List of museums in the San Francisco Bay Area

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This list of museums in the San Francisco Bay Area is a list of museums, defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.

Contents

Museums

San Francisco

NameImageTypeSummary
Academy of Art University Automobile Museum AutomobileNon-profit automobile museum
Aquarium of the Bay Aquarium of the Bay.jpg AquariumA variety of San Francisco Bay living habitats house the diverse animal collection, including walk-through tunnel exhibits, transparent touchpools, and a bubbling mountain stream exhibit
Alcatraz Island Alcatraz dawn 2005-01-07.jpg PrisonOperated by the National Park Service, former federal prison, access by private ferry
American Bookbinders Museum History website, The history of bookbinding and bookbinders in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco Tibetan Mahakala.jpg ArtArts of India, China, western Asia (including Persia), South-East Asia, Korea & Japan
Beat Museum Beat Museum front 2.JPG Literary The Beats memorabilia and bookstore
Cable Car Museum Cable Car Station.jpg Transportation
California Academy of Sciences CaliforniaAcademyofSciences.jpg Natural history
California Historical Society California Historical Society San Francisco.jpg Local historyState history and culture
Cartoon Art Museum ArtArt of comics & cartoons, including original animation cels, comic book pages & early newspaper comic strips
Children's Creativity Museum Zeum in SF.jpg Children's
Chinese Historical Society of America Museum and Learning Center EthnicHistory of Chinese in U.S.
Chinese Culture Center ArtExhibitions of traditional & contemporary Chinese & Chinese-American art
Contemporary Jewish Museum Contemporary Jewish Museum.jpg EthnicContemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art and ideas
de Young Museum DeYoungMemorialMuseum.JPG ArtAmerican painting, sculpture & decorative art, African, Oceanic, Meso-American, Central & South American art, textiles, contemporary craft, graphics art
EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park Exterior building of EcoCenter.jpg Education centerA unique education facility that combines environmental education, experience-based learning and habitat restoration
Exploratorium Exploratorium Exhibits 2.jpg ScienceHands-on science exhibits
Fort Point National Historic Site Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge.JPG MilitaryPart of The Presidio
GLBT History Museum GLBTHistoryMuseum.FrontWindows12 10.jpg HistoryHistory and culture of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, communities and movements
Haas-Lilienthal House Haas-Lilienthal House.jpg Historic house1886 Victorian house with period rooms
International Art Museum of America International Art Museum of America building.jpg ArtEastern and Western art including works by Chinese masters, Yun sculptures, classic 18th to 20th-century European portraits and landscapes
The LAB Redstone Building (San Francisco).jpg ArtInterdisciplinary arts organization with public gallery
Legion of Honor Palace Legion Honor SF.jpg ArtMostly French & European art
Letterform Archive Art website, materials on the history of lettering, typography, printing, and graphic design
Madame Tussauds San Francisco WaxLocated in Fisherman's Wharf, includes San Francisco celebrities, movie stars, music performers, sports stars, politicians and world leaders
Mexican Museum EthnicHistoric and contemporary art and culture of the Latino, Chicano, Mexican, and Mexican-American people
Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center Multiple website, history of Military Intelligence Service in the Presidio, Japanese American history, art and culture, operated by the National Japanese American Historical Society
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Art website, cultural arts center and gallery
Mission Dolores ReligiousOldest original intact Mission in California and the oldest building in San Francisco
Musée Mécanique Musee Mecanique 003.JPG AmusementsPenny arcade games, mechanically operated musical instruments, video arcade games
Museo ItaloAmericano EthnicItalian and Italian-American art and culture
Museum of Craft and Design Art website, contemporary craft and design
Museum of Performance & Design SFOperaHouse.jpg ArtPerforming arts
Museum of Russian Culture Ethnic website, part of the Russian Center of San Francisco
Museum of the African Diaspora Museum of the African Diaspora.jpg CulturalDiasporan histories of people of African origin & their influence & adaptation throughout the world
North Beach Museum Local historyLocated on the 2nd floor of the Eureka Bank building [1]
Octagon House 1861 Historic houseOperated by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
Pacific Heritage Museum Pacific Heritage Museum.JPG EthnicArtistic, cultural and economic achievements of the peoples of the Pacific Rim [2]
The Presidio 6in Rifled Gun No 9.jpg MultiplePark with several visitor centers with a fort, marine, military and historical exhibits
Randall Museum MultipleArt, science, natural history, live animals
Ripley's Believe It or Not! EntertainmentNear Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery ArtContemporary art, three locations in San Francisco
San Francisco Fire Department Museum Firefighting website
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Historic ships of the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park.jpg MaritimeIncludes a fleet of historic vessels, a visitor center, a maritime museum and a library/research facility
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2011.jpg Art website
San Francisco Music Hall of Fame Gallery
Building Picture.jpg
Local history website, The gallery displays around 90 iconic San Francisco Bay Area artists and bands.
San Francisco Railway Museum Conductor's tools 1 SFRM.JPG RailwayAntique streetcars, cable cars, earthquake of 1906
San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center SFOperaHouse.jpg Performing artsTours of the various performance spaces
Sea Lion Center Sea lion center interior.jpg Education centerA colony of wild California sea lions now permanently established in this unusual urban location. The center provides free educational programming on the natural history of California sea lions
SFO MuseumMultiple website, Aviation Museum and a selection of temporary exhibitions in the terminals at San Francisco International Airport
Society of California Pioneers Local historyCalifornia art, history, and culture
SS Jeremiah O'Brien Jeremiah O'Brien (Liberty ship, San Francisco).JPG Museum shipWorld War II Liberty ship located at Fisherman's Wharf
Tenderloin Museum Local history website, History of the tenderloin neighborhood
Walt Disney Family Museum Disney Museum 1.JPG Biographical Walt Disney's life, awards & memorabilia
USS Pampanito Pampanito (submarine, San Francisco).JPG Museum shipSubmarine located at Fisherman's Wharf
Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts ArtPart of California College of the Arts
Wells Fargo History Museum HistoryFirst location of the Wells Fargo company, history of the company and the California gold rush
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Ybcfta side and yb gardens.jpg ArtContemporary arts center with several galleries

