Legion of Honor Museum: A hallmark to 4,000 years of European culture
Overlooking San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, The Legion of Honor museum, founded in 1924 to honor Californians who perished in World War I, is a hallmark to 4,000 years of recorded French and European culture.
The museum was originally the gift of Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, wife of sugar magnate and thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder Adolph B. Spreckels, to the city of San Francisco. Designed as a three-quarter-scale version of the 18th-century neoclassical Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris, the Legion of Honor was built at Land's End in Lincoln Park, with a sweeping view of the city, San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean. It was upgraded and expanded in 1995, including a 35,000 square foot underground section, a new restaurant and gift shop.
The Legion of Honor's rich collection of European art work includes masterworks from the 14th through the 20th centuries. Paintings on display include works by Fra Angelico, El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt, Watteau, Gainsborough, Monet, Bouguereau, Matisse, and Picasso. It also boasts one of the largest collections of Rodin sculptures in the world, including a cast of Rodin’s Thinker that was given by the artist to Mrs. Spreckels.
In addition to permanent and visiting exhibits, the museum holds the 316-seat Florence Gould Theater, which also opened in 1924. The Gould Theater hosts numerous concerts, plays, and other events, featuring performances by the likes of Andrés Segovia, Marcel Marceau, Joan Baez, the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and Duke Ellington.
Among temporary exhibitions in late 2009 through mid-2010 is “The Art of Cartier: Masterworks from the Cartier Collection” that will feature 20th century jewelry and works of art from the famous French company.
The best way to experience the Legion of Honor is with either a guided docent tour, at no extra cost (check the docent calendar page of the museum’s web site before visiting), or an audio tour, designed in collaboration with the museum’s curators and priced at $6. It’s available at the admissions desk in the main lobby.
The museum is open every day of the year except New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- by Jim Brown , San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro
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Jim Brown Jim Brown is a longtime freelance aviation, travel and destination writer and communications professional. A former reporter for Aviation Daily, Air Safety Week and World Airline News, Jim served for more than 15 years as a senior public relations executive for American Airlines, TWA and AirTran Airways.
