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San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, located at the junction of Lyon and Bay Streets, is an imposing Roman style structure complete with rotunda, colonnades, exhibition hall, theatre, Greek and Roman style statues, all situated in an idyllic setting overlooking a lagoon filled with swans and geese. Bernard Maybeck originally designed this classically beautiful structure for an exhibit at the Panama Pacific Exposition held in 1915, to celebrate the restoration of San Francisco, after the tragic 1906 earthquake, and the opening of the Panama Canal.

The Palace of Fine Arts building was crafted from materials mean to just last the short duration of the exposition. It fell into disrepair, and was finally restored and refurbished with permanent materials, duplicating the original design that was completed in the 1970s. The Palace of Fine Arts is a favored site for wedding receptions.

The exhibition hall of the Palace of Fine Arts now contains the Exploratorium, which is a hand on science and art museum popular with families and children. The grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts is a lovely place to visit at sunset, when the building is illuminated casting a golden glow over the lagoon and beyond. It is also a popular venue for concerts and plays in the 1,000-seat theater in the round.

Where is Palace of Fine Arts: 3601 Lyon St.

How to get to Palace of Fine Arts: By Bus 22,28,29,30,47,49

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10AM to 5PM

Palace of Fine Arts, Detail



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