East Bay Area

NameImageTown/CityCountyRegionTypeSummary
Aftel Archive of Curious Scents Berkeley Alameda East Bay PerfumeThe first museum in the U.S. dedicated to perfume and the experience of fragrance. website
Aggregate Space Gallery Aggregate Space Gallery 2021 Video Open Call. Installation view.jpg Oakland Alameda East Bay ArtA non-profit, artist-run exhibition and performance space in West Oakland. website
Alameda Museum Alameda AlamedaEast BayLocal historyOperated by the Alameda Historical Society
Alameda Naval Air Museum AlamedaAlamedaEast BayMilitary website, history of the Alameda Naval Air Station, ship and airplane models
Alvarado Adobe San Pablo Contra Costa East BayHistoric house website, operated by the San Pablo Historical Society, former home of Juan Alvarado, the governor of Mexican Alta California
African American Museum and Library at Oakland African American Museum and Library at Oakland (2008).jpg Oakland AlamedaEast BayAfrican American
Ardenwood Historic Farm Memorial-Day-2003.jpg Fremont AlamedaEast BayHistoric housepark includes a farm, a large forest and the 19th century Patterson House
Badè Museum of Biblical Archaeology BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayArchaeologyPart of Pacific School of Religion, artifacts from ancient Israel and Palestine, Greek and Cypriot ceramics, Egyptian scarabs, cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia, and over 300 historic Bibles from around the world
Bailey Art Museum (now permanently closed) Crockett Contra CostaEast BayArt website, ceramic and metal sculptures by Clayton Bailey, watercolor drawings by Betty Bailey, and pseudo-scientific curiosities by his alter-ego Dr. Gladstone
Bancroft Gallery BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayMultipleExhibitions from the collections of the Bancroft Library
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive BAMPFA entrance.jpg BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayArtPart of University of California, Berkeley, strengths in historical and contemporary Asian art, early American painting, mid-20th-century, Conceptual, contemporary international art, and California and Bay Area art
Berkeley History CenterBerkeleyAlamedaEast BayLocal history website, operated by the Berkeley Historical Society
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve Antioch Contra Costa East BayMiningPark of former coal and sand mine
Blackhawk Museum Blackhawk Contra CostaEast BayAutomotiveClassic cars
Blume House San Pablo Contra CostaEast BayHistoric house website, operated by the San Pablo Historical Society
Camron-Stanford House OaklandAlamedaEast BayHistoric house website, Victorian house museum
Casa Peralta San Leandro AlamedaEast BayHistoric house
Chabot Space and Science Center Chabot SSC entrance.jpg OaklandAlamedaEast BayScience
The Cobra Experience Martinez Contra CostaEast BayAutomotive history website, Museum committed to the promotion, conservation, education and preservation of the cars produced by Shelby American
Cohen-Bray House OaklandAlamedaEast BayHistoric house website, late 19th-century Victorian period house, operated by the Victorian Preservation Center of Oakland
Crockett Museum Crockett Contra CostaEast BayLocal history website
Diablo Valley College Art Gallery Pleasant Hill Contra CostaEast BayArt website
Duarte Garage Museum Livermore AlamedaEast BayAutomotive website, operated by the Livermore Heritage Guild, classic cars and auto memorabilia, also called Lincoln Highway Museum
Dublin Heritage Park and Museums 2009-0724-CA-Dublin-MurraySchoolhouse.jpg Dublin AlamedaEast BayOpen air website, includes 1856 Murray Schoolhouse, 1859 St. Raymond's Church, Kolb House and outbuildings and Dublin Pioneer Cemetery
Dunsmuir House Dunsmuir-house.jpg OaklandAlamedaEast BayHistoric house37-room Victorian mansion and estate grounds
Essig Museum of Entomology VLSB.jpeg BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayNatural historyInsect research museum of the University of California, Berkeley, collections are only open to the public during the annual open house
Galindo House and Gardens Don Francisco Galindo House (Concord, CA).JPG Concord Contra CostaEast BayHistoric house19th century period historic house
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site Danville Contra CostaEast BayHistoric house website Tao House, home of Nobel Prize winning playwright Eugene O'Neill
Forest Home Farms San Ramon Contra CostaEast BayOpen air16 acre park with 2 houses, fourteen outbuildings, and the Victorian period Glass House Museum
Golden State Model Railroad Museum Richmond Contra CostaEast BayRailroadFeatures dozens of realistic city and country scenes, with model trains from different eras running on several layouts in different scales
Golden Gate Railroad Museum Sunol AlamedaEast BayRailroadHouses 12 locomotives and over 25 pieces of rolling stock, which are shown for special events
Habitot Children's MuseumBerkeleyAlamedaEast BayChildren's website
Hayward Area Historical Society Hayward AlamedaEast BayLocal historyOperates the HAHS Center for History and Culture
John Muir National Historic Site John Muir Home (Martinez, CA).JPG Martinez Contra CostaEast BayBiographical website Home of John Muir, "father of the national park service" and founder of the Sierra Club
Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayTextile website
Lawrence Hall of Science LawrenceHallofScience2007.jpg BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayScience
Lightship RELIEF – WLV 605 Lightship Relief (Oakland, CA).JPG OaklandAlamedaEast BayMuseum shipU.S. Coast Guard lightship
Lindsay Wildlife Museum Walnut Creek Contra CostaEast BayNature centerNatural history exhibits, animals, wildlife rehabilitation center
Livermore Carnegie Museum Livermore AlamedaEast BayLocal history website, operated by the Livermore Heritage Guild
Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayEthnicArt & history of the Jewish community in the thirteen western United States, now part of the University of California, Berkeley
Martinez Museum Martinez Contra CostaEast BayLocal history website, operated by the Martinez Historical Society
Meek Mansion Cherryland AlamedaEast BayHistoric houseOperated by the Hayward Area Historical Society, open for special events
McConaghy House Hayward AlamedaEast BayHistoric houseOperated by the Hayward Area Historical Society in Kennedy Park, Victorian estate
Mills College Art Museum OaklandAlamedaEast BayArtPart of Mills College, creative work of women as artists and curators
Mission San José Mission San Jose.jpg Fremont Alameda East Bay Historic church
Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment Oakland AlamedaEast BayComputer GamesPlay vintage video games.
MOCHA: Museum of Children's ArtOaklandAlamedaEast BayChildren's website, hands-on children's art programs
Museum of the San Ramon Valley Danville Contra CostaEast BayLocal history website, housed in the Danville Southern Pacific Railroad Depot
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology VLSB.jpeg BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayNatural historyResearch museum of the University of California, Berkeley, collections are only open to the public during the annual open house, but a limited number exhibits are on display outside of the collection
Museum on Main Pleasanton AlamedaEast BayLocal history website, operated by the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society
Niles Canyon Railway Fremont AlamedaEast BayRailwayHeritage train and bus rides
Niles Depot Museum Fremont AlamedaEast BayRailwayModel railroads
Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum Fremont AlamedaEast BayMediaSilent films and their history
Oakland Asian Cultural Center OaklandAlamedaEast BayCultureAsian Pacific arts, culture and history
Oakland Aviation Museum OaklandAlamedaEast BayAviationFormerly the Western Aerospace Museum, over 30 vintage and modern airplanes, both civilian and military, and other displays that highlight noted aviators and innovators
Oakland Museum of California OaklandAlamedaEast BayMultipleArt, history, culture and natural environment of California
Orly Museum of Hungarian Culture BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayEthnic website
Pacific Pinball Museum AlamedaAlamedaEast BayAmusementFormerly the Lucky JuJu Pinball Museum, history, science and art of pinball machines
Pardee Home OaklandAlamedaEast BayHistoric house1969 Victorian mansion with decorative artifacts
Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayAnthropologyFormerly the Lowie Museum of Anthropology, part of the University of California at Berkeley, collections include Native California, China, Africa ancient civilizations of Egypt, Peru, North America and the Mediterranean
Richmond Museum of History Richmond Contra CostaEast BayLocal history website
Saint Mary's College Museum of Art Moraga Contra CostaEast BayArt website, part of Saint Mary's College of California, collection includes works by Andy Warhol, William Keith and over 4000 art objects
San Leandro History Museum & Art Gallery San Leandro AlamedaEast BayLocal history website
Shadelands Ranch Museum Walnut Creek Contra CostaEast BayLocal historyOperated by the Walnut Creek Historical Society
SS Red Oak Victory RedOakVictory2.JPG Richmond Contra CostaEast BayMaritimePart of Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, World War II Victory ship
Takara Sake MuseumBerkeleyAlamedaEast BayFood website, historical sake-making process, sake artifacts and implements, history of sake-making in the United States
Thorsen House Thorsen House.jpg BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayHistoric house American Craftsman style house
Union City Historical Museum Union City AlamedaEast BayLocal history [3]
University of California Museum of Paleontology VLSB.jpeg BerkeleyAlamedaEast BayPaleontologyCollections are only open to the public during the annual open house, but a limited number of fossil exhibits are on display outside of the collection
USS Hornet Museum USS-Hornet-CV-12-Dsc08437.jpg AlamedaAlamedaEast BayMuseum shipUnited States Navy aircraft carrier that served in World War II, the Vietnam War, and also played a part in the Apollo program
USS Potomac (AG-25) Uss-potomac-at-oakland.jpg OaklandAlamedaEast BayMuseum shipPresident Franklin Roosevelt's presidential yacht
Washington Township Museum of Local History Fremont AlamedaEast BayLocal historyFocused on southwestern part of Alameda County, the museum has exhibits, walking tours, and classes.

