Mexican Museum facts for kids
El Museo Mexicano (which means The Mexican Museum) is a special place in San Francisco, California, United States. It was created to show off the amazing art and culture of Latino, Chicano, Mexican, and Mexican-American people. Right now, its main exhibition space at Fort Mason Center is permanently closed.
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The Museum's Story
The Mexican Museum of San Francisco was started by a San Francisco artist named Peter Rodríguez in 1975. The museum has a huge collection of over 14,000 objects. These include art from different times and styles, like Pre-Hispanic, Colonial, and modern Mexican and Latino art.
Where the Museum Has Been
The museum first opened in San Francisco's Mission District. Later, in 2001, it moved to Fort Mason Center. This is located at Building D, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street in San Francisco.
Plans for a New Home
As of 2015, there are plans for a brand new museum building. It will be in the SoMa district on Mission Street, right across from Yerba Buena Gardens. This new museum will be part of a tall building.
Checking the Art Collection
In 2017, the museum had a study done on some of its ancient artifacts. This was a step required by the Smithsonian Institution. Experts from Mexico City checked about 2,000 pre-Columbian pieces. They found that many pieces needed more study to confirm their age and origin. This process helps make sure the museum has the highest quality art. The museum is still working to check all its 16,500 pieces. This is important because the new museum will be a national-level museum. This means it will have very high standards for its art.
The New Museum's Future
Even with the art study, the museum is still planning to move to its new location. The whole project is a big one. The city of San Francisco has given the museum a very long lease for its future site. The new museum was planned to open in 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays. The formal opening of the new facility is on hold until further notice.
