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Due to the Coronavirus, many museums are currently closed.

Museums

Some museums offer a free admissions day. Please check the website to verify that the free day policy is still in effect. In some cases, they may have changed the day. Here are some local museums with free days:
First Tuesday of the month

Cartoon Art Museum, San Francisco

Coyote Point Museum

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third Street, San Francisco

First Wednesday of the month

Exploratorium. San Francisco 10am to 9pm

Italo-Americano and African American Museums, Fort Mason

First Thursday of every month

Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft and 2621 Durant Ave., Berkeley

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco
First Friday of every month
San Jose Museum of Quilts, 110 Paseo de San Antonio
First Sunday of every month
Asian-Art Museum, 200 Lark Avenue, San Francisco near Civic Center
Coyote Point Museum, Coyote Point Recreation Area, San Mateo
Third Wednesday
Academy of Sciences

Every Saturday

Museum of Craft and Folk Art, Fort Mason; 10AM-Noon

Every Tuesday

Palace of the Legion of Honor, near 34th and Clement Street

Everyday

African-American History Museum, Fort Mason
Anderson Collection at Stanford

California State Capitol Museum, Sacramento

Cantor Arts Center at Stanford

Cupertino Historical Society & Museum

de Saisset Museum Santa Clara

Fremont Local History Museum

Intel Computer Museum Santa Clara

Italo-Americano Museum, Fort Mason. Noon- 5PM (Wed-Sun)

Japanese American Museum, San Jose

Museum of American Heritage, Palo Alto

Old Mint San Francisco (Limited visiting hours. Please check)

Pacific Heritage Museum San Francisco

San Francisco Cable Car Museum

San Jose Museum of Art, 110 South Market Street, San Jose (Tu-Sun)

Every second Saturday

Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito

Free second Sunday

Oakland Museum of California

Museums

Academy of Sciences	San Francisco	Science & Nature
African American Museum	San Francisco	African Culture
Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum	San Jose	Mining & History
Alameda Naval Air Museum	Alameda	Naval memoralbilia
Anderson Collection at Stanford	Stanford	Contemporary Art
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco	San Francisco	Asian Culture
Bay Area Discovery Museum	Sausalito	Science
Berkeley Art Museum	Berkeley	Art
Burlingame Museum of PEZ Memorabilia	Burlingame	PEZ and also museum of classic toys
Cable Car Museum	San Francisco	Everything about SF Cable Cars
Cantor Arts Center at Stanford	Stanford	Art
Cartoon Art Museum	San Francisco	Cartoon Art
California Academy of Science	San Francisco	Science & Nature
California Indian Museum	Santa Rosa	Native American Culture
California Historical Society	San Francisco	California History
California Military Museum	Sacramento	Temporarily Closed
California Mining & Mineral Museum	Mariposa	Mineral & Fossil Museum
California State Capitol Museum	Sacramento	California State History
Camp Roberts Historical Museum	Camp Roberts	Largest California Army Collection
Children's Creativity Museum	San Francisco	Hands-on Multimedia Yerba Buena
Children's Discovery Museum	San Jose	Hands-on learning
Chinese Historical Society of America	San Francisco	History of the Chinese Americans
Chinese American History Museum	San Jose	History Park at Kelly Park
Coyote Point Museum	San Mateo	Nature & Wildlife
Computer History Museum	Mountain View	History of the Computer
Cupertino Historical Society & Museum	Cupertino	Local History
de Saisset Museum	Santa Clara	Art
de Young Museum	San Francisco	Art
Essig Museum of Entymology	Berkeley	Insect Museum
Euphrat Museum	Cupertino	Art
Exploratorium	San Francisco	Hands-on Science & Technology
Haggin Museum	Stockton	Fine Arts & History,
Hiller Aviation Museum	San Carlos	Aviation
Intel Museum	Santa Clara	History of the microprocessor
Italo-American Museum	San Francisco	Italian-American Culture
Japanese American Museum of San Jose	San Jose	Japanese-American History
Lawrence Hall of Science	Berkeley	Science & Nature
Legion of Honor	San Francisco	Art
Lindsay Wildlife Museum	Walnut Creek	Nature & wildlife
Military Intelligence Service History	San Francisco	Japanese American MIS History
Musee Mecanique	San Francisco	20th century coin operated machines
Museum of American Heritage	Palo Alto	The evolution of technology
Museum of Local History	Fremont	Local History
New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum	San Jose	Quicksilver mining
Niles Canyon Railway Museum	Alvarado Niles	Pacific Coast railroad history
Oakland Museum of California	Oakland	California history and culture
The Old Mint	San Francisco	Local History
Pacific Heritage Museum	San Francisco	Pacific Rim culture & arts
Palace of the Legion of Honor	San Francisco	Art
The Presidio	San Francisco	Several including Fort Point
Randall Museum	San Francisco	Arts, crafts, sciences, & natural history
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum	San Jose	Ancient Egyptian Culture & relics
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art	San Francisco	Art
San Francisco Museum at the Mint	San Francisco	Development on hold
San Francisco National Maritime Museum	San Francisco	Naval history & exhibits
San Jose Museum of Quilts	San Jose	Art, craft and history of quilts
San Jose Museum of Art	San Jose	Art
SFO Museum	SFO Airport	Various in terminals. Sports Hall of Fame
Summit Museum	Mt. Diablo	History & nature of Mt. Diablot
The Tech Museum	San Jose	Technology and Science
UC Museum of Paleontology	Berkeley	Bones, real old bones!
U.S.S. Hornet	Alameda	Aircraft, Apollo recovery, Naval History
Walt Disney Family Museum	San Francisco	Disney memoralbilia at the Presidio
Western Railway Museum	Rio Vista	History of electric railway transportation
Wings of History Museum	San Martin	Aviation
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts	San Francisco	Arts and media

