San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is one of the largest modern art museums in the world, where visitors can enjoy contemporary artworks dating back to the 20th century. It holds over 33,000 modern artworks, including paintings, sculptures, architecture, and photography. The SFMOMA is one of the largest museums in the US, with over 170,000 square feet of exhibit space featuring only the best contemporary artwork from prominent artists. It is more than a museum; it is a thriving cultural center.

Artists and art lovers worldwide visit to immerse themselves in the museum’s world of beautiful and intriguing artwork. It takes more than 3 hours to tour and appreciate the museum’s 7 floors of eye-catching exhibitions. You'll also enjoy breathtaking views of San Francisco from the museum’s lush outdoor garden. The museum holds collections and offers a platform for living artists to promote their works as well.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art - one of the highlights of 12 Best Museums in San Francisco (Read all about San Francisco here)

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San Francisco Museum of Modern Art highlights

The Museum of Modern Art is a fantastic place to enjoy contemporary arts. The collection includes paintings, photographs, sculptures, and architectural designs. While in the museum, you will see the enormous living wall, a horticultural exhibit that envelopes the viewer in a multi-sensory experience. You can also view the San Francisco landscape from the SFMOMA outdoor gardens and terraces.

The museum is a thriving cultural hub for modern arts and holds exhibitions that attract artwork from all over the world. It has a free 45,000 square feet of art exhibitions open to the general public. Housed in an impressive LEED Gold-certified building, the ultra-modern museum is the go-to place to experience the best collections of contemporary arts from prominent and up-and-coming artists across the globe.

History of The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

The museum started in 1935 as the San Francisco Museum of Art. Its first director was Grace L. McCann Morley, an art historian and museologist. In the following year, the museum made history when it established its photography collection, becoming one of the first museums to recognize photography as an influential art and display some of the most important works within the discipline. Also, SFMOMA held its first architecture display in 1940. The museum temporarily left its venue for a few months in 1945 to attend the United Nations Conference on International Organization.

The museum became a global attraction under director Henry T. Hopkins, who added the word ‘Modern’ to its name in 1975. In 2009, there were plans for expansion to make it the most prominent modern art museum globally. The design for its new LEED Gold-certified building was by Snøhetta and Mario Botta. In 2016, the museum opened again to the public after its closure for expansion in 2013.

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Good to know when visiting The Painted Ladies

The modern museum has 45,000 square feet of exhibition space where admission is free for the general public. It is recommended to pre-purchase your tickets online before visiting the museum to save time. You can take advantage of the free public tours and audio guides to get the best tour experience at the SFMOMA and hit all the highlights. Multiple restaurants and eateries offer delicious dishes at the museum for lunch or dinner during your stay. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the museum is closed to the public.

Admission is free for federal employees, who will need to present legitimate federally issued IDs at the museum to gain free entry. Ages 0 - 18 also enjoy free admissions. Other nearby attractions include the Yerba Buena Gardens, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and Waterfall, Museum of the African Diaspora, Moscone Center, and Children's Creativity Muse.

Location: 151 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States

Open: Friday–Monday from 10 am to 5pm, Thursday from 1pm to 8 pm (closed Tuesday–Wednesday)

Phone: +1 415-357-4000

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