Palace of Fine Arts

Around three kilometres west of Fisherman’s Wharf, past Ghirardelli Square in the direction of the Marina District, is the magnificent Romanesque palace which was a centrepiece of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915. Today it is a much-photographed landmark as well as a popular venue for weddings and other special celebrations.The exposition was mounted to commemorate the opening of the Panama Canal, as well as to celebrate the regeneration of San Francisco after the devastating earthquake of 1906. Ten glorious palaces were created to house exhibits on a variety of different topics such as education, agriculture, food production and machinery. The Palace of Fine Arts was designed by the celebrated California architect Bernard Maybeck, who referenced Roman and Greek architecture to create his own take on an ancient ruin. The building became so popular with local people that after the expo finished it was agreed to retain it on its original site.Not intended to last beyond the expo, the fragile structure has been substantially rebuilt over the years, most significantly in 1965 and more recently in 2009. In its time it has housed tennis courts and a military vehicle store. In 1969 the former exhibit hall opened as the Exploratorium, an interactive museum founded by experimental physicist Frank Oppenheimer, brother of the Manhattan Project pioneer J. Robert, which relocated to the Embarcadero in April 2013.Many people visit the palace to enjoy a picnic in its peaceful grounds, wander through its beautiful gardens or take a photo of its majestic rotunda reflected in the glassy waters of the lagoon. It makes a pleasant scenic stroll from Fisherman’s Wharf, and can also be reached by public transport. Car parking is available on Lyon Street to the west.