Academy of Sciences, San Francisco

Explore the natural world at the newly re-opened California Academy of Sciences The Academy in Golden Gate Park. There is a planetarium, the Steinhart Aquarium (including an albino alligator), a rain forest, the natural history museum and much more. The museum is open Monday-Saturday 9:30 AM- 5:00 PM and from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays. (415) 379-8000. http://www.calacademy.org/

African American Museum, Fort Mason

Building C, Fort Mason; (415)441-0640. This museum, art gallery, and history center devoted to African-Americans and black Californians is open noon to 5 P.M. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission: Donations.

Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, New Almaden

The museum presents visitors with an interesting array of exhibits about the history of mercury mining and the lifestyles of mining communities at New Almaden. A mine diorama duplicates the interior of a mine shaft, giving visitors a feel for working underground. Free admission Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum Link

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art. Located at their new location: 200 Larkin Street in San Francisco. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with extended evening hours every Thursday until 9:00 pm. Free 1st Sunday. Info: 415.581.3500 Website: http://www.asianart.org/

Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito

The nationally-recognized Bay Area Discovery Museum is a one-of-a-kind indoor/outdoor children's museum that offers a full range of programs for children, parents, school groups and educators. Located on 7.5 acres in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at Fort Baker in Sausalito, CA., the Museum's unique programs feature hands-on art, science, environmental and media exhibitions, performances, special events and ongoing educational curricula... all with a focus on fun! http://www.baykidsmuseum.org/

Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley

The UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive is the visual arts center of the University of California, Berkeley. Through art and film programs, collections and research resources, we aspire to be locally connected and globally relevant, engaging audiences from the campus, community, and beyond. Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Thursdays 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

2626 Bancroft Way; 2621 Durant Avenue; Between College and Telegraph

http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/

California Academy of Science, San Francisco

The California Academy of Sciences opened their new facility in Golden Gate Park, a 400,000 square foot sturcture that houses an aquarium,planetarium, natural history museum and a 4-story rain forest. . http://www.calacademy.org/

California Indian Museum, Santa Rosa CA

The Museum will provide California Indians with a first class museum facility in which to portray California Indian history and culture from an Indian perspective. http://cimcc.indian.com/

California Historical Society, San Francisco

The mission is to engage the public’s interest and participation in collecting, preserving, and presenting art, artifacts, and written materials relevant to the history of California and to support historical research, publication, and educational activities. http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/

