de Young Museum

Originally established in 1894, the de Young takes its name from the newspaperman Michael de Young who supported the construction of a new museum building in the early 20th century. The museum’s current home, occupying the same site in the Golden Gate Park and opened in 2005, was designed by Herzog and de Meuron; its copper cladding takes inspiration from the patterns of light seen through trees. The collection includes rich American art holdings dating from the 17th century to the present, alongside international textile arts and costumes, and arts of the Americas, Oceania and Africa. The showcasing of international contemporary works, which began in 1988, keeps the institution looking forward. A notable feature of the de Young is its Hamon Observation Tower, which provides panoramic views of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park and the Pacific Ocean. The de Young and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park make up the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, among the country’s largest arts institutions.