678 Mission Street (near 3rd Street)
415-357-1848
The physical artifacts of California’s tumultuous history
serve to illustrate the state’s defining moments and movements
to a visitor to the California Historical Society. The Society
has a long story of its own, traced as far back as its founding
in 1871, up through its recent relocation to the Mission Street
building in 1995. As the official historical society of the
state, The Society runs a museum, research library and bookstore
at its site in the Yerba Buena Gardens district in the South of
Market neighborhood.
The Society organizes exhibits designed to give the visitor a
window into the annals of the Golden State. Historic individuals
are depicted, groundbreaking cultural movements explored, local
organizations examined, and entire periods outlined through the
careful selection of objects from The Society’s permanent
collection. One may find a five hundred year old explorer’s
map, a commercial illustration selling peaches from the 1800’s,
or a painting depicting turn of the century Chinatown used to
portray a distant moment from the past. As the docent may say as
she greets you at the door, "Welcome to the history of
California."
Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 11 am – 5 p.m.
Closed Major Holidays
Admissions/Fees:
Adults: $2
Students/Seniors: $1
Children under 6: Free
Free the First Tuesday of the Month