California Military Museum, Sacramento

The California Military Museum is located in Old Town Sacramento. The museum contains artifacts ranging from the Spanish and Mexican period to the modern era. 1119 2nd Street, Old Sacramento; Telephone: 916.442.2883

Hours: Tues – Sun 10AM – 5PM (please call for winter hours)
Nominal Admission Fee

http://www.militarymuseum.org/

California Mining and Mineral Museum, Mariposa

It is the official California State Mineral Collection, with over 13,000 minerals, rocks, gems historic artifacts and fossils. Recently returned in 2000 is the popular crystalline gold Fricot Nugget, weighing 201 ounces, the largest one found during the Gold Rush. TEL 209-742-7625

Winter Hours: Oct 1- Apr 30; 10:00am - 4:00pm, Closed Tuesdays
Summer Hours: May 1-Sept 30; 10:00am - 6:00pm. Seven days a week California Mining and Mineral Museum Link

California State Capitol Museum, Sacramento

The California State Capitol in Sacramento was based on the design of the Capitol Building in our nation's capitol. Housed within the building are the State Senate and Assembly chambers as well as various state offices.

Hours: Daily 9AM – 5PM; Free Admission

http://www.capitolmuseum.ca.gov/

Cantor Arts Center at Stanford

The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University presents arts in 24 galleries plus sculpture gardens, terraces, and courtyard. The Center's diverse collections span 4000 years and the world's cultures and number some 25,000 objects, including the largest collection of Rodin bronzes outside Paris. 328 Lomita Drive and Museum Way (off Palm Drive)

website: http://museum.stanford.edu/

Cartoon Art Museum, San Francisco

The Cartoon Art Museum is the only museum in the United States dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of cartoon art in all its forms. This unique institution houses approximately 6,000 original pieces in its permanent collection. 655 Mission Street, San Francisco. Hours: Daily 11:00 - 5:00, Closed Monday; The first Tuesday of every calendar month is "Pay What You Wish Day."

http://www.cartoonart.org/

Children's Discovery Museum, San Jose

The Museum's exhibit philosophy is rooted in its mission and responds to the distinctive need for children to learn through concrete interactions — touching, exploring, manipulating and experimenting.

http://www.cdm.org/

Chinese Historical and Cultural Project, San Jose

The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP) is based in Santa Clara County, California. It was founded in 1987 as a non-profit organization to promote and preserve Chinese American and Chinese history and culture through community outreach activities. http://www.chcp.org/

Coyote Point Museum, San Mateo

The Coyote Point Museum is a learning center that inspires each of us to make a lifelong commitment to act responsibly in caring for the earth. Hours: Tues-Sat. 10-5 PM; Sunday 12-5PM. General admission is free on the first Sunday of each month. The free admission policy does not apply to groups of 10 or more. There is a $5 parking fee to enter Coyote Point Park. http://www.coyoteptmuseum.org/

Computer History Museum, Mountain View

The mission of the Computer History Museum is to preserve and present for posterity the artifacts and stories of the information age. As such, the Museum plays a unique role in the history of the computing revolution and its worldwide impact on the human experience. Museum hours: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday from 1 - 4PM http://www.computerhistory.org/

Cupertino Historical Society & Museum, Cupertino

Our mission is to "Create a Passion for the Past." We do this by collecting the artifacts that represent the past and present of Cupertino. Our collection contains more than 2,000 artifacts. Hours: Wed-Sat: 10AM-4PM @ Quinlan Center

http://www.museumsusa.org/data/museums/CA/9243.htm

de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara

The de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University is the South Bay Area’s free Museum of art and history. The de Saisset Museum collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets objects of art and history for the educational and cultural enrichment of all people. Galleries Open: Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara CA 95053-0550 (408)554-4528. https://www.scu.edu/desaisset/

de Young Museum, San Francisco

The New de Young in Golden Gate Park reopened in the Summer, 2005. A landmark art museum that showcases the museum’s priceless collections of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, and art of the native Americas, Africa, and the Pacific. http://www.famsf.org/deyoung

