Treasure Island Museum

Lucked out with a tour of the entire building during an event. Our guide was the Treasure Island Museum guy who has fascinating stories and anecdotes about the island and facility.It was the highlight of our visit. Definitely worth a stop if you're on the island. Or just come for the museum and add on a trip to Gold Bar Distillery. I'm

I know there's a free Musuem on this island but I don't think I ever went inside before. I came to Treasure island like 10 years ago when they had the first flea market on Treasure Island and there was virtually nothing really out here. Only one bus 108 comes out here or if you catch the ferry over here for this quiet and easy going island where you just chill and relax. Treasure Island is a 400-acre artificial island built by the Army Corps of Engineers and was built in 1936-37 for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. There are restrooms here if you need to go since there are two bars here. Interesting thing about he women's restroom is that there are no locks on the doors. Maybe it's a safety reason? Well all in all they should make more things here for people to explore and do inside this building. They should do something with the second floor, as there are windows there can make a nice view to see. I enjoyed my time here and glad I was able to explore Treasure Island now that it's more developed but it still has a long way to go! Construction on the island has been going at a snail pace, not sure why.

This building seems a little dilapidated from the outside but upon entering, on the left is Woods cafe and on the right is the decadent Gold bar lounge with lavish wall designs and Gold medallion coins on the walls. In front of the Gold bar is where you will see a small museum section covering the history and revitalization of the island with old photos and artifacts. You will also see a spectacular mural all across the wall of the building depicting the history of treasure island. Also, on the left you will find plenty of signs leading to the restrooms. Although, the museum is just a small part of the building, it's nice to get out of the sun to freshen up and learn about the history of treasure island.

Many people might know of Treasure Island as being this island that is in the middle of Bay that serves as connection point of two sections of the Bay Bridge not have the awareness of its rich history. But there is a Treasure Island Museum, though small, will offer visitors an informative history of the Island. The museum is located in Building One, an art deco structure that served as an administrative center for the Golden Gate International Exposition, a terminal for Pan American Airways and then headquarters for the 12th Naval District. The lobby has a large mural of historical events that graces the wall from one end to the other and the building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum is located in one of the alcoves on the right. Though small, the pictures and narratives provides a chronological history of how it was built at land fill, site of the World's Fair and Pacific Exposition, as a Pan Am terminal for the China Clippers, as a Naval district headquarters, to its decommissioning and transition to San Francisco property, to the present day. If you're on the Island, check out the small but informative Museum and it's free.

I have to admit I was confused whether there was a section of the historic Administration Building that constituted the museum. From what I could tell, there was only one room of memorabilia that was open when I stopped by. However, if you look at the entire building as the museum, that made more sense since the dominant exhibit in the lobby was the massive mural depicting the US military history in the Pacific since 1813 (photo: https://bit.ly/3KN8LYR).The colorful work by Lowell Nesbitt measures 251 feet wide and 26 feet tall. There are the six conspicuous sculptures from the Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE) at the front of the building, and on the way to the restroom on the second floor, there are vintage drawings of the unique buildings on the wall. The memorabilia room highlighted the elaborate variety productions that played during the GGIE before WWII.There were shows like Billy Rose's Aquacade, a swing version of 'The Mikado', and an all-star concert featuring Judy Garland singing 'Over the Rainbow' right after she made 'The Wizard of Oz'. In other words, it might help if you were a musical-loving nonagenarian to appreciate the artifacts and photos displayed here. But hey, there's still enough captured here to appreciate of the island's history. Besides, it's free...at least for now.RELATED - Exploring Treasure Island? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3KGq2nx

We were disappointed. The museum was closed (Thur, 31-Dec-018, Noon). We will have to try again.We did enjoy the murals and the wall posters of the history of the area. The building in which the museum resides (used in the second Indiana Jones movie was classic and a wonder to walk through. There was no one there!Suggestion: Call ahead, if there's a phone number (I'm not sure).

TONS of history here. I went as a kid. This building was also seen as an airport in "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

More than a decade ago, the Navy came from DC and removed most of the exhibits. I think they thought the Museum would close. But that only spurred locals into keeping it open. It has been clawing itself back into existence ever since, so the exhibits are still limited. But they are good quality and educational. The building is magnificent Streamline Moderne with statuary from 1939 and in good repair. There are two new cocktail establishments inside the museum where you can grab a bite and a drink and sit looking out at Downtown SF and the sailboats on the Bay.Parking is free and abundant. It's a good base stop if you're on TI to check out the views from the island.

Treasure Island itself is worth a visit, if only for the views of San Francisco and the new Bay Bridge. The museum is a tiny part of Building One (the white curved one you can see from SF) , but it plays an important role in explaining the historical significance of both the building and the island. Built for the 1939 World's Fair, Building One housed the Pan Am terminal for the China Clippers, huge "flying boats" which flew from SF to Asia - in only 6 days! The museum is open most days, and tours are offered, along with regular lectures. Check their website, which has a number of links, including to the Pan Am website with old videos of the seaplanes taking off from here. The Art Deco architecture is lovely, and the preserved sculptures from the World's Fair are stunning. While there, you may also do some wine tasting at the 3 wineries on the island. A fun flea market is on the last weekend of the month. Definitely worth a visit, and there's no bridge toll involved!