Been wanting to write-up a little list of favorite small museums that I know of. I welcome more contributions too. The requirement is that they’re underdogs and not very well known. This list is definitely skewed to North Beach - apologies. Lots of banks with museums in their lobby.

• Randall Museum. In the hills behind Duboce Triangle. Check out the train room downstairs and the lapidary room. There is a live hawk/bird of prey in this museum.
• Market St. Railway Museum on Steuart. Just opened a year or so ago- specializes in Trolleys, and has lots of old signs, as well as neat old movies.
• Chinese Historical Society of America on ClayWish I had a photo of the exterior, it’s on a narrow street in Chinatown with a brick exterior. Near the YWCA & sharing space with it too.
• Pacific Heritage Museum on Commercial St. Another charming alleyway museum- near the Transamerican Pyramid and also in a Bank.
• Maritime Museum in Argonaut Hotel. This is a great extension of the Maritime Museum under construction at Aquatic Park. The live footage of a Bar Harbor pilot climbing on a tanker in the potato patch outside Golden Gate Bridge is a must-see.
• North Beach Museum. Also in a bank- and above East Wind books on Stockton. Lots of old pictures of North Beach and its humble origins, but no mention of Joe DiMaggio.
• Cartoon Art Museum on Mission St. “Pirate Tales” coming 7/21.
• California Historical Society on Mission St. Mostly a bookstore but great exhibits nonetheless
• Society for California Pioneers on 4th St.Haven’t been there- it’s on my list
• Beat Museum on Broadway. I did the free portion, but haven’t done the paid portion. Interesting local flavor of North Beach.
• Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts. Up Mission near 20th, great art, sometimes historical exhibits. If you go, check out Galeria de la Raza on 24th street near Bryant.
• WellsFargo on Montgomery

• The “stagecoach one”- has a small little exhibit area on early WellsFargo delivery business. PHotos, and a real stagecoach visible from the window. Near Portsmouth Square.

• The Fed- Currency exhibit. I went ages ago, not sure if it’s still there, and since 9/11 I’d heard they weren’t letting the public in their lobby anymore. This is at Market & Fremont. There’s a small light controlled room with early California currency (if still open to the public). Online version.

Sources:
Comprehensive list, no-nonsense, with addresses: here

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