireworks shows over Fisherman's Wharf and Marina Green.
Amazing Architecture and Tourist Spots
San Francisco has many unique buildings and landmarks that attract visitors. These include its Civic Center and Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. The Ferry Building is on the waterfront. The world-famous Golden Gate Bridge is a must-see.
You can also visit the very curvy Lombard Street in Russian Hill. The "Painted Ladies" are colorful victorian houses found throughout the city. The historic San Francisco cable car system is a fun way to get around. Other famous spots include the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, the ruins of the old Sutro Baths, and the lively Chinatown. The unique Transamerica Pyramid building, completed in 1972, is also an iconic symbol of San Francisco.
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Palace of the Legion of Honor
