Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [126]
Other historic ships docked here include the tiny two-masted Alma, one of the last scow schooners to bring hay to the horses of San Francisco; the Hercules, a huge 1907 oceangoing steam tug; and the Eppleton Hall, a side-wheel tugboat built in England in 1914 to operate on London’s River Thames.
At the pier’s small-boat shop, visitors can follow the restoration progress of historic boats from the museum’s collection. It’s behind the maritime bookstore on your right as you approach the ships.
Visitor’s Center: Hyde and Jefferson sts. (near Fisherman’s Wharf). 415/447-5000. www.nps.gov/safr. No fee for Visitor’s Center. Tickets to board ships $5, free for children 15 and under. Visitor’s Center: Memorial Day to Sept 30 daily 9:30am–5:30pm; Oct 1 to Memorial Day daily 9:30am–5pm. Ships on Hyde St. Pier: Memorial Day to Sept 30 daily 9:30am–5:30pm; Oct 1 to Memorial Day daily 9am–5pm. Bus: 19, 30, or 47. Cable car: Powell–Hyde St. line to the last stop.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) ★ Swiss architect Mario Botta, in association with Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum, designed this $65-million museum, which has made the area south of Market Street, or SoMa, one of the more popular areas to visit for tourists and residents alike. The museum’s permanent collection houses the West Coast’s most comprehensive collection of 20th-century art, including painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design, and media arts. The collection, including a new infusion of some 1,100 pieces from late Gap founder Don Fisher, features master works by Ansel Adams, Bruce Conner, Joseph Cornell, Salvador Dalí, Richard Diebenkorn, Eva Hesse, Frida Kahlo, Ellsworth Kelly, Yves Klein, Sherrie Levine, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Diego Rivera, Cindy Sherman, Alfred Stieglitz, Clyfford Still, and Edward Weston, among many others, as well as an ever-changing program of special exhibits. Unfortunately, few works are on display at one time, and for the money the experience can be disappointing—especially compared to museums in New York. However, this is about as good as it gets in our boutique city, so take it or leave it. Docent-led tours take place daily. Times are posted at the admission desk. Phone or check SFMOMA’s website for current details of upcoming special events and exhibitions.
The Caffè Museo, to the right of the museum entrance, offers very good quality fresh soups, sandwiches, and salads. Be sure to visit the MuseumStore, which carries a wonderful array of modern and contemporary art books, innovative design objects and furniture, jewelry and apparel, educational children’s books and toys, posters, and stationery: It’s one of the best gift shops in town.
151 Third St. (2 blocks south of Market St., across from Yerba Buena Gardens). 415/357-4000. www.sfmoma.org. Admission $18 adults, $9 seniors, $9 students 13 and over with ID, free for children 12 and under. Half-price for all Thurs 6–9pm. Free to all 1st Tues of each month. Thurs 11am–8:45pm; Fri–Tues 11am–5:45pm. Closed Wed and major holidays. Bus: 15, 30, or 45. Street-car: J, K, L, or M to Montgomery.
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