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GLBT Historical Society Museum
4127 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States
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Ju
Review №1

This place its so great. I like it a lot! Its simple but when you are there you feel something cool. Also the pictures that you take there are really good! One of my favorite places in San Francisco.

MO
Review №2

Great place with a wonderful exhibition.If youre in the San Francisco area visit this place and get a piece of #LGBTQ history.

Je
Review №3

Its a wonderful museum full of a lot of culture wonderful art beautiful people. Theres always something going on in the Castro. Its a great museum to come and check out you should give yourself about a good 45 minutes to an hour. Super friendly staff and hot.

Jo
Review №4

This Museum isnt what I was expecting it to be. I was expecting a larger exhibition, more history displays. None of the memorabilia wowd me in any way. It was very cheesy to say the least. I paid $10 to enter and I was done in less than 5 minutes, its that small. The Harvey Milk memorial display at SFO terminal 1 is 100 times better and much more appealing to the eye than this place. This was kind of an embarrassment to the LGBT community. Our history at a huge gay district is worth MORE than this.

Er
Review №5

It’s a very small space, but a great way to learn about Harvey Milk and the history of the community. Its the first full scale, stand alone museum dedicated to the history of this community. The museum has a number of permanent exhibits as well as interesting traveling exhibits. Open every day, admission is $5 per person.

Ch
Review №6

Great for a photo opportunity, this light sculpture reminds me of what an elementary school child would do if they had streetlights to work with for an art project.

Ug
Review №7

This place was interesting, to be sure. Small, but informative and the cover charge is only $10. It really gives you a good scope of the LGBT community in Castro, as well as the Tenderloin and SF in general. They also have a very small gift shop.

Ma
Review №8

Powerful, inspiring, and deeply needed space to archive and celebrate the great strides our LGBTQ and Two-Spirit brothers and sisters have made in their fight for visibility, acceptance, rights, and equality. I went for the current Angela Davis exhibit, and was thrilled to see that and more. Entrance fee is a steal at $5. Ill be going back to Castros hidden historical gem from now on.

Je
Review №9

Its on the small side, but very interesting for what it is. Interviews, documentary clips, and interesting pieces to look at and read about. A bit pricy at 10 bucks for an adult admission for just one room of stuff, but its worth checking out at least once.

Kr
Review №10

Felt very welcome and appreciated by the 2 gentlemen that operated the museum; one was from WI, as I and my partner are. To see the display involving Harvey Milk was, for me, emotional; I hold him in high respect. Aside from that, there were great souvenirs to purchase, which I definitely looked at and bought a couple. So glad we went in!!

Ne
Review №11

A unic experience going to visit. An Amaizing time going to Gastro area.

Ro
Review №12

Im a proud memeber. Excellent work being done to preserve the history of the LGBTQ+ community. A must stop for all!

Ap
Review №13

They have our project archived there. Bay area women of color photo project

Da
Review №14

Very small museum (one room) with collection of items and some information about the citys LGBT history. Could be a bit bigger though for the price, for instance it could be interesting to explain more about why and how San Francisco became this way. Also, there is no bathroom.

Ju
Review №15

I would recommend going to a church service after attending this organization.

Ja
Review №16

Wonderful history, very friendly staff, you can tell they love what they do. 4 of 5 stars only because I was hoping it would be larger. Im certain that will come with time and support though.

Co
Review №17

I was surprised at how much info they packed into the small footprint. Well worth the $5, as long as youre the sort that will take the time to walk slowly and read everything. If you are the sort who likes to look at exhibits, but not read the plaques, you might not see the value here.

Kr
Review №18

Everyone needs to visit and pay respect to those who made San Francisco great by also supporting all peoples rights. If you cant go, you should donate, this is so important to keep going!

Ni
Review №19

Will never forget this place.

Ma
Review №20

Four stars only because it is sooooo small. There is great information, videos and photos. Small gift shop with postcards to t-shirts. The staff is very friendly and helpful. For $5 its a must see in the Castro!!

Sh
Review №21

This is a beautiful place to take nice photos and admire the scenery.

Pe
Review №22

Amazing place. Glad our history is being preserved.

Jo
Review №23

Great initiative, hope to see more and new exhibitions in the future... And more swag!!

Lu
Review №24

Small, but perfectly formed story of queer San Francisco. Informative and moving, with friendly volunteers. You can also get a discount if you shop at the Human Rights Campaign shop beforehand (if you dont throw away the receipt like I did, that is)

Gr
Review №25

It was great...I wish it were bigger though

Hi
Review №26

Very informative and moving. Really glad we were able to visit.

So
Review №27

Wonderful showcase of queer history and culture. Affordable entry fee and great exhibits+explanation. Highly recommended.

Ni
Review №28

Had a chance to attend an event on transgender activism in August 18 in this muesuem. Lovely staff + amazing, most brave, inspiring panelists!

Pa
Review №29

A must see if your visiting the area! Small yet very informative! For the small fee if $5 (they do have free days) you will learn about local gay history.

