Golden Gate Park SAN FRANCISCO
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The copper-clad de Young Museum and its twisting observation tower beyond a lawn of pruned trees

de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park

The de Young Museum and its observation tower across the Music Concourse, June 2012. Photo: Yair-haklai · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0

The de Young is San Francisco’s museum of American art and art from Africa, Oceania and the Americas, housed in a copper-clad building on the Music Concourse. Its 144-foot Hamon Observation Tower has free 360-degree views over the park.

Updated · Independent visitor guide

What the de Young collects

The museum grew out of the 1894 Midwinter Fair and has occupied this site ever since. The current building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, opened in 2005; its perforated copper skin is slowly turning green. Collections cover American painting and decorative arts from the 1600s to today, art of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, textiles and costume, and changing exhibitions that often draw lines on weekends.

The free Hamon Observation Tower

Take the elevator to the ninth floor of the Hamon Observation Tower for a free, glassed-in view of the Music Concourse, Sutro Tower, the Richmond District and, on clear days, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. You do not need a museum ticket for the tower or for the sculpture garden. Fog often clears by early afternoon, so it is worth a second look later in the day.

Tickets and free Saturdays

The de Young is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and closed on Mondays. General admission for adults has been around $20, with major exhibitions priced higher. On Saturdays, general admission to the permanent collection is free for Bay Area residents with ID; timed tickets are recommended and special exhibitions are not included. Your ticket also covers same-day admission to the Legion of Honor museum in Lincoln Park.

Plan your visit

The 44 bus stops at the front door, and the 5 Fulton and N Judah are a short walk away. The Music Concourse Garage is underneath the plaza. Allow two hours for a first visit, then cross to the Japanese Tea Garden or the California Academy of Sciences. Our half-day itinerary shows how to combine them.

Frequently asked questions

Is the de Young tower free?

Yes. The Hamon Observation Tower on the ninth floor is free and does not need a museum ticket.

Is the de Young free on Saturdays?

General admission to the permanent collection is free for Bay Area residents with ID on Saturdays. Special exhibitions still require a paid ticket.

Is the de Young open on Mondays?

No. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Does a de Young ticket include the Legion of Honor?

Yes, general admission includes same-day entry to the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park.

Sources & current information

Check the responsible provider for current access, schedules, prices and availability.

Keep planning your visit

A red five-tiered pagoda among autumn trees and clipped shrubs in the Japanese Tea GardenAttractionJapanese Tea Garden

The Japanese Tea Garden is a five-acre garden of pagodas, koi ponds, stone lanterns and a steep wooden drum bridge beside the Music Concourse. It opened for the 1894 Midwinter Fair and is the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States.

Read the guide The glass and steel entrance of the California Academy of Sciences under low fogAttractionCalifornia Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences puts an aquarium, a planetarium, a four-story rainforest and a natural history museum under a single living roof on the Music Concourse. It is one of the park’s most popular stops for families.

Read the guide A two-lane park drive passing lawns and cypress trees in Golden Gate ParkPlan your visitParking

Golden Gate Park has one big public garage, under the Music Concourse, and free parking on many park roads. That free parking is due to change: the city has approved paid parking across the park, expected to start in January 2027.

Read the guide