de Young Museum

Why go

de Young Museum is defined by the perforated copper skin, sculpture garden, and varied galleries. Another layer comes from the Hamon observation tower above Golden Gate Park. Plan de Young Museum by remembering to choose collection priorities before entering the large building. After de Young Museum, choose Japanese Tea Garden or California Academy of Sciences; this keeps de Young Museum geographically coherent and avoids forcing de Young Museum into an unrelated crossing.

What to look for

• Look closely at the perforated copper skin, sculpture garden, and varied galleries.
• Notice the Hamon observation tower above Golden Gate Park.

The full story

The de Young, a fine arts museum located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, is one of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco along with the Legion of Honor. The de Young is named for its founder, early San Francisco newspaperman M. H. de Young. On March 22, 2016, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco announced the appointment of Max Hollein as its director, taking over from Colin Bailey who left for the Morgan Library & Museum after a two-year term. Hollein's tenure began on June 1, 2016. In 1978, the American art collections were transformed by the decision of John D. Rockefeller III and Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller to donate their renowned collection of 110 paintings, 29 drawings, and 2 sculptures to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco where they would be on view at the de Young. His bequest in 1979 together with her bequest in 1993 are among the Fine Arts Museums’ single most important gifts of art.

Useful to know

• For de Young Museum, choose collection priorities before entering the large building.
• Pair de Young Museum with Japanese Tea Garden or California Academy of Sciences when the route and opening conditions align.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.