Review №30

Small museum. But a nice collection and telling an important story that everyone need to see.

th
Review №31

It made me so happy and sad at the same time. Needs MUCH more space.

Ca
Review №32

Totally exceeded my expectations! So many interesting exhibits and artifacts. Friendly people!

Review №33

I loved that museum. Its a very small permanent exhibit room but amazingly well-organised. They have an awesome archive collection to draw from, the texts are easy to read and I learnt a lot. It was also all quite moving. I definitely recommend this stop.

Ga
Review №34

Amazing Museum. Has an ever-changing display of the very best show

Ma
Review №35

Would have liked either a guided tour or more entertainment. Good initiative though.

Ma
Review №36

Pretty informative and chill place but its VERY small. Good place to pass by and learn a bit more on LGBTQ history.

Da
Review №37

I mean... Go. Worth every penny and deserves so many more

Ri
Review №38

Sweet little museum... does not take much time... cannot wait to watch this place expand. A must!

Jo
Review №39

I loved going to this museum. A lot of information in one condensed space where you go through all the struggles gay people have gone through. Its more focused on the 60s until present time but whats interesting is that it also has some very interesting items from way before the 60s.

Ja
Review №40

Too small of a space ..needs too relocate too old Pottery Barn building @Mkt/ Castro too display world class history, people of SF should back this project...

An
Review №41

Very interesting. Historical story that needs to be remembered and shown for future generations.

Le
Review №42

It was such a wonderful thing to see. As a person in the community, it meant so much for me to go here. #culture #inspiration

Su
Review №43

So much to see. The displays are changed occasionally but most of our history as a community is available, mostly because a lot of it is still closeted by family history.

Pa
Review №44

A little smaller than expected but great content and purpose, glad it exists.

Hu
Review №45

An amazing museum which allows you to deepen you knowledge about GLBT history and Harvey Milks life. If you can join one of the guided tours, that way you will even get inside stories and information about how being GLBT was back in the day how they pioneers in GLTB had to “fight” to defend themselves. The staff/volunteers are always in hand to answer questions and tell you a bit more if you didn’t manage to join a tour. Amazing experience. Every time I visits SF I bring people there.

Da
Review №46

If you are visiting the Castro neighborhood, be sure to stop in at this small but very important museum. Soon to be the birthplace of the Castro Queer Cultural District.

Ta
Review №47

I did a panel there in August. The museum is compact and concise in their presentation and exhibits. The staff was the best in explaining or answering any questions.

Gi
Review №48

Its all about gay history in San Francisco and in general. Lovely displays. Very moving.

A
Review №49

Very small for a museum, but well curated. Particularly powerful is the suit Harvey Milk was assassinated in.

Ag
Review №50

Touching. almost was tearing up at the exhibits Support the LGBTQIA+ community here!

Ed
Review №51

The museum is small, but considering the topic and the items being exhibited the museum does a great job at educating and sparking a little bit of curiosity once youre done. Theres a bit of a diverse collection, ranging from sub-scenes and lesbian literature, to even Gay people in government. A must do while visiting the Castro area.

Ch
Review №52

Very small but well-curated museum that packs a lot of information into a tight space. Docent we spoke to was very friendly and knowledgeable. We found the Harvey Milk display to be particularly moving.

Pa
Review №53

Great place I recommend for anyone who is interested in the LGBT fight for equality. And even for those not interested its a good history lesson.

He
Review №54

I went there because of the good reviews and was a bit disappointed. Very small venue and not a lot to see. Ive spent about 10 minutes

Ja
Review №55

Affordable entry, friendly staff and detailed exhibits which bring local LGBT history to life

Gi
Review №56

I visitied with a friend a couple weeks ago and we really liked it. The place is really small, thats true but the its size its relative to its price (free for students and 5 dollars for adults). If you ever go to Castro district, Ill recommend you to take a look at the place.

Is
Review №57

Very Good for everyone to know About The GLBT history.

Ni
Review №58

I visited this museum while on vacation in San Francisco. I never heard of a GLBT museum before so I thought it would be interesting to check it out. I really enjoyed the exhibit they had.

Ka
Review №59

This is a hidden gem! The museum is small but full of surprises. There are items covering the history of LGBTQ from the early days of the West to the present. I learned about this museum when I went to the HRC (Human Rights Commission) store on Castro and 19th. If you buy something at the HRC, you get a $2 discount on the $5 entrance fee at this museum. Ive gone back and took friends who were also pleasantly surprised.

Ta
Review №60

Moving! Worth stopping in to visit

Ad
Review №61

Very informative and friendly.

Sa
Review №62

A great place to learn about the LGBTQ revolution that started in San Francisco.

Va
Review №63

Small but very interesting. I liked the exhibition, its a good worth for the entrance fee

Ti
Review №64

Awesome to see the history of the LGBTQ moment and nothing was censored

Ho
Review №65

A very moving series of displays. As a visitor from the south it was heart wrenching to see what the community went through in what is now considered the Mecca for this community. Would recommend to anyone who wants to learn about this form of oppression from a local stand point.

