Museums
 
Small collections of treasures and historical tidbits form surprising additions to San Francisco's rich museum scene. Everyone in the family should find something of interest in this eclectic sampling. Many are free, others charge only nominal fees, and all close on major holidays.
 
1.   African-American Historical and Cultural Society
2.   Cable Car Museum, Powerhouse, and Car Barn
3.   Cartoon Art Museum
4.   Craft and Folk Art Museum
5.   Fire Department Pioneer Memorial Museum
6.   Friends of photography
7.   Jewish Community Museum
8 .  Levi Strauss
9.   Mexican Museum
10. Musee Mecanique
11. Museo Italo American
12. Museum of Ophthalmology
13. Old Mint
14. Society of California Pioneers
15. Telephone Pioneers Communications Museum
16. Treasure Island Museum

1.  African-American Historical and Cultural Society, Building C, Fort Mason; (415)441-0640. This museum, art gallery, and history center devoted to African-Americans and black Californians is open noon to 5 P.M. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission: Donations.

2.  Cable Car Museum, Powerhouse, and Car Barn, 1201 Mason Street; (415) 474-1887. Tours of the cable Car control center are offered daily from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. It's a treasure house of photos, scale models, and original cars designed by Andrew S. Hallidie in, 1873. A 16-minute film shows continuously Admission: Free.

3.  Cartoon Art Museum, 665 3rd Street, 5th Floor; (415) 546-9481. Exhibits highlight of the history of cartoon art with illustrations and animation (Wednesday through Friday from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M., Saturday from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.).
$3 adults, $2 seniors and students, $1 children 12 and under. On the same floor is the free Explore Print! museum, with motorized models to explain printing processes (8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M.; weekdays).

4. Craft and Folk Art Museum, Building A, Fort Mason; (415) 775-0990. Witty exhibits showcase contemporary crafts, American folk art, and traditional ethnic art from around the world (daily except Monday from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M., from 10 A.M. on Saturday). Admission: $1; free Saturday morning.

5.  Fire Department Pioneer Memorial Museum, 655 Presidio Avenue; (415) 861-8000. Horse-drawn engines and other equipment that fought fires after the 1906 earthquake are featured in this tribute to early volunteer fire units, open 1 to 4 P.M. Thursday through Sunday. Admission: free.

6.  Friends of photography, Ansel Adams Center, 250 4th Street; (415) 495-7000. Five galleries of creative photography showcase works by Ansel Adams and other photographers (11 A.M. to 6 P.M. Tuesday through Sunday). Admission: $3 adults, $2 seniors and students 12 to 17.

7.  Jewish Community Museum, 121 Steuart Street; (415) 543-8880. A lively collection of art and artifacts explores Jewish culture past and present. You can visit Tuesday through Friday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Admission: free.

8.  Levi Strauss, 250 Valencia Street; (415) 565-9153. To see the small museum chronicling the history of this San Francisco jeans giant, make a reservation for a 45-minute factory tour, offered at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday. Admission: free.

9.  Mexican Museum, Building D, Fort Mason; (415) 441-0404. Fine art collections focus on pre-Hispanic, colonial, folk, Mexican-American works. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 P.M. Admission : $2 adults, $1 seniors and children above 10.

10. Musee Mecanique, Cliff House, 1090 Point Lobos Avenue; (415) 386-1170. Rescued from former fun zones, 140 ancient amusement devices accept your quarters for games and music. A few modern video games beep at the back of this arcade, open from 11 A.M. to 7 P.M. weekdays, from 10 A.M. weekends. Admission: Free, but you pay to play.

11. Museo Italo American, Building C, Fort Mason; (415) 673-2200. This collection of Italian-American and Italian art, culture, and history focuses on contemporary artists. It's open
Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 P.M. Admission: Free.

12. Museum of Ophthalmology, 655 Bush Street, Suite 300; (415) 5618500. This engaging but serious shrine to mankind attempts to improve vision displays 6,000 artifacts from as far afield as Sri Lanka and China. Hours are 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. weekdays. Admission: Free.

13. Old Mint, 5th and Mission streets, (415) 744-6830. Opened in 1874, this. building contains restored rooms, western art, pioneer gold coins, and a pyramid of gold bars valued at $5 million. The mint is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. with tours offered Saturday at 10 and 11:30 A.M. Admission: Free.

14. Society of California Pioneers, 456 McAllister Street; (415) 861-5278. A Children's Gallery featuring the state's history, gold-rush artifacts, and costumes is open weekdays from 10 A.M.
to 4 P.M. (closed in August). Admission: Free

15. Telephone Pioneers Communications Museum, 140 New Montgomery Street, Suite 111; (415) 542-0182. This display of telephone communication from the days of antique switchboards to the technology of the future is open weekdays from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. Admission: Free.

16. Treasure Island Museum, Building I, Treasure Island; (415) 395-5067. Halfway across the Bay Bridge, this museum chronicles the history of military service in the Pacific, the 1939 World's Fair, and the China Clipper. It is open daily from 10 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Admission: Free.