de Young Museum, San Francisco

One of San Francisco's oldest cultural institutions, the de Young Museum has steadily expanded since it was built for the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. It now stands among the country’s most-visited public art museums. The museum's painstakingly curated permanent collections chiefly fall into three categories: more than 1,000 American paintings from the 17th through 21st centuries; international textiles and costumes; and art from the Americas, Pacific, and Africa. The staff also curates a dynamic selection of visiting exhibitions that have featured photography, sculpture, and cultural artifacts. The museum’s architecture and grounds evolve right along with the collections, as natural materials such as copper, stone, wood, and old baseball cards age against the surroundings of Golden Gate Park.