Fort Mason Center
The Verdict
"A 13-acre arts campus on the northern waterfront in former Army warehouses, operated by Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture since 1976. Houses the Magic Theatre, BATS Improv, the Long Now Foundation, and galleries. Sunday morning farmers market, Great Meadow open for picnics, bay views toward Alcatraz and the bridge."
What you need to know
Fort Mason Center is a 13-acre arts and cultural campus on the northern waterfront, in former U.S. Army warehouses and piers. The Army turned the property over to the National Park Service in 1972, and the nonprofit Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture has operated the buildings since 1976. The site is part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
What to Expect
The campus houses several permanent tenants, including the Magic Theatre, BATS Improv, the Long Now Foundation, and a number of galleries and small museums. The Fort Mason Center Farmers Market runs on Sunday mornings. Off the Grid food truck nights have run here in the past; check the current schedule. The Mexican Museum and the Italian Cultural Institute also maintain space here.
The buildings are former military warehouses, not polished arts architecture. The piers look across the bay toward Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. The Great Meadow, a lawn above the lower fort, is open to the public for picnicking.
Visiting
2 Marina Boulevard, Marina District. The grounds are open daily and entry is free. Individual venues and events have their own hours and admission. Parking is available in the Fort Mason lots for a fee during events.
Check fortmason.org for the events calendar. The campus is large; on quiet days, individual venues may be closed.
Getting There
The 28 19th Avenue and 30 Stockton buses both stop at Fort Mason on their northern routes. Walking from Fisherman’s Wharf takes about 15 minutes along the waterfront. From the Marina, the main gate is on Marina Boulevard. The Bay Trail runs through the campus.