Da
Review №66

Always something new and interesting, from educational forums to exhibits. Theyre doing a great job with a small space, showing the need for a larger permanent museum

Ra
Review №67

This small museum does not look like it packs a punch, but it does. Although it is essentially one room and a hall, it has a fairly comprehensive history of the GLBT+ movement for acceptance with many artifacts and interactive displays. There are sections on Harvey Milk, AIDS protests, gay and lesbian bars, Angela Davis, and so much more.

Ka
Review №68

Good overview of Harvey Milk and the San Francisco LGBT history

Je
Review №69

Really interesting displays and a more than reasonable entry price of $5. I found a few of the plaques a little hard to read, however I am short sighted, have astygmatism, am red/green colour blind, and was slightly hungover - so that was probably on me ;)Anyway, well worth a visit.

Mi
Review №70

Love this museum it brings back so many memories. Thank you

Sa
Review №71

The staff is very friendly. A lot of history shown.

Ke
Review №72

This museum is a little gem tucked into the Castro. Beautiful exhibits. Its small, so dont plan for more than an hour. And there are no restrooms. But its really an important space and everyone should visit.

Br
Review №73

Small but very meaningful museum. Its very special and should be visited if you go to the Castro district for sure. The staff is so nice!

Be
Review №74

This is an amazing museum in San Francisco that tells the history of the LGBT community that developed there and the historical reasons why this because the place for this amazing community to develop. I definitely advise you stop by if you are in the area.

Ar
Review №75

My amigo dylan liked it there

Ch
Review №76

Learned a great deal about drag culture. I actually wound up talking about the Tenderloin and its history to my friends later on. Great place to learn history, not just of LGBT culture, but SF history.

La
Review №77

Small museum. Pretty much one medium-large room. Probably about 20-60 mins worth of time to view (depending on how in depth you like to look). Good quality of material, but it could use a little maintenance.

Ji
Review №78

Great place!

何榆
Review №79

Good place to know them.

Th
Review №80

Although the museum is small, it offers a nice opportunity to learn more about the history of the GLBT movement. I loved it!

Fr
Review №81

Always fun eats, peeps, and sweet music

Mi
Review №82

Very interesting museum. Entrance fee is 5 dollars and it is definitely worth :)

Ca
Review №83

Very small museum packed with loads of information. I ended up joining a tour with a group of middle school age kids( which they asked a lot of very good questions) and learned a lot about the museum, San Franciscos history and history in the lgbtq+ community. Great place for a quick or long visit.

La
Review №84

Important and inclusive place to get historical lessons on human rights and the struggle to be heard.

CH
Review №85

Great place to visit

Se
Review №86

A wonderful beginning to a potentially fantastic museum and centerpiece of the community.

Ja
Review №87

One of the best things to do on Castro. My friends and I learned a lot about gay history and culture in the bay area, much of which I had no prior knowledge of. Definitely worth the $5 admission.

Br
Review №88

Incredible density of exhibits for its size!

R.
Review №89

A model cultural LGBTQI+ resource not only for the US, but globally as well!

Ad
Review №90

A nice quick tour but so much to learn and relearn! Learned about lgbt people of color activists and how much they positively impacted society.

Ja
Review №91

I certainly didnt visit this place. Nothing against it but I certainly didnt visit it

Le
Review №92

Such an amazing place with so much history.

Gl
Review №93

The staff are really friendly and dedicated to the museum. However, the museum is really small, basically just one room.

ma
Review №94

Interesting collection. Maybe to much text if youre looking for a flash visit.

Ra
Review №95

Small unit in the heart of Castro that showcases the GLBT history within SF.

Me
Review №96

Very nice volunteer staff! The room has a small but interesting collection!

Ry
Review №97

The rotating collections are great, but small museum.

Ke
Review №98

Well-done small museum. the place to find out about LGBT history in SF.

Pa
Review №99

I came to see the Magnus Hirschfeld exhibit at the end of summer 2016. Both the exhibit and the overall museum were impressive. They packed so much info and items into a fairly small space.

Mi
Review №100

Small space, but wonderfully curated. Well worth the time stopping in - and you can spend more time poring over the exhibits than you might have imagined, all of it well-spent.

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.6 Rating
  • Address:4127 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States
  • Site:http://www.glbthistory.org/museum/
  • Phone:+1 415-621-1107
Categories
  • Museum
  • Tourist attraction
Working hours
  • Monday:Closed
  • Tuesday:12–5pm
  • Wednesday:Closed
  • Thursday:12–5pm
  • Friday:Closed
  • Saturday:Closed
  • Sunday:12–5pm
Highlights
  • Active military discounts:Yes
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
  • Wheelchair-accessible lift:Yes
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet:Yes
Amenities
  • Good for kids:Yes
  • Restaurant:No
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