Free Museum Saturdays for Bay Area Residents

This free general admission for residents of the nine Bay Area counties every Saturday is a program offered by both the Legion of Honor and its sister museum, the de Young. To gain entry, residents need to present a valid photo ID or a postmarked envelope with a home address. The offer is valid for the permanent collections; special exhibitions still require a full-price ticket. The initiative was first launched on April 6, 2019, for San Francisco residents and proved highly successful. In its first six months, the program welcomed over 20,000 visitors, with a nearly 80 percent increase in first-time attendees. Following this success, the program was expanded on October 19 of the same year to include all nine Bay Area counties. A significant gift from Diane B. Wilsey, Chair Emerita of the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums, underwrites the cost of admission for the program's first year. The expansion aims to remove financial barriers for the 7 million residents of the Bay Area, making the museums' cultural offerings more accessible. Visitors ages 17 and under always receive free admission to the permanent collection galleries. On these free Saturdays, the museums often enhance the experience with engaging activities for families. These can include art-making sessions, gallery guides, and tours that incorporate discussion and sketching within the permanent galleries. This program is part of a broader landscape of museum access initiatives in the Bay Area. Many institutions, including the de Young and Legion of Honor, also offer free admission to the general public on the first Tuesday of every month. Additionally, programs like Museums for All provide free or reduced admission for EBT or Medi-Cal cardholders at numerous local museums.