Musee Mecanique, San Francisco

Name: Musee Mecanique
Address: Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco, 94133, United States
Telephone: +1 415-346-2000

#10 among attractions in San Francisco

Museum, History museum, Top attraction, Specialty museum, More...

Gallery (21)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Piotrus / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC0 / Daderot / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Rotatebot / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 / The Erica Chang / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC0 / Daderot / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Piotrus / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Pierre André Leclercq / URL

Facts and practical information

Nestled in the picturesque Fisherman's Wharf of San Francisco, Musée Mécanique is a vibrant homage to the bygone era of arcade entertainment. This interactive museum is a treasure trove of over 300 mechanical machines, ranging from 20th-century penny arcade games to ornate music boxes and antique slot machines.

The Musée Mécanique is a living museum, where the majority of the exhibits are in full working order, inviting visitors to step back in time and experience the joy of vintage coin-operated entertainment. Entry to the museum is free, with each machine requiring mere quarters to spring to life, making it an affordable attraction for tourists and locals alike.

One of the highlights of the museum is the "Laffing Sal," a towering, cackling figure that has been a fixture of amusement parks and penny arcades since the 1930s. Other notable exhibits include intricate dioramas, love testers, arm-wrestling machines, and classic video games that span the history of arcade gaming.

The Musée Mécanique is not just a collection of novelties; it's a preservation of history and a celebration of mechanical ingenuity. Each piece in the collection tells a story of entertainment from a time before digital screens dominated our leisure.

Alternative names: Visitors per year: 100 thous.Coordinates: 37°48'34"N, 122°24'58"W

Address

Northeast San Francisco (Fishermans Wharf)San Francisco 94133 United States

Contact

+1 415-346-2000

Website

Social media

Facebook

San Francisco

Day trips

Musee Mecanique – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Aquarium of the Bay, Bimbo's 365 Club, Aquatic Park Historic District, Pier 39.

0.4 miE
Waterfront museum with aquatic animals
Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco
10 min walk • Nestled on the bustling waterfront of San Francisco, the Aquarium of the Bay stands as a living tapestry of the city's vibrant marine life. Located at Pier 39, this aquatic wonderland is a portal to the rich ecosystems of the San Francisco Bay and its surrounding...
0.4 miS
Nightlife, Dancing
Bimbo's 365 Club, San Francisco
11 min walk • Step into a time capsule of glitz and glamour at Bimbo's 365 Club, a quintessential San Francisco nightlife institution. Nestled in the heart of the city's North Beach neighborhood, this storied nightclub has been a beacon of entertainment since its inception in 1931.
0.5 miSW
Sport venue, Sport, Park
Aquatic Park Historic District, San Francisco
13 min walk • Nestled in the bustling city of San Francisco, the Aquatic Park Historic District stands as a testament to the city's rich maritime history and as a haven for both sports enthusiasts and leisure seekers. This waterfront complex, situated at the northern end of the...
~1730 ftE
Scenic pier with food and activities
Pier 39, San Francisco
9 min walk • Pier 39, a bustling shopping center and popular tourist attraction, stands out as a vibrant hub of activity in the heart of San Francisco. This waterfront complex, known for its picturesque views of the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz, is much more than a...
0.5 miS
Street
Lombard Street, San Francisco
14 min walk • Lombard Street in San Francisco, United States, is famous for its steep, one-block section with eight hairpin turns. Touted as "the crookedest street in the world," this iconic thoroughfare is located in the city's Russian Hill neighborhood.
0.4 miSW
Exhibits on the oceangoing experience
Maritime Museum, San Francisco
11 min walk • Nestled along the scenic waterfront of San Francisco, the Maritime Museum stands as a beacon of the city's rich seafaring history. Housed in an art deco building that mirrors the waves of the ocean, the museum offers a deep dive into the maritime heritage of the West...
~180 ftN
WWII submarine turned museum and memorial
USS Pampanito, San Francisco
1 min walk • USS Pampanito, a Balao-class submarine, was a United States Navy ship, the third one named for the pompano fish. She completed six war patrols from 1944 to 1945 and served as a United States Naval Reserve training ship from 1960 to 1971.
~520 ftSE
Museum, Specialty museum, Game and entertainment center
The San Francisco Dungeon, San Francisco
3 min walk • The San Francisco Dungeon was a tourist attraction that recreated historical events using 360° sets, special effects, and live actors. Visitors walked through the Dungeon, and were guided through each show by professional actors. The attraction also contained a dark boat ride.
~820 ftNW
Functioning WWII-era ship and museum
SS Jeremiah O'Brien, San Francisco
4 min walk • SS Jeremiah O'Brien is a Liberty ship built during World War II and named after the American Revolutionary War ship captain Jeremiah O'Brien.
~1700 ftSW
Nightlife, Restaurant
Buena Vista Cafe, San Francisco
9 min walk • The Buena Vista is a café in San Francisco, California, credited with introducing Irish coffee to the United States in 1952. The Buena Vista Café originally opened in 1916 when the first floor of a boardinghouse was converted into a saloon. The current owners also operate the Trident in Sausalito.
~470 ftS
Museum, Neighbourhood, Piers and boardwalks
Wax Museum at Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco
3 min walk • The Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, was an attraction with over 270 wax figures. Originator Thomas Fong opened the museum in 1963 after seeing the wax figures at the Seattle World's Fair and it was run by the Fong Family until its closure in 2013. It has attracted over 400,000 visitors a year.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When is Musee Mecanique open?

Musee Mecanique is open:

Monday 10 am - 8 pm
Tuesday 10 am - 8 pm
Wednesday 10 am - 8 pm
Thursday 10 am - 8 pm
Friday 10 am - 8 pm
Saturday 10 am - 8 pm
Sunday 10 am - 8 pm

Which popular attractions are close to Musee Mecanique?

Nearby attractions include USS Pampanito, San Francisco (1 min walk), Fishermen's and Seamen's Chapel, San Francisco (2 min walk), Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco (2 min walk), Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum, San Francisco (3 min walk).

How to get to Musee Mecanique by public transport?

The nearest stations to Musee Mecanique:

Bus

Jefferson Street & Taylor Street • Lines: L-Owl (3 min walk)
Beach Street & Taylor Street • Lines: 18, 2, 24, 27, 38, 38A, 4, 54, 58, 72, 74, 76, 8 (4 min walk)

Tram

Jefferson Street & Taylor Street • Lines: F (3 min walk)
Jones Street & Beach Street • Lines: F (5 min walk)

Ferry

Pier 41 Gate 1 • Lines: Blue & Gold Fleet (5 min walk)
Pier 41 Gate 2 • Lines: Blue & Gold Fleet, San Francisco Bay Ferry (6 min walk)

Trolleybus

Columbus Avenue & North Point Street • Lines: 30 (8 min walk)
North Point Street & Hyde Street • Lines: 30 (9 min walk)

Light rail

Embarcadero • Lines: K, N, S, T (40 min walk)

Metro

Embarcadero • Lines: Blue, Green, Red, Yellow (40 min walk)