Musee Mecanique
San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: (415) 346-2000
- Cross Street:
- The Embarcadero
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm, Select holidays 10am-8pm
Editorial Review for Musee Mecanique – by Marke Bieschke
In Short
At the beginning of the century, Thomas Edison took the entertainment industry by storm with a host of dazzling mechanical contraptions that kept the masses and their coin-filled pockets running to the nation's penny arcades. Nuzzled among the piers at Fisherman's Wharf, this museum lets you re-enact the thrill of those nickelodeons with a mechanical world of antique games, mechanical miniatures and player pianos. Newer additions include 90s video games like Mortal Kombat and NBA Jams.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoAdmission is free, so feel free to drop in, even if you are penniless.
The ExtrasIf freakishly obsolete musical instruments are more your taste, the museum can accommodate--it has a 1912 Wurlitzer organ, complete with internal bass drum.
User Reviews for Musee Mecanique
04/23/2007 Posted by insearchofyum
This is surprisingly fun, although in a creepy way. From Laughing Sal (a gigantic weirdly dressed woman who laughs uncontrollably) to the strange little scenes (especially the guillotine and hanging vignettes) this is truly unusual and not to be missed. After a few quarters, the silliness of it all leads to laughing out loud. There is one little scene that is called, I think, "End of the Road" that is so lame that we still recall it and laugh. Every time we are in the Fisherman's Wharf area, we have to go here and drop a few quarters- and we never regret it. Seriously, these machines are very well mantained and historically interesting.
Pros: well maintained, very interesting, easy parking, close to other attractions
08/03/2006 Posted by ltbrwnhare
Stumbled across this bizarre museum during a break from a conference and couldn't believe my eyes. If you're as phobic about clowns, scary puppets and eerie little vignettes as I am, enter at your own risk--but bring plenty of quarters so you can disturb your peace of mind at will. For a full-on freakish experience, check out the "The Opium Den", but watch out for the dragon!
Pros: Free admission, close to lots of other attractions, truly unique experience
Cons: A little dark and scary; some unsavory types hanging around
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