Why go
Legion of Honor is defined by the courtyard, Rodin sculpture, organ, and focused galleries. Another layer comes from views through Lincoln Park toward the Golden Gate. Plan Legion of Honor by remembering to combine collection priorities with time for the exterior setting. After Legion of Honor, choose Lands End or the de Young on a separate half-day; this keeps Legion of Honor geographically coherent and avoids forcing Legion of Honor into an unrelated crossing.
What to look for
- Look closely at the courtyard, Rodin sculpture, organ, and focused galleries.
- Notice views through Lincoln Park toward the Golden Gate.
The full story
The Legion of Honor is a part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF). The name is used both for the museum collection and for the building in which it is housed. 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. The museum building occupies an elevated site in Lincoln Park in the northwest of the city, with views over the Golden Gate Bridge. Most of the surrounding Lincoln Park Golf Course is on the site of a potter's field called the "Golden Gate Cemetery" that the City had bought in 1867. The cemetery was closed in 1908 and the bodies were relocated to Colma. During seismic retrofitting in the 1990s, however, coffins and skeletal remains were unearthed.
Useful to know
- For Legion of Honor, combine collection priorities with time for the exterior setting.
- Pair Legion of Honor with Lands End or the de Young on a separate half-day when the route and opening conditions align.
Your next visit
Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.
Outdoor visit · 30–45 min
World planning estimate; admission, opening, visit duration and access need checking.