- 39historic sites
- 16free to visit
- 7National Park Service units
- 10neighborhoods covered
- Islands and the Bay
- Fisherman’s Wharf and Aquatic Park
- Presidio, Marina and Fort Mason
- Lands End and the Richmond
- Golden Gate Park and Haight
- Mission and Castro
- Chinatown, North Beach and Nob Hill
- Downtown, Civic Center and SoMa
- Japantown, Pacific Heights and the Western Addition
- Dogpatch
- Citywide
- Free sites
Historic Sites in San Francisco by Neighborhood
Islands and the Bay (1)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcatraz Island | NPS unit | Ferries about every half hour from 8:45am; evening and Behind the Scenes tours on a set schedule; open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day | No NPS entrance fee but an Alcatraz City Cruises ferry ticket is required: Day Tour adults $47.95, seniors 62+ $45.15, youth 12-17 $47.95, children 5-11 $29.15, under 5 $0; Night Tour adults $59.65; ranger tours free with ticket | Cellhouse and audio tour, New Industries Building (The Big Lockup exhibit), gardens, Indian Land occupation story |
Fisherman’s Wharf and Aquatic Park (5)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyde Street Pier and historic ships | NPS unit | Pier closed. Mare Island: one or more ships open Saturdays and Sundays 12pm-4pm pending staff availability | $15 Hyde Street Pier entrance fee program suspended | Pier closed; ships (including the 1895 schooner C.A. Thayer) berthed at Mare Island Coal Sheds, 860 Nimitz Ave, Vallejo |
| San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Free | NPS unit | See official site (Hours page published no hours today) | No entrance pass required; $15 Hyde Street Pier entrance fee suspended | Maritime Museum at Aquatic Park (WPA-era murals and architecture), Visitor Center exhibit, Maritime Research Center |
| Maritime Museum at Aquatic Park | Museum | See official site | See official site | Murals, maritime exhibits, veranda view of the cove |
| Musee Mecanique | Museum | See official site | See official site | Mechanical musical instruments and arcade games |
| USS Pampanito | Museum | Open daily 10am-6pm (last boarding 5:30pm) | Adults (14-61) $25; seniors (62+) $20; juniors (5-13) $15; students with ID $20; family (2 adults, 2 juniors) $65; active military with ID $10; 4 and under free | Self-guided boarding of a Balao-class submarine, 30-minute audio tour |
Presidio, Marina and Fort Mason (10)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (San Francisco segment) | NPS unit | Trail open; See official site for interpretive sites | See official site | Presidio trail segment ending at the Presidio |
| Presidio of San Francisco (national park site) Free | NPS unit | Free and open 24 hours a day (visitor facilities have their own hours) | Free; parking is charged at most places | Main Post, Officers’ Club, Crissy Field, Fort Winfield Scott batteries, Golden Gate Bridge approaches, Anza Trail segment |
| Battery Chamberlin | Fort | Loading demonstrations 11AM-3PM on the first full weekend of the month; other hours See official site | See official site | Restored disappearing gun, underground cartridge room, small exhibits |
| Fort Mason | Fort | NPS visitor info line answered daily 10am-5pm; building hours See official site | See official site | Historic buildings, Great Meadow, bay views, Aquatic Park walk |
| Fort Point National Historic Site Free | Fort | Thursday through Monday, 10:00am-5:00pm; roof access closes 4:30pm | No entrance pass required | Brick casemates, rooftop, guard room, new exhibits (Sally Port, Magazines 1-3) |
| Golden Gate Bridge and Welcome Center | Other | See official site | See official site | Welcome Center at the south end, pedestrian walkway, Fort Point views |
| Palace of Fine Arts | Other | See official site | See official site | Rotunda and colonnade, lagoon (exterior) |
| Presidio History Exhibition (Officers’ Club) Free | Museum | Friday through Sunday, 11am-4pm | Free, no ticket required | Mesa Room with 1810s adobe walls, Passage Way, Presidio Heritage Gallery |
| Presidio Visitor Center | Museum | Open every day 10am-5pm; daily park overview at 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm; ranger campfire talk at Tunnel Tops daily 3pm | See official site | Interactive exhibits, maps, gift shop, daily ranger overview talks |
| Walt Disney Family Museum | Museum | Thursday through Sunday, 10am-5:30pm (last entry 4:30pm); closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25, Jan 1 | General admission adults $30; seniors (65+) $20; students with ID $20; youth (6-17) $15; free for active, retired and veteran U.S. military and dependents with ID | Galleries on Walt Disney’s life, in the Presidio |
Lands End and the Richmond (2)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutro Baths ruins and Historic Cliff House (Lands End) | NPS unit | See official site | See official site | Foundations of Sutro Baths, Cliff House site, Lands End coastal trail |
| Sutro Heights Park and Lands End Free | Other | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Overlooks and ruins |
Golden Gate Park and Haight (3)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate Park Free | Other | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Landscapes, museums, gardens |
| Haight-Ashbury Free | Other | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Straight Theater site, Victorian streets |
| Japanese Tea Garden (Golden Gate Park) | Other | See official site | Tickets sold in advance online or at the door; amounts See official site | Tea house, gardens, pagoda |
Mission and Castro (3)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castro (Harvey Milk’s district) Free | Other | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Castro camera shop site, community landmarks |
