Palace of Fine Arts in SF

Built to resemble a Roman edifice, the Palace of Fine Arts sits on 635 acres of land. It is one of the most precious treasures of San Francisco. The palace is one of the few attractions that are free to visit.

About Palace of Fine Arts

The building is located at 3601 Lyon Street. It was originally built as one of the 10 buildings to exhibit art works for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition. The palace is one of the remaining few still standing as most of the buildings were demolished after the exposition. The building was designed by the world famous architect, Bernard Maybeck.

Featuring a lake and a garden, it continues to be a place where thousands of people visit every year. The Palace of Fine Arts is a well-admired building especially for hosting a wedding and for picture lovers. Anytime you visit you’ll probably catch a wedding going. It is also the perfect place to have a picnic, hang out with friends and take pictures.

The Palace of Fine Arts features a dome at the top of the building. Within the building itself, there is the theater. Occasionally, the theater accommodates lots of performances and shows from contemporary dance to ballets, even comedy shows.

Palace of Fine Arts in the Movies

You might recognize the Palace of Fine Arts whenever you go there. This is due to the fact it has been used in many different movies. It has been featured in movies like The Rock (1996), The Room (2003), When the World Came to San Francisco (2015), and several others, including TV shows. This goes to prove how much the building is admired.

Parking

If you are driving to the park to catch a show or just relax, there are limited parking spots around the building. You will need to get there early to find a good space. There are also a few parking spaces within walking distance of the park.

Very close to the Palace of Fine Arts is the Golden Gate Bridge. It is known worldwide for its achievements in engineering and its unique orange color.