Free Museum Days

Free Admission to San Francisco Bay Area Museums

California Academy of Sciences
FREE Third Wednesdays – 9:30am to 5pm
400,000 square feet of natural history including a planetarium, the Steinhart Aquarium, 40,000 live animals and a 4-story rainforest all under one roof. And what a roof it is – an undulating living roof of seven hills in honor of San Francisco’s own iconic topography. Other free admission deals – San Francisco Free Days (for SF residents only) and Check Out SF family passes available from the San Francisco Library
- 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Asian Art Museum
FREE First Sundays – 10am to 5pm
One of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art with a collection of over 17,000 artworks spanning 6,000 years of history. Special collection surcharges may apply. 
- 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco – BART: Civic Center

SFMOMA: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
FREE First Tuesdays – 11am to 5:45pm
The striking Mario Botta designed building houses the West Coast’s most comprehensive collection of 20th century art including master works by Ansel Adams, Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera and more.
- 151 Third Street, San Francisco – BART: Powell Street

Legion of Honor
FREE First Tuesdays – 9:30am to 5:15pm
This exquisite Beaux-Arts building located on a perch with an unbelievable view overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge housed a collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European arts. Special exhibition surcharges may apply.
- 100 24th Ave. San Francisco

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
FREE First Tuesdays – Noon to 8pm
Multidisciplinary art center features exhibitions, performances, film/video and rotating art exhibits with a focus on contemporary and emerging artists form the Bay Area and beyond.
- 3rd and Mission, San Francisco – BART: Powell Street

de Young Museum
FREE First Tuesdays – 9:30am to 5:15pm
One of the most visited art museums in the country, the de Young showcases a priceless collection of American art from the 17th through 20th centuries along with art from Central and South America and the Pacific and an impressive collection of textiles. Special exhibition fees may apply.
- 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

The Exploratorium
FREE First Wednesdays – 10am to 5pm
House within the Palace of Fine Arts, The Exploratorium is a museum of science, art and human perception with over 400 interactive exhibits, many geared towards children and families.
- 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco

Check Out SF Family Pass
OFFER EXPIRES 12/31/10
Free admission for families to 18 Museums & attractions
Special free admission pass only for San Francisco families with children 18 and under. Passes are available at local branch library and can be checked out for free admission for 1 to 2 adults as long as they’re accompanied by 1 to 4 children.

Pass is good for one visit to any of 18 museums and attractions including the California Academy of Sciences, Asian Art museum, Aquarium of the Bay, Exploratorium, SFMOMA, Zeum, San Francisco Zoo, Walt Disney Family Museum, even the Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf. Check availability for each pass.
- Program good though 12/31/10

Bank of America Free Days
Free weekends at six Bay Area museums for cardholders
Holders of Bank of America credit cards and debit cards get free admission to six Bay Area museums for weekend each month. Museums include Contemporary Jewish Museum (SF), Legion of Honor (SF), de Young Museum (SF), Museum of African Diaspora (SF), San Jose Museum of Art (SJ) and The Tech Museum of Innovation (SJ). Weekends for 2011 include January 1 & 2 (check individual listings for 1/1/11), February 5th & 6th, March 5th & 6th

Oakland Museum of California
FREE First Sundays – 11am-5pm
The recently renovated museum brings together collections of art, history and natural science to tell the story of California. Current exhibit “Pixar: 25 Years of Animation” is included in the free admission day, but arrive early as timed tickets are first come first served.
- 1000 Oak Street, Oakland – BART: Lake Merritt

Other Free Days
Conservatory of Flowers (Golden Gate Park) – First Tuesdays
Cartoon Art Museum (SoMa) – First Tuesdays “Pay What You Can” Day
San Francisco Zoo (Outer Sunset) – First Wednesdays (SF residents only)
Pez Museum (Burlingame) – First Thursdays
Berkeley Art Museum (Berkeley) – First Thursdays
Pacific Film Archive (Berkeley) – First Thursdays