Hours

Our galleries and store are closed during the Rare, Historical, Curious exhibition. The free, storefront exhibition takes place in our street-level windows on Mission and Annie Streets and is available for viewing 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The North Baker Research Library is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment only. Please note that the library will be closing on September 30, 2023, for an indefinite period while staff focus on some long-overdue collections maintenance. For an appointment please email reference@calhist.org.

Location

678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

The California Historical Society’s headquarters are located within San Francisco’s Yerba Buena District, a dynamic neighborhood home to more than two dozen museums, performing arts facilities and other cultural institutions, a 5.5-acre park, restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, shopping, and one of the most heavily used convention centers in the world. It is a destination for locals as well as tourists and has been hailed as a major cultural hot spot of San Francisco.

Directions

Public Transit
The nearby Montgomery Station provides access to BART and the San Francisco Municipal Railway, while the Salesforce Transit Center is a hub for AC Transit, Westcat, Greyhound, SamTrans, and Golden Gate Transit. Visit www.511.org to plan your trip.

By Bicycle
Parking is available directly in front of CHS and throughout Yerba Buena. Consult www.511.org for the best route.

By Car
From the peninsula, take 101 North or Highway 280, use Seventh Street off ramp, go north on Seventh and turn right on Mission Street.

From the East Bay, take the Bay Bridge to the Fifth Street off ramp and north on Fifth Street, turn right on Mission Street.

From Marin, take 101 South (Golden Gate Bridge), proceed on Doyle Drive (Marina) to Lombard Street, turn right on Van Ness Avenue, turn left on Eddy Street, cross Market Street, and turn left on Mission Street.

Parking options include the Hearst Parking Center, Museum Parc Garage, and the Jesse Square Parking Garage.

Accessibility

Wheelchairs
The California Historical Society is fully wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair is available to borrow free of charge from the front desk. Please contact us in advance if you would like to borrow the wheelchair.

Changing Stations
Changing stations are available in each of our publicly accessible restrooms.

Service Animals
Service Animals are welcome at the California Historical Society when they are assisting an individual with disabilities.

Seating
Stools are available to borrow free of charge from the front desk.

Parking
The nearby Hearst Parking Center has nine handicap accessible spaces on its lower level.