San Francisco Peninsula

NameImageTown/CityCountyRegionTypeSummary
Anderson CollectionStanfordSanta ClaraSan Francisco PeninsulaArtOne of the world's most outstanding private assemblies of modern and contemporary American art.
Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia Burlingame San Mateo San Francisco Peninsula Toy Pez dispensers, includes the Classic Toy Museum with toys of the past
Colma Historical Museum Colma San MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaLocal history website, operated by the Colma Historical Association
CuriOdyssey San Mateo San MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaNatural historyNatural history and environmental education center with an aviary and over 50 non-releasable native animals, formerly the Coyote Point Museum
Filoli Filoli.JPG Woodside San MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaHistoric house43-room country estate with 16-acre (6.5 ha) formal garden
Hiller Aviation Museum Hiller Aviation Museum front.JPG San Carlos San MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaAviationVintage and futuristic aircraft, prototypes, photographic displays and models
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts Stanford University Santa ClaraSan Francisco PeninsulaArt website Art including the largest collection of works by Auguste Rodin in the USA
Millbrae Museum Millbrae San MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaLocal history website, operated by the Millbrae Historical Society, antique furnishings, clothing, household items, transportation
Millbrae Train Museum Millbrae San MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaRailroad website, operated by the Millbrae Historical Society
Peninsula Museum of Art San Bruno San MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaArtChanging exhibitions of work by outstanding artists of the Greater Bay Area
Sanchez Adobe Sanchez Adobe exterior 1.JPG Pacifica San MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaHistoric houseOperated by the San Mateo County History Museum
San Mateo County History Museum Redwood CitySan MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaLocal historyHistory of San Mateo County including natural resources, immigration, important figures, industries, maritime history
South San Francisco Historical Society Museum SSF Historical Society Museum.jpg South San FranciscoSan MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaLocal History website, artifacts, memorabilia, oral histories, photograph collection
The Foster Museum The Foster Museum exterior.jpg Palo Alto Santa Clara San Francisco Peninsula Art website Single-artist museum exhibiting the artwork Journeys of artist-explorer Tony Foster
Woodside Store Woodside San MateoSan Francisco PeninsulaHistoric siteOperated by the San Mateo County History Museum, general store restored to 1880s appearance