Essig Museum of Entymology, Berkeley

The museum houses one of the largest and most active research collections of arthropods in the United States, with more than 5 million specimens, primarily from western North America and the northern neotropics. Location: Room 211 of Wellman Hall on the Berkeley campus of the University of California http://essig.berkeley.edu/

Euphrat Museum, Cupertino

Euphrat Museum is located at De Anza College and houses exhibits of students and guest artists. Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/euphrat/

Exploratorium, San Francisco

The Exploratorium is an experimental, hands-on museum designed to spark curiosity – regardless of your age or familiarity with science. With hundreds of exhibits to touch, look through, pick up, and tinker with, let curiosity be your compass to endless discoveries! Located in San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, near the Golden Gate Bridge. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Free admission on first Wednesday of each month; however, due to capacity limits, groups of 10 or more are required to make reservations or will not be admitted. http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/index.html

Intel Museum, Santa Clara

At the Intel Museum in Santa Clara, you can experience the power of computer chips first hand, and the evolution of their development. Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission Closed on holidays

http://www.intel.com/intel/intelis/museum/

Italo-American Museum, Fort Mason

Building C, Fort Mason; (415) 673-2200. This collection of Italian-American and Italian art, culture, and history focuses on contemporary artists. It's open
Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 P.M. Admission: Free.

Japanese American Museum of San Jose, San Jose Currently closed for major renovation

The Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) preserves and disseminates the culture and history of Japanese Americans, with a special focus on the Santa Clara Valley. http://www.jamsj.org/

Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley

Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) is a singular resource center for preschool through high school science and mathematics education, and a public science center with exciting hands-on experiences for learners of all ages including a DNA sculpture, planetarium and special exhibits. There is a special overnight sleepover program for Cub Scouts. Daily: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org

Legion of Honor, San Francisco

The Legion of Honor displays a collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art in an exquisite Beaux-Arts building in an unforgettable setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco's most beautiful public museum is located in Lincoln Park near 34th Avenue and Clement Street. Open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 am-5:00pm. General admission is free every Tuesday, through the generosity of Ford Motor Company. The $7 surcharge for Art Deco, 1910-1939 still applies. http://www.thinker.org/legion/

Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Walnut Creek

A wildlife rehabilitation and educational center that focuses on native California wildlife and natural history. The museum is reserved for weekday mornings for school groups only. Check their website for weekly hours. http://www.wildlife-museum.org/

Museum of American Heritage, Palo Alto

Inspiring innovators of the future through the inventions of the past. We focus on the evolution of technology in the age before the transistor. Located in the historic Williams House and Gardens near downtown Palo Alto, 351 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto. Hours: 11 am to 4 pm, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Admission: Free http://www.moah.org/

Museum of Folk and Craft Art, Fort Mason

The Museum of Craft & Folk Art Closed

Museum of Local History, Fremont

The Museum of Local History is located at 190 Anza Street, Fremont, California. It is a non-profit all volunteer group of people dedicated to researching and preserving the diverse history of Washington Township (Today the cities of Fremont, Union City and Newark). Free admission http://www.museumoflocalhistory.org/

Niles Canyon Railway Museum, Alvarado Niles

The Pacific Locomotive Association has been collecting rare and unusual railroad equipment since the early 1960s in an effort to preserve our Pacific Coast railroad history for the enjoyment of future generations. You can see many interesting pieces of this collection when you visit the Niles Canyon Railway. http://www.ncry.org/home.htm

Oakland Museum of California, Oakland

The Oakland Museum of California provides unique collections, exhibitions and educational opportunities designed to generate a broader and deeper understanding of and interest in California's environment, history, art and people. Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays Free Second Sunday of each month (does not include special exhibitions) http://museumca.org/

The Old Mint, San Francisco

5th and Mission streets, Plans to renovate the old mint is on indefinite hold. $60 million is needed for seismic upgrade and other improvements. CLOSED

Pacific Heritage Museum, San Francisco

The Pacific Heritage Museum displays on a rotating basis selected exhibitions based on the broad theme of the artistic, cultural and economic achievements of the peoples of the Pacific Rim. 608 Commercial Street, Tuesday to Saturday,
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free Admission http://www.ibankunited.com/phm/home.html

Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco

The Legion of Honor, San Francisco's most beautiful museum, displays an impressive collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art in an unforgettable setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Hours: Open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 am–5:00pm. Admission is free every Tuesday. The museum is located at 34th Avenue & Clement Street, Lincoln Park http://www.famsf.org/legion

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, San Jose

The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, architecturally inspired by the Temple of Amon at Karnak, houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in the western United States -- including objects from pre dynastic times through Egypt's early Islamic era. Address: 1342 Naglee Ave, San Jose, CA 95191 Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm; Saturday -Sunday: 11am - 6pm http://www.egyptianmuseum.org/

San Francisco Cable Car Museum, San Francisco

The Cable Car Museum provides not only an historical perspective of the importance of the cable car to San Francisco, but an insight into the daily operations of today's system. The Cable Car Museum, 1201 Mason Street at Washington, San Francisco. Admission is free. http://www.cablecarmuseum.com/

San Francisco of Modern Art (MOMA)

Located in a striking building in San Francisco's burgeoning SOMA district, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art prides itself on its creative and innovative approach to the presentation of art, showcasing outstanding modern painters, sculptors, photographers, and architects in a continuing series of focused exhibitions. 151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard Streets http://www.sfmoma.org/ First Tuesday of each month is free.

San Francisco National Maritime Museum and Park

Maritime Museum is Open Daily. 10:00 am - 5:00 pm daily Admission to the museum is free. Hyde Street pier hours are 9:30 am - 5:00 pm and until 5:30 in the summer. Admission is for adults (over 17 years of age), $5.00. Joint individual ticket to Hyde Street Pier and Pampanito, $10.00

http://www.maritime.org/index.htm

San Jose Museum of Modern Art

SJMA is the leading institution dedicated to visual culture in Silicon Valley. It is a community anchor, ensuring artistic excellence and access for an extraordinarily diverse populace.

Location:
110 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
408-271-6840
24-hour Recorded Info: 408-294-2787

Museum Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 5pm
Closed Monday, and all Monday holidays.
Closed Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day.

website: http://www.sjmusart.org

San Jose Museum of Quilts

The mission of the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is to promote the art, craft and history of quilts and textiles. Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm and Thursday evenings until 8:00pm. First Friday of the month: FREE. 110 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95112-3639

http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/

Summit Museum, Mt. Diablo

Located at the summit of Mt. Diablo, impressive exhibits chronicle the history of the mountain and capture its majesty. A rock wall with instructional video examines the geological forces which created the mountain. Free admission to Museum, but daily pass to the park is $10Mt Diablo Summit Museum

The Tech Museum, San Jose

The Tech is a museum singularly focused on technology—how it works and the way that it is changing every aspect of the way we work, live, play and learn. Its people-and-technology focus and the integration of advanced technologies into visitor experiences and infrastructure, distinguishes it from other science centers. http://www.thetech.org/

Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Redding

Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a sprawling 300-acre campus filled with educational and entertaining activities all focused on the interpretation of the relationship between humans and nature. Spanning the Sacramento River and linked by the Sundial Bridge, the Park tells the story of the region and its people. Summer Hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day): 9 am - 5 pm, 7 days a week. Winter Hours (September through May): 9 am - 5 pm, Tuesday through Sunday Admission Prices: Adult (16+) $11; Child (4-15) $6 http://www.turtlebay.org/

University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley

The mission of the University of California Museum of Paleontology is to investigate and promote the understanding of the history of life and the diversity of the Earth's biota through research and education. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/

Western Railway Museum, Rio Vista Junction

The mission of the Bay Area Electric Railroad Association is to preserve the regional heritage of electric railway transportation as a living resource for the benefit of the present and future generations. On Highway 12 between Suisun and Rio Vista. Phone: 707 374-2978. http://www.wrm.org/

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco

The mission for the Yerba Buena Center is that we would present exciting local artists in context with their national and international peers; and that we would provide the Bay Area with an eclectic and wide-ranging slate of exciting exhibitions, performances, films and educational programs. Gallery Hours
http://www.ybca.org/

Last update January 23, 2016