The Palace of Fine Arts is certainly one of the most original and recognizable buildings in San Francisco. It has motifs of Classical architecture, but it was built at the beginning of the 20th century on the occasion of the Panama Pacific International Exhibition. Previously was also the home of the fascinating Exploratorium, but in 2013 it was moved to its current location at the Embarcadero.
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The History: Why Was it Built?
As I just mentioned, the Palace of Fine Arts was built in 1915 when the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition was held in the city, which was a real opportunity for San Francisco to start fresh after the terrible earthquake of 1906 and the subsequent fire that had seriously damaged much of the city.
The Palace of Fine Arts was supposed to be demolished once the event was over, but its beauty impressed the city’s inhabitants so much that it was decided not to tear it down. The original structure remained on display until the mid-1960s, when the materials with which it was built (mainly wood and plaster) began to deteriorate beyond repair.
For this reason, it was decided to undertake a total renovation by demolishing the original construction and rebuilding it completely in steel and concrete.
Location and Directions
The Palace of Fine Arts is located in the Marina District along Baker Street. Many people think that it is an attraction included in the huge Presidio National Park due to its proximity. However, it is not.
There are many MUNI bus lines that reach this area. Some of the main routes marked 22, 28, 30, 41, 43, and 45.
Palace of Fine Arts Parking
If you do not plan to stay long, you can consider parking along Palace Drive next to the Palace of Fine Arts. You can park there for free for 4 hours. There is, of course, some paid parking in the immediate vicinity.
What to Do at Palace of Fine Arts
The main building, designed by Bernard Maybeck and inspired by Classical architecture, has a dome that is almost 164 ft tall supported by imposing Corinthian columns.
In front of the Palace of Fine Arts, there is a large lake surrounded by a park. It could be described as an oasis of tranquility, also thanks to the fact that the Marina District is not very frequented by the constant influx of tourists that pour into San Francisco every day. This makes the Palace of Fine Arts an ideal stop to disconnect for a while ‘from the frenzy of the city.
If you have time, you may also decide to come here and have your lunch outside sitting on the grass, or on simple benches, since there are no picnic tables.
The main thing to do is to walk along the perimeter of the building and its pond. I also recommend going under the huge dome to admire the grandeur of the colonnade and take some nice photos.
You don’t need to pay an entrance fee to visit it, and you should consider taking a walk along the entire exterior and stopping by from time to time to take a few photos. I suggest you plan on spending 40-50 minutes at most. This will allow you to easily fit the Palace of Fine Arts into your multi-day San Francisco itinerary.
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
The Palace of Fine Arts is not only beautiful to look at from the outside, but you can also get inside where there is a popular theater still in operation. You can check the calendar of events on this page.
Movie set location
This particular place in San Francisco has also been used many times as a location for many successful Hollywood movies. Here are the main ones:
- Vertigo
- Time After Time
- Twisted
- The Rock
Since Lucasfilm‘s headquarters are just a stone’s throw from here, some claim that George Lucas was inspired by the Palace of Fine Arts when designing the Royal Palace of Naboo, which was then filmed using the exterior of Seville’s Plaza de España.
Where to Eat in the Area
Unfortunately, this is a predominantly residential area, and there are not many restaurants or bars in the immediate vicinity of the Palace of Fine Arts. To find some good venues, you will need to go to the well-known Chestnut Street, especially in the block between Scott Street and Steiner Street.
I would particularly like to recommend these two places:
- Super Duper Burgers: one of the best places in San Francisco to eat a classic American burger with a generous portion of fries.
- Chestnut Street Coffee Roastery: a place with a special and quiet atmosphere to enjoy coffee (there are many qualities to choose from) and a dessert.
Nearby Attractions
As I already mentioned, the closest attraction is definitely the Presidio, more specifically, the Main Post and Crissy Field. If you’re planning to visit (on foot or perhaps rent a bike) the Golden Gate Bridge from Fisherman’s Wharf, or vice versa, on your multi-day itinerary in San Francisco, you can consider including it as a pleasant and relaxing stop.
Where to Stay in the Area
If you’re looking for accommodations in the area, check out the section about Marina District and Cow Hollow in our in-depth guide on where to stay in San Francisco.
