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What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

  • 1.  What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 07-28-2025 12:48 PM

    Dear All

    What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area? I am wondering what I don't know about and that I may get to go there because I live in the area. I look forward to all suggestions.

    Thanks,

    Rachel 



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 07-30-2025 08:24 AM
    Hi Rachel
    I'm a fan of the Campbell Museum and Ainsley House in Campbell, CA
    (A bit of bias as I worked there once upon a time!) 

    And the Cable Car museum

    Enjoyed the Marin History Museum in San Rafael on a visit a couple years ago - Louise A Boyd is a fascinating story (lady arctic explorer!)

    Bay Area Historic House Museum is a great resource 

    Happy exploring!
    Julie



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 07-30-2025 01:11 PM

    Dear Julie

    Thanks, I have not heard of the Campbell museum, Marin History or Bay Area Historic House Museum. I have heard to the cable car museum and think its interesting and is a piece of history. 

    Thanks again,

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 07-31-2025 05:59 AM

    Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in St. Helena!



    ------------------------------
    Kimberley Bush Tomio
    Executive Director
    Berkshire Museum
    Pittsfield MA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 07-31-2025 12:33 PM

    Dear Kimberley

    Thanks, I had no herd of it. Looks interesting.

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 07-31-2025 11:25 AM

    The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles

    Palo Alto Art Center

    Octagon House (San Francisco)

    Haas-Lilienthal House (San Francisco)

    Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito)

    Randall Museum (San Francisco)

    Triton Museum (Santa Clara)

    De Saisset Museum (Santa Clara)

    Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum (San Jose)

    The Lace Museum (Fremont)



    ------------------------------
    Melissa Leventon, ASA
    Principal
    Curatrix Group
    San Francisco CA
    melissa@curatrix.net
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 07-31-2025 12:32 PM

    Dear Melissa

    Thanks, I have heard and been to some of the museums you mentioned. I had no heard of the lace museum, de Saisset, Triton, Octagon. The Randell is lovely and I hear good things about the San Jose Quilt Museum. The Rosicrucian is its own thing and the discovery museum is also it's own thing. 

    Thanks again,

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 07-31-2025 02:22 PM

    The Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum, where I work!

    https://museum.santarosa.edu/



    ------------------------------
    SRJC Museum
    Generalist
    Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum
    Santa Rosa CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-01-2025 01:03 PM

    Dear SRJC

    I had not heard of the museum. Thanks for sharing.

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-04-2025 12:51 PM

    Hi Rachel,

    Try the Asian Art Museum in downtown SF; old SF Post Office converted to this Museum a number of years ago.

    Oakland Art Museum across the Bay from downtown SF might be a 'small' Museum by your definition.

    Best wishes,

    Art



    ------------------------------
    Art Manask
    Founder/Principal
    Art Manask Consulting
    artmanask@gmail.com
    818 358-3588
    www.artmanaskconsulting.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-04-2025 01:29 PM

    Dear Art

    Thanks, I have heard of most of those. 

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-05-2025 05:34 PM

    Hello, all!  Minor correction regarding the current Asian Art Museum of San Francisco – it is the former San Francisco Main Public Library that was renovated/remodeled, not a post office, for the current site on Civic Center Plaza.  (former staff member who was involved in the move from the Golden Gate Park location site to the current site)

    Regards,

    Meg

    .   _    _    _   _   _  _  _  _   _   _  ______    
    Margaret E. Geiss-Mooney    PA-AIC

    (she/her/hers)

    Textile/Costume Conservator &     
    Collections Management Consultant     
    National Heritage Responder

    1-707-763-8694   
    meg@textileconservator.com

    www.linkedin.com/in/margaretgeiss-mooney

     

    'Conservator' (sp. Conservador), noun – Professional responsible for safeguarding and making cultural heritage accessible for present and future generations. The work may encompass various types of actions, including collection care, preventive conservation, among others. Source: Dictionary of Museology, Routledge and ICOM, 2023.

     

     




    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-05-2025 05:38 PM

    Dear Margaret

    Yep, it is a good place.

    Thanks,

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-06-2025 01:30 PM
    Another tiny correction. The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) encompasses art, history and science on three levels, with gardens and patios featuring a koi pond and outdoor sculptures. It is not strictly an art museum. When I lived in Oakland, I loved going there. They now have First Friday events with music and food trucks, but that started after I moved away. OMCA is well with a visit.

    Ruth Hamilton
    History98520, Aberdeen, WA
    Polson Museum, Hoquiam, WA




    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-05-2025 03:07 PM

    I'll recommend my museum! The Museum of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa - we are a museum of history, art, and more, with lovely gardens too. Other North Bay options: Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art (they just opened an extension in SF), and the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society.



    ------------------------------
    Jennifer Bethke PhD
    Collections Curator
    Museum of Sonoma County
    Santa Rosa CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-05-2025 03:21 PM

    Dear Jennifer

    Thanks, each look worth a visit. I am not that far from them all.

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 17.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-08-2025 10:41 AM

    Hi Rachel,

    I know I'm late to the party, but the American Bookbinders Museum is an absolute treat. 

    https://bookbindersmuseum.org/



    ------------------------------
    Cara Mooney MLS
    Collections Manager
    Minnesota Discovery Center
    Chisholm MN
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 18.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-08-2025 12:56 PM

    If you haven't stumbled upon this treasure on the island of Alameda, you're in for a treat! 

    Sponsored by the California Historical Radio Society, the Bay Area Radio Museum is free to all; while you're in town, be sure to check out the Pacific Pinball Museum 

     



    ------------------------------
    Deirdre Araujo
    Volunteer Engagement
    Exploratorium
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 19.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-11-2025 08:40 AM

    Dear Deirdre

    Thanks, I will check them both out. 

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 20.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-11-2025 12:56 PM

    The Bob Mizer Museum and Photographic Archives [formerly the Bob Mizer Foundation] is a massive archive of LGBT photography and has gallery exhibits on their first floor, and holds events and film screenings regularly.

    http://bobmizer.org



    ------------------------------
    Dennis Bell
    CEO
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 21.  RE: What small museums do I not know about in the Sf Bay Area?

    Posted 08-14-2025 04:35 PM

    Not sure if you have heard of it, but the Museum of Craft and Design in the Dogpatch neighborhood in SF! We currently have two exhibitions on view until September 14 Beau McCall: Buttons On! and A Roadmap to Stardust. 



    ------------------------------
    Remington Ayres
    Development Coordinator
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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