| GLBT Historical Society Museum | Museum | Tuesday-Sunday 11:00am-1:00pm and 1:30pm-5:00pm; Monday closed | General admission $10; discounted $6 (ages 13-17, 65+, students with ID, people with disabilities); children 12 and under free; free on the first Wednesday of every month | Exhibitions including Where We Made Room, archives |
| Mission Dolores (Mission San Francisco de Asis) | Museum | Monday to Friday 10:00am-4:00pm; Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm | See official site (page lists a suggested donation only for school field trips: $10 per adult, $5 per student) | Old Mission chapel, museum, cemetery, basilica, gift shop |
Chinatown, North Beach and Nob Hill (6)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinatown (historic district) Free | Historic district | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Alleys, family associations, temples, Ross Alley fortune cookie factory |
| Chinese Historical Society of America Museum | Museum | Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10am-5pm (per site homepage); closed Nov 27-28 for Thanksgiving (undated notice) | Homepage promo lists adults $10, students/seniors/military $8, youth $3; promo is undated so See official site | Exhibits, collections, walking tour programs |
| Coit Tower | Memorial | Open every day 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (per coittower.org) | No charge to view the first-floor murals; elevator to the top $3 (per coittower.org) | Lobby fresco murals by 26 artists, observation deck |
| Nob Hill Free | Other | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Luxury hotels, Gothic cathedral |
| North Beach (Little Italy and the Beats) Free | Other | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Italian heritage, literary landmarks |
| San Francisco Cable Car Museum Free | Museum | Tuesday to Thursday 10am-4pm; Friday to Sunday 10am-5pm; closed Monday; open every day except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (note: the page says closed Monday) | Free | Winding wheels that pull the cables, historic cable cars, photographs |
Downtown, Civic Center and SoMa (4)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Jewish Museum | Museum | The CJM states it is temporarily closed | See official site | None while closed |
| Ferry Building | Other | See official site | See official site | Clock tower, Great Nave, waterfront |
| Market Street (Path of Gold) Free | Other | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Historic architecture, public art |
| San Francisco City Hall | Other | See official site | See official site | Rotunda, grand staircase, Civic Center |
Japantown, Pacific Heights and the Western Addition (3)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamo Square Historic District Free | Historic district | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Postcard Row, Italianate, Stick and Queen Anne houses |
| Haas-Lilienthal House | House museum | 2026 docent-led tours on select Wednesdays (12:30pm, 2pm) and Saturdays (noon, 1pm, 2pm) | General $10; children 12 and under free (no ticket); SF Heritage members free by email reservation | Docent-led tour of furnished rooms |
| Japantown and the Fillmore Jazz District Free | Historic district | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Synagogue sites, Japanese heritage sites, Fillmore corridor |
Dogpatch (1)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dogpatch Historic District Free | Historic district | Public neighborhood or park; no single operator hours | Free to walk; no admission | Potrero Point history, Pier 70 development |
Citywide (1)
| Site | Type | Hours | Admission | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate National Recreation Area (San Francisco County sites) | NPS unit | Accessible 24 hours a day in most areas; some areas open 6am until 1 hour after sunset | No entrance fee except Muir Woods (not in San Francisco); other fees may apply at locations | Alcatraz, Fort Point, Lands End, Cliff House and Sutro Baths, Battery Chamberlin, Crissy Field, Fort Mason, Fort Funston |
Free Historic Sites in San Francisco
These list no admission charge on their own pages (parking, tours or special programs may still cost money):
- Alamo Square Historic District, San Francisco
- Castro (Harvey Milk’s district), San Francisco
- Chinatown (historic district), San Francisco
- Dogpatch Historic District, San Francisco
- Fort Point National Historic Site, San Francisco
- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
- Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco
- Japantown and the Fillmore Jazz District, San Francisco
- Market Street (Path of Gold), San Francisco
- Nob Hill, San Francisco
- North Beach (Little Italy and the Beats), San Francisco
- Presidio History Exhibition (Officers’ Club), San Francisco
- Presidio of San Francisco (national park site), San Francisco
- San Francisco Cable Car Museum, San Francisco
- San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, San Francisco
- Sutro Heights Park and Lands End, San Francisco
Types of Sites on This List
| Type | Sites |
|---|---|
| Other | 12 |
| Museum | 11 |
| NPS unit | 7 |
| Historic district | 4 |
| Fort | 3 |
| House museum | 1 |
| Memorial | 1 |
What We Could Not Verify
- Hyde Street Pier and the park’s historic ships: the National Park Service’s own FAQ page asks why the ships are being moved to Mare Island (Vallejo) and its basic-information page says the pier is closed, so we list the pier as closed. The ships will return to San Francisco when the pier rebuild is done; no date is published.
