De Young Museum

The de Young Museum is a major fine arts institution located in San Francisco, California. It sits on the west side of the city within Golden Gate Park. Formally known as the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum, it serves as a key part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. This larger organization also includes the Legion of Honor. The museum is a vital center for studying art and culture from many different parts of the world.

In 2024, the combined museums were ranked 15th on The Washington Post's list of the best art museums in the United States. The museum attracts a massive number of people every year. In 2023, it received 999,645 visitors. This high attendance ranked it as the 22nd most-visited museum in the United States. It also stands as the 82nd most-visited art museum globally.

The museum's history is a story of change and resilience. It first opened in 1895 using a building from the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition. That original structure featured Egyptian Revival architecture. However, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake badly damaged the building. It remained closed for a year and a half for repairs. As the collection grew, the museum needed more space. M. H. de Young, a local newspaperman, helped plan a new facility. Architect Louis Christian Mullgardt designed a building in the Spanish-Plateresque style. This new structure was completed in 1919.

In 1921, a central section and a signature tower were added. This tower became a famous landmark for the museum. Over the decades, the building underwent many changes. The original Egyptian-style building was demolished in 1929. Later, salt air from the Pacific Ocean rusted the steel supports of the ornamentation. This led to the removal of much of the concrete decoration by 1949. After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake caused damage, the old structure was eventually replaced. A brand new building opened in 2005. Only a few original elements remain, such as the palm trees and some sphinxes.

The museum's collections are organized into several distinct areas. In 1972, an agreement changed how the collections were shared. The de Young sent its European art to the Legion of Honor. In exchange, the de Young received most of the anthropological holdings. This means the museum focuses heavily on human culture and history. The collections include African art, ancient art, and art from the Americas and Oceania.

It also features international contemporary art, textiles, and costumes. The museum displays works that are both ancient and modern. This variety allows visitors to see how human creativity has evolved over thousands of years.

The American art collection is particularly large and diverse. It contains over 5,000 objects in total. This includes 1,000 paintings, 800 sculptures, and 3,000 decorative arts objects. The works range in date from 1670 to the present day. Significant donations have helped build this collection. In 1978, John D. Rockefeller III and Blanchette Ferry Rockefeller donated 110 paintings, 29 drawings, and 2 sculptures. Recent gifts have also added to the museum's strength. In 2023, Bernard and Barbro Osher promised a gift of 61 works of American art. This gift includes pieces by famous artists like Georgia O'Keeffe and Alexander Calder.

The museum also highlights art made specifically in California. This includes works from the gold rush era to the modern day. It features important artists like Chiura Obata and Ruth Asawa.

Contemporary art is another major pillar of the museum. Since 1988, the Fine Arts Museums have committed to collecting international contemporary art. This includes traditional art and newer forms of media. The museum holds installation art, conceptual works, and video. It also collects photography and other lens-based media.

The collection includes artists associated with California, such as Bruce Nauman and Edward Ruscha. It also features international artists like Anish Kapoor. The museum uses these works to explore modern questions. For example, a 2021 exhibition explored how art relates to artificial intelligence. This helps visitors think about intelligence, nature, and artifice.

The textiles and costumes collection is one of the largest in the United States. It holds more than 13,000 items from around the world. These items include clothing, accessories, and loom-woven fabrics. The collection also features objects decorated with beading and embroidery. The museum has exhibited high fashion from famous designers like Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. It also explores cultural dress, such as Muslim female dress codes. This collection shows how clothing serves as both art and a reflection of society.

Finally, the de Young Museum serves as a vital research and community hub. The American Art Study Center is the most important research center for American art on the West Coast. It houses the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art microfilm collection. The museum also works closely with the community. During certain exhibitions, the museum provides special programming like workshops. It even created a "respite room" to help visitors find calm. By connecting art to history, science, and social issues, the museum remains a place for deep learning.