de Young Museum

Golden Gate Park

de Young Museum

Virtually every city in the USA has museums, and sometimes, particularly on an adventure holiday, the last thing you want to do is visit another museum. But the de Young Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park may be a building that has just enough pizazz to make you want to walk through its doors.

The de Young Museum was created in 1894, approximately 120 years ago. Its collection, consisting of priceless artifacts from 1670 to the present, including everything from American, African and Oceana art to more than 800 sculptures in rotating and permanent exhibits, has grown steadily over the years. M. H. de Young, the museum’s namesake, was one of the original collectors. And oddly enough, he was a journalist.

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de Young Museum

After a couple of damaging earthquakes, the de Young Museum building was reconstructed in 2005. A somewhat controversial build (because residents didn’t want another concrete edifice in the green, luscious Golden Gate Park), architects decided to compromise and clad the building in copper siding. With this design, the structure will corrode over time and turn green (similar to the Statue of Liberty), thus blending in with the Golden Gate Park greenery.

In addition, the de Young Museum building now boasts an observatory tower raising 44 meters above the tree canopy. It’s not the Empire State Building in height, but who cares? The observation deck is FREE.

Yes, the de Young Museum is a museum, and young travelers don’t always go bonkers over museums, but the de Young might be different for you. If anything, you don’t have to pay the de Young Museum entry fee, but just enjoy Golden Gate Park like a local.

de Young Artwork

How Do I Find the de Young Museum?

  • You can use public transportation routes 5, 7, 16ax, 18, 21, 28, 28L, 29, 31, 33, 37, 38, 43, 44, 71 and the N to reach Golden Gate Park. Once you’re inside the park, stroll to the de Young along one of GGP’s many walkways.
  • To reach the de Young Museum from Union Square you can ride bus 5R (the R stands for Rapid —less stops) and walk. The ride and walk should be around 45 minutes.

de Young Statue


Orange Sky Co. says:

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The de Young Museum is a good spot for anyone interested in museums. The variety of paintings, sculptures and artifacts from all over the world is more than enough to keep you entertained…if you enjoy museums. Check out the free observatory overlooking Golden Gate Park.


Location of the de Young Museum