Museum of Vision
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This is a museum showing the history of the study of the eye and of vision since ancient times.
The museum is not marked from the outside, other than a small plaque. It is between an art gallery and a restaurant. The first time I went the door was locked and the receptionist was gone. My expectations were not too high at this point, especially after seeing a few recent defunct places.
The next time the door was open and it seemed a new receptionist was there. I soon learned I should have made an appointment, as the museum is inside the offices of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The receptionist called up to see if I could be penciled in, and the curator, Jennie (or perhaps Jenny) came down a few minute later.
Jennie is a very friendly person, with a lot of knowledge she is eager to share. The museum has a collection of tens of thousands of pieces, and only a few are on display here. Many are on other exhibits at places like the Exploratorium.
The museum here has three parts. The first part was in the office foyer and had the exhibit on the current focus of eye amulets and charms. There also was a display of eyecups, which if you have one you should try selling on ebay for a hefty profit.
The second part was back by the elevator, and had many old-style instruments like tensometers. I’m never too comfortable about things being poked in my eye, but there’s something compelling about antique medical equipment.
The last part was by some office cubicles in another room. This consisted of an array of other instruments, mainly opthalmoscopes. Even though these are not uncommon today, it still was an interesting evolution on display.
So yes, not huge, but very interesting. Even if it were not so close to so many other attractions, this place would be well worth the visit. I eagerly await returning in a month or so to see the 2006 exhibit.
| Nearest Airport | SFO, OAK |
| Street Address | 655 Beach Street |
| Cross-Street | Columbus Avenue |
| Secondary Cross-Street | Hyde Street |
| Neighborhood | Fisherman's Wharf |
| City | San Francisco |
| County, Parish, or Township | San Francisco County |
| State, Province, or Region | California |
| Country | USA |
| ZIP or Postal Code | 94109-1342??????? based on floor |
| Latitude | 37.80655 degrees |
| Longitude | -122.42021 degrees |
| Public Transit Information | MUNI buses 10, 30, 47, 82X or the Powell-Hyde cablecar. |
| Parking | Limited street parking. Some pay garages. |
| Contact E-mail Address | museum@aao.org |
| Contact Telephone | 1-415-561-8502 |
| Contact Fax | 1-415-561-8533 |
| Official Website | http://www.aaofoundation.org/what/heritage/ |
| Related Website | |
| Admission Price | Free |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00, by appointment |
| Vegan Dining Options | No food served |
| Wheelchair Access | Accessible |
| Potential Hazards | Let's just say that if you somehow poke your eye out, you're covered. |
| Special Events at Attraction | Exchibits changed around February every year. |
| Best Thing to See or Do Here | I liked the various antique equipment, like the tensometers and eyecups. |
| Last Visited | January 2006 |