- The Museum of San Francisco (San Francisco Historical Society) and the Japanese Cultural and Community Center are not listed because their own pages did not give a location and hours or did not show an open museum. Wells Fargo History Museum, Octagon House, the Old Mint and the Mexican Museum are not listed because their operator pages did not load or confirm public hours today.
We re-check these when the source pages change. Spot something we missed? Use the corrections page.
Last checked October 23, 2026 by the Project SF editors against each operator’s, agency’s or organizer’s own page.
Sources
- Alcatraz Island
- Fort Point National Historic Site
- San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
- Hyde Street Pier and historic ships
- USS Pampanito
- Presidio of San Francisco (national park site)
- Presidio Visitor Center
- Presidio History Exhibition (Officers’ Club)
- Battery Chamberlin
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area (San Francisco County sites)
- Sutro Baths ruins and Historic Cliff House (Lands End)
- Fort Mason
- Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (San Francisco segment)
- Golden Gate Bridge and Welcome Center
- Walt Disney Family Museum
- Mission Dolores (Mission San Francisco de Asis)
- San Francisco Cable Car Museum
- Chinese Historical Society of America Museum
- GLBT Historical Society Museum
- Haas-Lilienthal House
- Coit Tower
- Ferry Building
- Palace of Fine Arts
- Musee Mecanique
- San Francisco City Hall
- Contemporary Jewish Museum
- Japanese Tea Garden (Golden Gate Park)
- Chinatown (historic district)
- Japantown and the Fillmore Jazz District
- Alamo Square Historic District
- Dogpatch Historic District
- Haight-Ashbury
- Castro (Harvey Milk’s district)
- North Beach (Little Italy and the Beats)
- Nob Hill
- Market Street (Path of Gold)
- Sutro Heights Park and Lands End
- Golden Gate Park
More Guides
Visiting SF
History Events in San Francisco: Parades, Commemorations and Tours
History events in San Francisco from November 2026 to mid-2027: parades, commemorations, tours and talks, with the organizers' own dates.
Read the guide →Visiting SF
Historic Tours in San Francisco: Walking Tours, Trails and Ranger Programs
46 historic tours in San Francisco: free SF City Guides walks, Alcatraz and Fort Point, cable cars and trails, with prices and…
Read the guide →Visiting SF
San Francisco National Historic Landmarks: 15 Confirmed, by Neighborhood
15 National Historic Landmarks in San Francisco confirmed on National Park Service pages, by neighborhood, with dates and visiting status.
Read the guide →Questions People Ask About Historic Sites in San Francisco: Hours, Admission and What to See
Is Alcatraz open right now?
The National Park Service's Alcatraz page, updated October 9, 2026, says the island is closed from October 26 to November 18, 2026 for dock repairs. Ferry tickets from Alcatraz City Cruises are required and sell out up to a month ahead in summer.
Can you visit Hyde Street Pier and the historic ships?
Not at Hyde Street Pier right now. The National Park Service lists the pier as closed and says the park's ships are temporarily at Mare Island in Vallejo, where one or more are open some Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. pending staffing. Check the park's page before you go.
More to Explore
Happening Soon
- Treasures of the Pharaohs Sat, Aug 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 · de Young Museum
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Sat, Sep 12 – Dec 31 · Ferry Building Plaza
- Heart of the City Farmers Market Sun, Sep 13 – Dec 31 · Fulton Plaza, Civic Center
- SF State Observatory Public Nights (Wed–Fri, through Dec 4) Thu, Oct 1 – Dec 4 · SF State Observatory, Thornton Hall
Places to Check Out
- Aquarium of the Bay Attractions
- Asian Art Museum Museums
- Balmy Alley Murals Attractions
- Berggruen Gallery Art Galleries
Cite this page: Project SF, “Historic Sites in San Francisco: Hours, Admission and What to See”, projectsf.com/guides/historic-sites-san-francisco/ (updated ).