Museums

First Wednesday

Always Free

San Francisco's Old-Fashioned Arcade Museum

"Fun for all ages" isn't a trite expression when describing San Francisco's Musée Mécanique, a truly unique penny arcade museum containing one of the largest privately owned collections of antique coin-operated mechanical musical instruments in the world -- 160 machines dating back from the 1880s through the present (and they still work!). You can pay Grand-Ma Fortune Teller a quarter to see what she has to say about your future, or watch little kids cower in fear as Laughing "Fat Lady" Sal gives her infamous cackle of a greeting. Other yesteryear seaside resort games include antique movie machines, 19th-century music boxes, old-school strength testers, and mechanical cranes. The museum is located at Pier 45 at the end of Taylor Street at Fisherman's Wharf. It's open Monday through Friday from 10am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 8pm. Admission is free (tel. 415/346-2000; www.museemechanique.org).

Back to Top

Click the names below for more detailed information.

• Aquarium of the Bay
• Asian Art Museum
• Cable Car Museum
• California Historical Society
• Haas-Lilienthal House
• Octagon House
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Pa
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
• The Exploratorium
• The Legion of Honor
• Wells Fargo History Museum
• de Young Museum

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

		Email			Print			RSS

				Frommer's San Francisco 2008 Author: Erika Lenkert Pub Date: October 01, 2007 Price: $16.99				Related Titles: A Moveable Thirst: Tales and Tastes from a Season in Napa Wine Country California For Dummies, 4th Edition Frommer's California 2008