de Young Museum

The de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is one of the city's leading art destinations and, together with the Legion of Honor, makes up the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Named for newspaper publisher M. H. de Young, the museum today houses a comprehensive collection of American art from the 17th through the 21st century. Especially noteworthy is its extensive collection of Western American painting, considered the most important on the West Coast, with works by artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Thomas Cole. The offerings are rounded out by international textiles and fashion, as well as art from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. You'll experience the museum in an architecturally striking new building by the Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron, which opened in 2005. Its most eye-catching feature is the perforated copper cladding, which creates a subtle pattern reminiscent of tree canopies and blends into its surroundings as it develops a natural patina. This façade not only filters the light but also serves ecological functions. The building is designed to withstand earthquakes: the tower sits on a base-isolation system and can move independently of the ground during tremors. From the top, you get sweeping views over the park and the city.