The Best museums in San Francisco for History Buffs
The Cable Car Museum
This museum displays hundreds of artifacts and interactive activities related to San Francisco’s cable cars. Visitors can explore how cable cars were constructed, operated, and later restored during the 1970s, or a behind-the-scenes tour to look at how electricity is generated to power the cable cars. Admission is free and guided tours are available throughout the week, though the museum is closed every Monday.
Fee: Free, but donations accepted.
Address: 1201 Mason St.
Hours: 10 AM-4 PM, closed Monday.
Alcatraz Island
You’ve probably heard of Alcatraz, the 22-acre island about one mile off the coast of San Francisco. It’s famous for serving as a prison for criminals. Today, it’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, partially because of the fascinating museums on the island.
After taking a self-guided tour of the prison, stick around to explore the many museums and exhibits in the island’s various buildings. Exhibits range from collections of prisoner’s hand-made items and historical items to exhibitions on the history of crime in America to exhibits on the island’s Native American occupation of the 1970s.
Fee: Accessible only via cruises; prices start at $ 28 (for kids).
Address: Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing.
Hours: Changes seasonally, open daily.
Musée Mecanique
This small-but-packed museum is the best in SF for going back in time as the collection has more than 300 items. The museum started as one person’s personal collection back in the 1930s, but has since ballooned into the impressive spread visitors can see today.
Admission to the Musée Mecanique is totally free, but because it sits near Pier 45, it’s likely that you’ll end up spending some money in the area, anyway - the popcorn carts on the pier are hard to resist.
Fee: Free, but donations accepted.
Address: Taylor Street at Pier 45.
Hours: Daily, 10 AM-8 PM.
1. On which day is The Cable Car Museum not available?
A.Saturday. | B.Friday. | C.Sunday. | D.Monday. |
2. What is special about Alcatraz Island?
A.Easy access. | B.Prison theme. | C.Free admission. | D.Excellent service. |
3. What could you enjoy in Musée Mecanique?
A.Sweet popcorns. | B.Packed items. | C.Cable cars. | D.Large balloons. |