8 Under-the-Radar Museums in San Francisco

The first two museums on this list are conveniently within one block of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in the Yerba Buena neighborhood near downtown. The Museum of the African Diaspora showcases contemporary art through the lens of Black culture exclusively from artists of the African diaspora, the global collection of communities descended from native Africans, predominantly in the Americas. The fine-arts collections, which rotate regularly, are scattered over two floors of galleries.

Don’t miss: “The Face of the African Diaspora,” a “mosaic” featuring thousands of photos taken by amateurs and artists from all over the world, though mostly in African countries.

Essentially across the street from MoAD, the Contemporary Jewish Museum strives to make Jewish lived experience and history relevant to the contemporary era. A typical visit might include: marveling at the museum store, which is housed inside an upended giant steel box; examining the life and works of Jewish-American intellectuals, such as writer Gertrude Stein and filmmaker Stanley Kubrick; and attending fascinating lectures and debates.

Don't miss: The front courtyard, ideal for sitting and people-watching in the heart of San Francisco, and the on-site Jewish deli serving lunch.

One of San Francisco’s true hidden gems, this children’s museum perched atop Corona Heights Park is unknown even to many locals. Kids will be wowed by the hands-on exhibits dedicated to art, science, and nature. They can observe live reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals while learning about California's conservation efforts. Views from the top of Corona Hill, stretching out toward the Financial District and San Francisco Bay, are some of the best in the city.

Don't miss: The live animal exhibits or weekly drop-in science workshops for families, usually held on Saturday mornings.

It would be remiss to visit San Francisco without learning about the counterculture movement, which likely started with the Beat literary movement in North Beach. The Beat Museum pays tribute to those writers and artists with original manuscripts, letters, photographs, and other literary ephemera. The small museum is across the street from the legendary City Lights Bookstore—get inspired by the collections, then shop for a book afterward.

Don’t miss: The 1949 Hudson roadster downstairs, used for the filming of 2012’s On the Road movie.

The Cartoon Art Museum was founded in part with the help of Charles M. Schultz, the legendary Bay Area cartoonist of Peanuts fame. It celebrates cartoon art in all forms, from superhero comics to political cartoons to manga graphic novels. The museum is located in a brick building one block from Aquatic Park, Ghirardelli Square, and the Hyde Street cable car turnaround, making it a great stop on a sightseeing tour.

Don’t miss: The museum store, which sells an impressive selection of underground, limited-edition, and signed comics.

Housed for many years above a North Beach cafe, the Museo Italo Americano is today nestled within Fort Mason. The small museum, among the first dedicated exclusively to Italian and Italian-American art and culture, explores the Italian-American experience through art and culture—often featuring Italian and Italian-American artists—and events and educational programs. In addition to a permanent collection of photographs, sculptures, and paintings, a historical archive tells the story of Italian immigration to California through the decades.

Don't miss: The Falassi Collection of statuettes of Catholic saints and religious figures made in various styles and materials, such as terracotta, papier mache, and sculpted wood.

This museum is devoted to the history, art, and culture of the Chinese American community. The story of Chinese immigration is very much a part of the history of San Francisco, and visitors can expect to see artifacts and photographs chronicling events that shaped the city, from the Gold Rush to the 1906 earthquake and the rebuilding of Chinatown. The museum is inside the Chinatown YMCA, a beautiful brick building designed by famed SF-born architect Julia Morgan.

Don’t miss: The dioramas and small-scale recreations of Chinatown as it looked in the mid-20th century.

It's hard to imagine that a museum dedicated to Walt Disney, the giant of American art and entertainment, isn’t on everyone’s radar. That may be because of its off-the-beaten-path location inside a former military barracks in the middle of the Presidio. The beautiful park setting is enough to warrant a visit, and the galleries chronicling Disney's life from boyhood to Hollywood and feature-film successes have enough fun and substance to entertain both children and adults.

Don’t miss: The scale model of Disneyland called “The Disneyland of Walt's Imagination.”