Accessible Museums in San Francisco | San Francisco Travel
Exterior of the modern, angular de Young Museum. San Francisco, California.
The de Young museum is a work of art inside and out. Credit: Photo by Gary Sexton. Image provided by Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Accessible Museums in San Francisco

San Francisco has museums that are accessible to everyone, no matter their ability or needs.

San Francisco's arts and culture scene invites everyone to experience incredible museums and captivating cultural delights. Here, accessibility options cater to diverse needs, ensuring every visitor can revel in the city's offerings.

Asian Art Museum

200 Larkin St.

The Asian Art Museum prioritizes accessibility with a white zone for drop-off/pick-up, accessible parking, and wheelchair availability. Elevators ensure access to all levels, and guide and service animals are welcome. Special accommodations include complimentary admission for one accompanying a visitor with special needs, large-print labels, ASL interpretation, and complimentary mobile guides. The museum also offers open captioning for most videos and take-a-seat stools.

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Cable Car Museum

1201 Mason St.

The historic Cable Car Museum boasts full accessibility, ensuring a welcoming experience for individuals with limited or restricted mobility. Elevators are available to access all floors, making the museum easily navigable. It's important to note that the museum is a working facility with active, noisy machinery. Visitors with noise sensitivity should be mindful of this aspect during their visit.

Admission is free. 

California Academy of Sciences

55 Music Concourse Dr.

With a wheelchair-accessible entrance at 55 Music Concourse Drive, ADA-compliant ramps, and alternate entrances for exhibits, the California Academy of Sciences caters to diverse needs. Special accommodations include reserved seating, assistive listening devices, and complimentary admission for interpreters accompanying visitors with hearing impairments. Sign-language interpretation is available with two weeks' notice by calling 415.379.8000. The Academy welcomes manual and electric wheelchairs, offering complimentary manual wheelchairs at the coat check.

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Chinese Historical Society of America

965 Clay St.

CHSA Museum galleries are fully wheelchair accessible through an elevator, ensuring ease of access for visitors with mobility concerns. While wheelchairs are not provided, guests are encouraged to bring their own. The ADA entrance on Joice Street welcomes those seeking assistance at the front desk. Although on-site parking is unavailable, nearby garages offer ADA parking options.

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Contemporary Jewish Museum

736 Mission St.

Featuring a wheelchair-accessible entrance, ADA-compliant ramps, and lightweight stools to borrow, the Contemporary Jewish Museum strives to enhance accessibility. Accommodations include assistive listening devices, complimentary admission for interpreters assisting visitors with hearing impairments, and ASL interpretation available upon request. The Contemporary Jewish Museum warmly welcomes both manual and electric wheelchairs, with complimentary manual wheelchairs available at the coat check for added convenience.

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de Young Museum

50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr.

The de Young Museum ensures accessibility for all visitors, offering fully accessible collections, exhibits, and programs. Elevators provide access to every level, including the tower observation floor. Convenient accessible parking is at the Music Concourse Parking garage just across the street. Your visit is designed to be inclusive and welcoming.

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Exploratorium

Pier 15

The Exploratorium provides a seamless experience for all visitors. Those with specific needs are encouraged to secure personalized assistance by booking in advance via email or by calling 415.528.4444. Discounted tickets are offered for individuals with disabilities and their ADA assistants. The entire museum is wheelchair accessible, facilitating effortless exploration for everyone.

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GLBT Historical Society Museum

4127 18th St.

The GLBT Historical Society Museum, situated entirely on the ground floor of its home on 18th Street, ensures effortless access for visitors with mobility issues. The museum offers an inclusive experience that celebrates the diversity and resilience of the LGBTQ community. Audio tours, available upon request at the ticket desk, provide visitors with an informative and engaging experience.

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Legion of Honor

100 34th Ave.

The Legion of Honor is committed to providing an inclusive experience for all visitors, exemplified by its wheelchair-accessible entrance, ADA-compliant ramps, and designated ADA parking on-site. Accommodations extend to assistive listening devices and complimentary admission for interpreters assisting visitors with hearing impairments. The museum welcomes manual and electric wheelchairs, with complimentary manual wheelchairs available for added convenience.

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Madame Tussauds

145 Jefferson St., Suite 600

Madame Tussauds is dedicated to ensuring a fully accessible experience for all visitors. Trained staff are committed to safely assisting guests with disabilities in navigating the facility, utilizing a designated elevator for seamless access between floors. Wheelchairs and guide dogs are warmly welcomed.

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San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

151 3rd St.

SFMOMA prioritizes universal accessibility, ensuring art is inclusive for all. The museum offers wheelchair-accessible entrances and free mobility aids and welcomes personal mobility devices. Elevator access, Braille, and large-print resources cater to diverse needs. Free audio content enhances the experience, and ADA parking spaces at the SFMOMA garage further contribute to an inclusive visit.

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The Walt Disney Family Museum

104 Montgomery St.

The Walt Disney Family Museum enhances the visitor experience with the WDFM app, which is tailored for diverse abilities. The app provides audio for modified listening stations, offering gallery-by-gallery tours, including an Audio-Described Tour for vision-impaired guests. Complimentary noise-canceling headphones accommodate sensory sensitivities, and the museum offers free manual wheelchairs while welcoming personal mobility devices. Closed captioning is available for film screenings upon request. Please visit the ticket desk or call 415.345.6800.

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Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

701 Mission St.

With a focus on inclusivity, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts provides easy drop-off/pick-up locations, accessible parking, and wheelchair assistance. Elevators grant access to all levels, and guide and service animals are warmly welcomed. Additional accommodations include complimentary admission for individuals with special needs, large-print materials, ASL interpretation, and mobile guides.

Purchase tickets at the Service Desk in the Grand Lobby. 


Aaron Danzig
Aaron Danzig

Aaron is the Manager of Digital & Social Media Marketing at San Francisco Travel. He has lived in San Francisco for over 10 years and has worked in Travel & Tourism for over 8 of those. He is usually exploring the Bay Area hunting for that new and unique experience and good food too!