Randall Museum

About this museum

Perched on a hilltop in San Francisco's Corona Heights neighborhood, with views that sweep across the city rooftops to the bay beyond, the Randall Museum has been introducing children and curious adults to the natural world and the hands - on sciences since 1951. The museum is an anomaly in a city of steep rents and premium cultural institutions - a place where you can watch a live falcon be handled by a naturalist, touch a live snake, build something in a workshop, and wander through an exhibition on California ecosystems, all without paying a cent of admission.The Randall's live animal program is its most distinctive feature. The resident animals - raptors, reptiles, and other wildlife - are non - releasable individuals that have come to the museum through rescue or rehabilitation programs, and their presence transforms what might otherwise be a conventional natural history museum into something more dynamic and immediate. The docents who work with these animals know them as individuals and communicate that knowledge to visitors in ways that leave a lasting impression, particularly on younger audiences for whom a close encounter with a live hawk is something that no screen experience can replicate.Beyond the animals, the Randall offers science workshops, art studios, and rotating exhibitions that connect the natural and applied sciences to the hands - on creativity that children learn best through. The museum's hilltop location, adjacent to Corona Heights Park, means that a visit can easily extend into a hike with views that are among the best in the city.With a 4.7 - star rating from more than 535 visitors, the Randall Museum has earned its status as one of San Francisco's most beloved family destinations. Admission is free. The museum is located at 199 Museum Way in San Francisco and is open Tuesday through Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM; it is closed Sunday and Monday. More information is at randallmuseum.org.