San Francisco Museum of Science and Industry

Agency History

The idea for the creation of the San Francisco Museum of Science and Industry grew out of a marine exhibit at the Golden Gate International Exposition, held on Treasure Island, San Francisco, in 1939-1940. Ship models, assembled by shipping executive Edward S. Clark, and prints were included in the display. After the Exposition was over, the models and prints were gathered and displayed at the Merchants Exchange Building at 465 California Street in San Francisco, in October 1940. A committee of public-spirited citizens, led by Mrs. Adolph B. Spreckles, sponsored the exhibit, which lasted 6 months.

In May of 1941, the San Francisco Museum of Science and Industry was opened, in space at the Aquatic Park Center bath house, which was offered to the new Museum by the San Francisco Park Commission. Future plans for the Museum were to include exhibits of land and air transportation, mining and other industrial and scientific collections as well as native handicraft items. The Museum was hoped to be a center of research for scientists, as well as the general public.

When the U.S. entered World War II, the Aquatic Park Center bath house became a center for anti-aircraft forces. The Museum was dismantled to make room for the Army. The fledgling collections were housed for a short time in the California Palace of the Legion of Honor. The ship models were later loaned to the Maritime Commission to aid in training personnel. After the indoctrination courses were discontinued, the models were made available at the Aquatic Park Center bath house for the benefit of the service men. After the war, the Marine Section of the San Francisco Museum of Science and Industry was opened, again in the bath house. The marine exhibit remained at the bath house until 1949.

The original collection of models and prints were later augmented with more models, historic documents, including photographs, books and various types of nautical equipment.

From the guide to the San Francisco Museum Of Science And Industry Records, 1926-1953, (San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (Calif.))