Not only is San Francisco a city of visual interest, it is home to many culturally rich neighborhoods such as Chinatown, the Mission district, and the Italian area of North Beach. Throughout these colorful neighborhoods are museums, large and small, dedicated to sharing their history and art with San Francisco's residents and visitors. In the Marina district you will find the Mexican Museum, which is comprised of objects relating to Mexican art and culture, as well as the Museo Italo Americano, which has a collection of photographs, sculptures, and paintings done by Italians and Italian Americans.
Across the city, in Golden Gate Park, is the landmark building that houses the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum containing collections of American art from the seventeenth through the twentieth centuries, as well as art of the native Americas, Africa, and the Pacific. Downtown features the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to twentieth-century art. You can then hop a ferry and visit Alcatraz, "The Rock," and learn about this historic and infamous federal prison, which once housed Al Capone.

A complete reference of collections open to the public, both large and small, Museums ofSan Francisco: A Guide for Residents and Visitors is essential for anyone wishing to take full advantage of all the city has to offer. Whether you're a lifetime resident or a visitor with just a few hours in town, this handy resource will allow you to make the most of your time in one of America's great cities.