Santa Clara Valley

Entries in this list are generally according to Santa Clara Valley.

NameImageTown/CityCountyRegionTypeSummary
Agnews Historic Cemetery & MuseumSanta ClaraSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyMedical website, historic cemetery and museum about the Agnews State Hospital and later Agnews Developmental Center from 1888 to 2009, museum open by appointment
Ainsley House Ainsley House.jpg Campbell Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyHistoric house1925 Craftsman-style house, Morgan Gallery in the carriage house features exhibits of local history
Berryessa Adobe Santa Clara Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyHistoric house website, 1840s adobe house
California History Center Cupertino Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyHistoryEducation center and exhibit hall on regional and California history, part of De Anza College
Campbell Historical Museum CampbellSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyLocal historySmall history museum located in the city of Campbell's first public building, Firehouse No. 1. Features interactive exhibits that rotate once a year.
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose.jpg San Jose Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyChildren's
Computer History Museum Mountain View Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyComputerMuseum about the history of computing and information technology
Cupertino Historical Society and Museum Cupertino Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyLocal history website
De Saisset Museum De Saisset Museum.jpg Santa ClaraSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyMultiplePart of the Santa Clara University, art & history, includes paintings, jewels, silver, tapestries, California & Native American historical artifacts
Euphrat Museum of Art Cupertino Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArtPart of De Anza College
Gilroy Museum Gilroy Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyLocal history website, Gilroy Historical Society, history of Gilroy and the South Santa Clara County area, housed in the historic 1910 Carnegie Library Building
Harris-Lass MuseumSanta ClaraSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyHistoric house website, operated by the Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara, 19th-century Italianate farmhouse
Headen-Inman HouseSanta ClaraSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyLocal historyExhibits on local history, located on the grounds of the Triton Museum of Art
History Park at Kelley Park San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyOpen airIncludes 27 original and reproduction homes, business and landmarks, Portuguese Historical Museum, Viet Museum, trolley barn with vehicles, art gallery
Hoover Institution Library and Archives Stanford Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyHistoryPart of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, changing exhibits from the collections in the Herbert Hoover Memorial Exhibit Pavilion
Intel Museum Santa ClaraSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyScienceTransistors, computer memory, microprocessors, how computer chips are made, history of Intel
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyMusicLife and works of composer Ludwig van Beethoven, operated by San Jose State University and the American Beethoven Society
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts, Stanford, California - 20060728.jpg Stanford Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArtFormerly the Stanford University Museum of Art, part of Stanford University, includes Auguste Rodin sculpture garden
Japanese American Museum of San Jose San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyEthnicLocated in Japantown, Japanese American art, history and culture
Junior Museum & Zoo Palo Alto Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyMultiple website, owned and operated by the City of Palo Alto, hands-on science and natural history exhibits, live animals
Los Altos History Museum Los Altos Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyLocal historyIncludes the early 20th century J. Gilbert Smith House, area agriculture, cultural history
Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA)San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArtA contemporary Latino visual arts and performing arts space, as well as a community arts education program.
Moffett Field Historical Society Museum Moffett Field Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyAviation website, history of Moffett Federal Airfield, Navy airship USS Macon
Museum of American Heritage Palo Alto Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyHistoryAlso known as MOAH, inventions and technology of the 19th and 20th century in a series of settings typical of the era
NASA Ames Exploration Center NASA Ames Visitor Center.JPG Moffett Federal Airfield Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyScienceNASA technology, missions and space exploration
New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum New Almaden Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyMiningExhibits about the history of mercury mining and the lifestyles of mining communities at New Almaden
New Museum Los Gatos Los Gatos Santa Clara Santa Clara Valley MultipleLocal history and art
Palo Alto Art Center Palo AltoSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArtArt and artists of the San Francisco Bay Area
Peralta Adobe PeraltaAdobe-cropped.jpg San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyHistoric houseOpen by appointment
Portuguese Historical Museum PortugueseHistoricalMuseum-cropped.jpg San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyEthnicPart of History Park at Kelley Park, Portuguese history and culture, immigration into the Santa Clara Valley
Rengstorff House Rengstorff House.jpg Mountain View Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyHistoric houseVictorian Italianate mansion with period rooms
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum Rc egyptian museum.jpg San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArchaeologicalAncient Egypt
San Benito County Historical & Recreational Park Hollister San Benito Santa Clara ValleyOpen air website, operated by the San Benito County Historical Society, historical village includes a school, dance hall, bar, jail, several houses, print shop and antique farm vehicles
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArtContemporary art by emerging and established Bay Area artists
San Jose Museum of Art San-Jose-moa.jpg San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArtFocuses on West Coast artists and artists of the Pacific Rim
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyTextileQuilts and textiles as an art form
South Bay Historical Railroad Society Museum USA-Santa Clara-Railroad Depot-2.jpg Santa ClaraSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyRailroadAlso known as the Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History, housed in the Santa Clara Depot
Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum Sunnyvale Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyLocal history
The Foster Museum The Foster Museum exterior.jpg Palo Alto Santa Clara San Francisco Peninsula Art website Single-artist museum exhibiting the artwork Journeys of artist-explorer Tony Foster
The Tech Museum of Innovation The Tech Museum of Innovation 01718.JPG San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyScience
Thompson Gallery at San José State University San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArt website, located in Art Building No. 127
Triton Museum of Art Santa ClaraSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArtContemporary and historical works of art by artists of the Greater Bay Area
Viet Museum Vietmuseum.jpg San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyEthnicPart of History Park at Kelley Park, experience of Vietnamese Americans and their journey from Vietnam to the United States
Villa Mira Monte Morgan Hill Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyMultiple website, operated by the Morgan Hill Historical Society, 1884 Hiram Morgan Hill House with Queen Anne and Stick/Eastlake design, Morgan Hill Museum with a rock and mineral collection
Villa Montalvo VillaMontalvoMansion.jpg Saratoga Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArtHistoric mansion, houses the Montalvo Arts Center with a gallery and performing arts
Wapple House Museum Hollister San Benito Santa Clara ValleyLocal history website, operated by the San Benito County Historical Society
Winchester Mystery House Winchester House Front.jpg San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyHistoric house160-room Victorian mansion with many unexplained oddities
Wings of History Museum San Martin Santa ClaraSanta Clara ValleyAviationAntique aircraft and aircraft engines
Works/San Jose San JoseSanta ClaraSanta Clara ValleyArt website, alternative community art and performance center with exhibit gallery

