In a city that always seem to look to the future like San Francisco, the Legion of Honor museum in Lincoln Park is a monument to the past. With artifacts dating back 4,000 years, rare medieval tapestries, an original Rodin "The Thinker" statue, an impressive permanent exhibition of 500 years of European painting masters and everything in between, the Legion is much more than just an impressive three-quarter copy of Paris' own Legion of Honor in a fantastic setting.
Best and worst time to go to the Legion of Honor
The Museum is always closed on Monday so that's an especially bad time. The first Tuesday of every month is free admission so that guarantees crowds all day. No matter what day you go, try and go as early as possible (it opens at 9:30 am) to snag a parking spot if you're driving. The area is quite scenic and fills up even with non-museum visitors, plus then you'll avoid the seemingly endless school tours at least part of your visit.
Must see/do at the Legion of Honor
Alma Spreckels helped found the museum and was really into French art and sculpture, which is why the Legion building is a copy of the Legion of Honor in Paris. One of her first acquisitions was an authorized bronze copy of Rodin's "The Thinker" that dominates the courtyard. The most impressive permanent display is an extensive collection of European paintings ranging from the 14th to 19th century. The nearly 800 paintings in the Legion's archives (only 250 are on display at any one time) includes works by Rembrandt, Picasso, Fra Angelico, Renoir, El Greco and Monet. If somebody was somebody in the European art scene in that time, the Legion likely has an original work.
Admission to the Legion of Honor
It's impossible to get into the Legion on Mondays at any price because it's closed, so plan your visit accordingly. General admission is free on the first Tuesday of every month. Otherwise, adults are around $10 with seniors, kids, and students getting discounts. Some special exhibitions require an additional ticket which you must pay for even on the first Tuesday of the month. There are discounts if you buy special exhibition tickets online, discounts based on public transportation, and more. Check the Legion website for details. A regular ticket is also good for same-day admission to the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.
Parking and public transportation to the Legion of Honor
Parking is free at the museum or along El Camino del Mar on the road to the Legion, however, it fills up fast because the area around Lincoln Park is quite scenic and used by much more than museum visitors. San Francisco Muni bus line 18-46th Avenue goes directly to the Legion. Both the 1-Californa and 38-Geary busses stop about a half-mile away, and you can either transfer to the 18 or walk to the museum.
Food at the Legion of Honor
There is one café at the museum. It is downstairs near the gift shop and offers locally-made fresh pastries for a few dollars in the morning and homemade soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch ranging around $10 to $15. A fancy wine-and-appetizers selection is also available. The view alone is worth the price of a coffee and a pastry.
Insider tip for visitors to the Legion of Honor
The oldest pieces in the museum, estimated at 4,000 years old, are downstairs and can easily be missed if you're headed for the café, store, or restrooms. Also to see extremely rare medieval tapestries, go all the way through the museum to Gallery 1. Visitors often miss one or both of these permanent exhibitions.
Author's bio: Alex Drude is a Bay Area native. He always makes sure to visit the tapestries and have a pastry. Follow his sports and travel musings on Twitter @Alex_Drude and on Facebook.
