Randall Museum, San Francisco

Randall Museum is located in San Francisco, California in the United States. The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department owns and operates this museum. The museum is dedicated to arts, science and natural history with various live, native animals on display. It hosts a number of activities like camping, lectures, movies, exhibitions, puppet shows and other special holiday events. Randall Museum also endeavors to educate people about natural history, arts and science by holding special classes for children and adults.

Randall Museum Location and Directions

This museum is situated on a hill in the Corona Haights Park between the Haight and Castro districts of San Francisco in California district. It is located at the heart of San Francisco business town.

Numerous buses, ferries and trains bound to downtown San Francisco can take you to the Municipal Railway (MUNI) Metro line. The museum is just a short walk from the MUNI.

Randall Museum History

Randall Museum was first established in 1937 by a scholar, Josephine Dows Randall. She intended to open a museum for children that would encourage them to learn about science, arts and natural history.

Picture 1 - Randall Museum

This museum was named as the “Junior Museum” when it was first established and was renamed later as Randall Museum after its founder Ms. Randall. The museum was first established in an old city-jail. In 1947, a $12,000,000 bond was issued for recreating various capital projects which included a new museum. The museum was renamed when it opened in its present 16-acre spacious venue in 1951.

Randall Museum Exhibits

The Randall Museum is well known for showcasing various science and arts exhibits with the wildlife exhibits being one of the greatest attractions. Their wonderful shows and presentations are enjoyable for children and adults of various age groups.

Wildlife Attractions

They have a wide range of wild birds and reptiles on display. All the bird and reptile species in this museum are native to California. These wildlife species include brown pelican, great horned owl, cedar waxwing, common raven, desert tortoise and gopher snake. Children are allowed to read about these animal species in interesting, colorful books available in the museum.

Puppet shows are organized, dealing with a number of issues such as animal-human co-existence. Even basics of identifying different animal footprints are covered by various learning programs in the museum.

Riding the Rails

The museum has recently completed a scale model of a caboose which gives the children a real rail ride feeling. The Museum also exhibits a model of urban rail, displaying all the landmark buildings in San Francisco where visitors are allowed to guide model trains on fake railroad tracks. Riding the Rails is on display at the entrance to the lobby of the Golden Gate Model Railroad.

Picture 2 - Randall Museum Train

Earthquake Exhibits

“Living with a Restless Earth” is an entertaining cum learning display that allows visitors to create earthquake impact on the platform, by jumping on the floor. The seismometer placed at the Museum lobby lets visitors know about the intensity of the floor quake created by them. One can also learn about the mechanics of an earthquake and the plate tectonics by playing with the Hayward Fault replica provided by the museum. It also includes a life size earthquake refugee shack replica.

Tree House for Toddlers

It is a fun-learning space meant for the youngest visitors of the museum. Toddlers can climb tree houses through carpeted and safe climbing structures. They can also spend their time with age-appropriate books and toys.

Healthy Oceans

Visitors can get an idea about the importance of oceans in human life through the ocean exhibits presented by this museum. It also gives ideas about ways of preserving ocean and its inhabitants through the “How will you help the Ocean” game.

Windswept

In this exhibit, a wide wall has been turned into an observational instrument which reveals the complex wind movements using over 500 freely rotating directional arrows.

Other Exhibits

Randall Museum showcases photos, explanatory texts and artifacts from their classes, workshops, special interest clubs and field trips. The exhibits are put up on display amidst and post the activity sessions as well. These exhibits let the visitors feel the active environment of this museum.

Picture 3 - Randall Museum Photo

Randall Museum Special Events

Visitors can spend a fun-filled day with the special events organized by this museum.

Bug Day: It is a family event in which people can explore the incredible world of insects and their importance in the ecosystem. It also includes various interesting games, bug related crafts and other live entertainments. This event is regularly co-sponsored by well-known Organizations like The San Francisco Beekeepers Association.

Family Halloween Fest: It is a special Halloween family event with games and crafts. Count on a grand feast at the event along with the activities.

Holiday Craft Day: This event lets visitors enjoy a creative day in the winter holiday making candle holders, candy houses and scented soaps.

Lecture Series: The museum presents various specialized lecture series in the fields of science and arts throughout the year.

Theatre: Renowned commercial theatre organizations stage their shows in the Randall Museum Theatre. Teenagers can enjoy classic movies in shows organized by The Randall Museum Cine Club.

Randall Museum Activities

Various fun-learning activities organized by this museum include camping, field trips and special classes. The scenic beauty of the place, providing amazing views of the San Francisco city adds to the delight of the outdoor activities.

Camping: Children from all age groups can take part in seasonal camping trips. Taking part in these camps require proper age proof from each participant for the apt program.

Field Trips: Randall Museum offers self guided school field trips for small children where they get interesting information about the history and environment of San Francisco. Special science field trips are also offered by this museum.

Picture 4 - Randall Museum Picture

Classes: The museum offers various special interest classes for different age groups starting from preschoolers to senior citizens. These seasonal classes are held during winter, spring, summer, and fall. Topics covered by these special interest classes include clay craft and woodwork.

Randall Museum Other Facilities

Get more than learning and sightseeing at the Randall Museum.

Birthday Parties: This museum is available for arranging birthday parties on some selected Sundays. Children will have great fun attending these parties while enjoying various museum exhibits meant for them. The helpful Randall Museum staff offers all kinds of assistance for making these parties as special as possible.

Randall Museum Parking

The museum provides safe parking facilities in their spacious parking lot.

Parking Fee: Parking is absolutely free at the museum

Randall Museum Hours and Admission

This museum is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Admission to Randall Museum is free for all. It remains closed on the following holidays

• New Year’s Day, 1^st January
• Independence Day, 4^th July
• Veterans Day, 11^th November
• Fourth Thursday (Thanksgiving) and Friday in November
• Christmas Day, 25^th December

A day at the Randall Museum means a day full of great fun and useful education. The special holiday events organized by this museum can be a great way of enjoying a family holiday with wonderful and creative experiences.

Picture 5 - Randall Museum Image

Randall Museum Contact Details

Address:

Randall Museum
199 Museum Way
San Francisco, CA 94114

Phone Number:

(415) 554-9600

Fax:

(415) 554-9609

Email ID:

info@randallmuseum.org

Website:

www.randallmuseum.org