Other San Francisco Bay Area

NameImageTown/CityCountyRegionTypeSummary
Arts Benicia Benicia Solano San Francisco Bay Area Art website, art center with exhibit gallery
Bay Area Discovery Museum Sausalito Marin San Francisco Bay Area Children's
Bay Model Visitor Center Bay model interior.jpg Sausalito MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaScienceThree-dimensional hydraulic model of San Francisco Bay and Delta areas capable of simulating tides and currents, over 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) in size, operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers
Benicia Capitol State Historic Park Benicia state capitol exterior.JPG Benicia SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaHistoryCalifornia's third capitol building, restored to 1850s appearance
Benicia Fire Museum Benicia SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaFirefighting website, historic fire engines, trucks, equipment
Benicia Historical Museum Benicia SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaLocal history website
Bolinas Museum Bolinas MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaArt website
California Indian Museum and Cultural CenterSanta RosaSonomaNorth CoastNative American website, California Indian history and culture from an Indian perspective
California Missions Museum Sonoma Sonoma North Coast HistoryLocated at Cline Cellars, models of the California missions
Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center.JPG Santa Rosa SonomaNorth CoastBiographicalLife and art of cartoonist Charles M. Schulz
Children's Museum of Sonoma CountySanta RosaSonomaNorth CoastChildren's website
China Camp State Park San Rafael MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaOpen airExhibits about former Chinese shrimp-fishing village including a house museum
Cloverdale History Center and Museum Cloverdale SonomaNorth CoastHistoric house website, operated by the Cloverdale Historical Society, includes the late 19th-century Gould-Shaw House
Depot Park Museum Petaluma SonomaNorth CoastLocal history website, operated by the Sonoma Valley Historical Society, includes railroad artifacts and displays, a Victorian kitchen and historic schoolroom
Dixie Schoolhouse San Rafael MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaEducationOne room schoolhouse
Dutra Museum of Dredging Rio Vista SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaIndustry website, private collection of dredging equipment and fossils, open by appointment
Falkirk Cultural Center San Rafael MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaArt website, owned and operated by the City of San Rafael
Fort Ross State Historic Park FortRoss-chapel-reconstructed.jpg Fort Ross SonomaNorth CoastOpen airearly 19th-century Russian-American Company settlement
Hamilton Field History MuseumNovatoMarinSan Francisco Bay AreaMilitary website, history of Hamilton Army Airfield
Hand Fan Museum Healdsburg SonomaNorth CoastDecorative artsMuseum about fans and the cultures and people who use them
Healdsburg Center for the ArtsHealdsburgSonomaNorth CoastArt website, community arts center
Healdsburg Museum and Historical SocietyHealdsburgSonomaNorth CoastLocal history website
Jack London State Historic Park LondonCottage.jpg Glen Ellen SonomaNorth CoastBiographicalAlso known as Jack London Home and Ranch
Jack Mason Museum of West Marin History Inverness MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaLocal history website
Jesse Peter Museum Santa RosaSonomaNorth CoastNative AmericanNative American art of North America and ethnographic art of parts of Mesoamerica, Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia
Luther Burbank Home and Gardens Santa RosaSonomaNorth CoastHistoric house
Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm Gold Ridge Caretaker Cottage 3520.jpg Sebastopol SonomaNorth CoastHistoric house
Marin History Museum San Rafael MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaLocal historyMarin County history and culture
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Novato MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaContemporary ArtPresents new work by emerging and established artists
Marin Museum of the American Indian NovatoMarinSan Francisco Bay AreaNative AmericanSituated on an actual site of a Miwok village
McCune Room at JFK Library Vallejo SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaLiterary website, collection of rare and unique books, printing equipment and binding tools
Military Antiques & Museum Petaluma SonomaNorth CoastMilitary website
Mission San Francisco de Solano Mission San Francisco Solano.jpg Sonoma SonomaNorth CoastBiographicalOne of the sites of Sonoma State Historic Park, 19th-century Spanish mission
Mission San Rafael Arcángel Interior of Chapel at Mission San Rafael.jpg San Rafael MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaHistoryEarly 19th-century Spanish mission
Mount Tamalpais State Park Mill Valley MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaHistoryEast Peak Visitor Center includes museum about the park's history and natural history, including the former railroad used to bring up visitors [4]
