The museum was founded as "The California Palace of the Legion of Honor" by philanthropists Adolph and Alma Spreckels to commemorate through arts, Californian soldiers. They died in World War I and opened to the public in 1924. In 1972, the Legion of Honor joined the de Young Museum to form the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The Legion of Honor was the gift of the socialite, philanthropist, and patron of the art Alma de Bretteville Spreckels. Because of her love for all things Parisian, the museum was designed as a replica of the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur in Paris. The Legion of Honor is a museum of fine art and decorative arts in San Francisco, California; its vast collection includes pieces dating from 2000 BC to the 20th century. An impressive Neoclassical Beaux-Arts building in a fantastic setting, the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, is San Francisco's most exquisite museum. The museum is located in Lincoln Park, a wonderful place for a leisurely walk. Just outside the museum, visitors may follow the path along Lincoln Highway, which boasts spectacular ocean vistas and perfect outlooks onto the Golden Gate Bridge. Those seeking a more adventurous hike can head to the Land's End Trail. This winding cliffside trail in a wild, rugged terrain offers sweeping Pacific Ocean views and panoramas of the Golden Gate Bridge. Multilingual tours are available. Open Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-5:15pm, Fridays (March-November) until 8:45pm, Closed most Mondays and holidays. General admission tickets start at $15 for adults, and discounts are available for seniors and students. Youth ages 17 and under are free. Free general admission on the first Tuesday of the month. Special exhibition tickets are available for an additional price. Prices, hours, and programs are subject to change. Please visit legionofhonor.org for a detailed listing of current and upcoming special exhibitions, events, and educational offerings.
Official site: https://legionofhonor.famsf.org
The California Academy of Sciences, in Golden Gate Park, is an architectural marvel as well as a multifaceted museum. This state-of-the-art "green" building, covered with native plants and even rolling hills to match the natural surroundings. The roof also has solar panels to generate electricity, and the soil acts as natural insulation. The walls are made mainly of glass, allowing for natural light. This is the perfect place to bring kids in San Francisco. The California Academy of Sciences offers plenty of things to see/do, including an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, and even a rainforest. On top of all of the exhibits, each attraction features its own program of presentations and activities. Travelers suggest sticking around for the coral reef dive at the aquarium or venturing into the Shake House, the earthquake simulator found at the Kimball Natural History Museum. Admission may be pricey to some (adult tickets start at $39.95; entrance for children costs between $29.95 and $34.95, depending on age), but travelers say their experience was worth the cost. Visitors were impressed with not only the number of things to do but the quality, with those young and old. And a day is what you'll need to see everything, so make sure to pick and choose ahead of time if you're on a tight schedule.
Address: 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Official site: http://www.calacademy.org/
The California Academy Of Sciences
Legion Of Honor