Cartoon Art Museum

What you need to know

7,000 Original Pieces of Comic and Cartoon Art

The Cartoon Art Museum has been collecting original cartoon, comic, and animation art since 1984. Its permanent collection holds about 7,000 pieces: original comic book pages, newspaper strips, animation cels, editorial cartoons, and graphic novel artwork. The museum moved to its current Fisherman’s Wharf location on Beach Street in 2017 after years in SoMa.

What Makes It Worth It

The rotating exhibitions are the main draw. Past shows have covered everything from Pixar storyboards to underground comix to political cartooning to manga. The museum treats cartoon art with the same curatorial seriousness as a fine art institution, which means you’ll see original pages by Charles Schulz next to contemporary graphic novelists, with proper context for both.

The collection spans the full history of the form, from Sunday funnies from the 1900s through modern webcomics. Special exhibitions change every few months. The museum also offers drawing workshops and classes for kids and adults.

Good for comic fans, animation nerds, families with kids, and anyone who appreciates illustration as an art form. Skip this if you need large-scale gallery spaces. The museum is modest in size, and a visit takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

Visiting

Address: 781 Beach Street, Fisherman’s Wharf

Hours: Wednesday – Monday, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Closed Tuesdays.

Cost: $10 adults, $6 students/seniors, free for kids under 5. Free first Tuesday of the month.

Best time to go: Weekday afternoons to avoid the Fisherman’s Wharf tourist crowds outside. First Tuesday for free admission.

What to know: Check what exhibition is currently showing before you go. The rotating shows vary widely in subject. The gift shop has a strong selection of graphic novels and art prints.

Getting There

Transit: Muni F-Market streetcar to Beach and Hyde. The Powell-Hyde cable car terminates a block away. Muni 30-Stockton and 47-Van Ness also stop nearby.

Parking: Fisherman’s Wharf garages on Beach and North Point. Expensive but available.

Walking: On Beach Street near Ghirardelli Square and the Hyde Street cable car turnaround. Close to the Maritime Museum and Aquatic Park.

📍 Location: This activity is in Fisherman’s Wharf. Explore the neighborhood →