Museum of International Propaganda San Rafael MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaPropagandaThe Museum of International Propaganda features a permanent collection of propaganda posters, paintings, sculptures, and artifacts from more than 25 countries
Napa Valley Museum Yountville Napa Napa Valley MultipleArt and natural history of Napa Valley, including local Native American and wine-making history
Nike Missile Site SF-88 Golden Gate National Recreation Area MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaMilitaryHistory of defensive missiles that protected San Francisco and other major cities in the United States. Only site that can lift a missile into launch position.
Novato History MuseumNovatoMarinSan Francisco Bay AreaLocal history website
Pacific Coast Air Museum Santa Rosa SonomaNorth CoastAviationRestored American military, propeller and jet aircraft
Pena Adobe Vacaville SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaHistoric houseOperated by the Peña Adobe Historical Society, also adjacent Mowers-Goheen Museum
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park AdobeNorthWingEdit2808.jpg Petaluma SonomaNorth CoastHistoric houseHistoric ranch and adobe house
Petaluma Historical Library and Museum Petaluma SonomaNorth CoastLocal historyHoused in a Carnegie library, exhibits include Petaluma poultry, dairy, and Miwok Indian history
Petaluma Wildlife & Natural Science Museum Petaluma SonomaNorth CoastNatural historyLive and taxidermied animals, housed on the Petaluma High School campus
Point Reyes National Seashore MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaMultipleIncludes Kule Loklo (a recreated Coast Miwok village), Lighthouse Visitor Center and Point Reyes Lighthouse, the Bear Valley Visitor Center with exhibits about the park's ecosystems and cultural heritage, and the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center with exhibits about 16th century maritime exploration, marine fossils and marine environments
Rancho Obi-Wan Petaluma SonomaNorth CoastMedia website, private tours of a collection of Star Wars props, movie items, toys, art and memorabilia
Rio Vista Museum Rio Vista SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaLocal history website
San Anselmo Historical Museum San Anselmo MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaLocal history website
Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery Santa RosaSonomaNorth CoastArtPart of Santa Rosa Junior College, exhibits include art history, ceramics, computer graphics, drawing, graphic design, jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture
Sebastopol Center for the Arts Gold Ridge Caretaker Cottage 3520.jpg SebastopolSonomaNorth CoastArt website
Sonoma County Museum Old Santa Rosa Post Office, Downtown Santa Rosa,2.jpg Santa Rosa SonomaNorth CoastMultipleHistory, art, and culture of the region
Sonoma State Historic Park Mission San Francisco Solano.jpg Sonoma SonomaNorth CoastOpen airSix historic sites including Mission San Francisco de Solano, the Presidio of Sonoma, the Vallejo Estate, a historic houses, a hotel and inn
Sonoma State University Art Gallery Rohnert Park SonomaNorth CoastArtExhibits of modern and contemporary art [5]
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Sonoma SonomaNorth CoastArtWorks by regional, national and international modern and contemporary artists
The Space Station MuseumNovatoMarinSan Francisco Bay AreaAerospace website, history of space exploration, collections of U.S., Russian and Soviet space exploration artifacts
Spaulding Wooden Boat Center Spauldingbw.jpg Sausalito MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaMaritimeRestores and preserves significant, historic wooden sailing vessels
Tiburon Railroad & Ferry Depot Museum Tiburon MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaTransportationRailroad and ferry history and artifacts, operated by the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society
Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center Fairfield SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaAviationFeatures over 35 outdoor aircraft
United States Immigration Station Detention center angel island.jpg Angel Island MarinSan Francisco Bay AreaHistoryLocated in Angel Island State Park
Vacaville Museum Vacaville SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaLocal history website
Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum Vallejo SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaLocal history website, local history, Mare Island Naval Shipyard and U.S. Navy history
West County Museum Sebastopol SonomaNorth CoastLocal history website, operated by the Western Sonoma County Historical Society
Western Railway Museum WRM087.JPG Suisun SolanoSan Francisco Bay AreaRailroadHistoric streetcars and interurban electric trains from all over California and other western states
Windsor Museum Windsor SonomaNorth CoastLocal history website, operated by the Windsor Historical Society in the Hembree House

Defunct museums

NameImageTown/CityCountyRegionTypeSummary
Diablo Valley College Museum Pleasant Hill Contra Costa County San Francisco Bay Area [6]
Hall of Health Berkeley Alameda County San Francisco Bay Areasponsored by Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland, closed in 2009 [7]
Museum of Conceptual Art San FranciscoSan FranciscoSan Francisco Bay Areaclosed in 1984
Museum of Modern Mythology San FranciscoSan Francisco Bay AreaClosed in 1989 following the Loma Prieta earthquake
Natural World Museum San FranciscoSan FranciscoSan Francisco Bay AreaEducationA mobile museum focused on environment concerns, closed in 2009.
New Langton Arts San FranciscoSan FranciscoSan Francisco Bay AreaArtsclosed in 2009
Playland-Not-At-The-Beach El Cerrito Contra CostaEast BayAmusementAmusement park games, memorabilia, pinball machines, antique amusement devices, live magic shows, a hand-carved miniature circus, side show acts, miniature dioramas, Fascination games, historic exhibitsClosed in 2018
Treasure Island Museum San FranciscoSan FranciscoSan Francisco Bay AreaLocal history, Artsclosed in 1997, building tours by appointment, group working to establish new museum [8]
San Francisco Museum at the Mint San FranciscoSan FranciscoSan Francisco Bay AreaLocal historyplanned museum in the Old Mint to be operated by the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society.
Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf San FranciscoSan FranciscoSan Francisco Bay Areaclosed in 2013
World of the Unexplained museum San FranciscoSan FranciscoSan Francisco Bay Areaclosed in 1985

See also

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  7. http://www.hallofhealth.org/ Hall of Health, Retrieved December 4, 2013
  8. "Official site". Treasure Island Museum Association. Retrieved February 25, 2015.