Internet Archive

San Francisco


Follow trails of deleted White House tweets, lost Grateful Dead tapes and defunct Nintendo gamer magazines to this 1923 Greek Revival landmark. In a former Christian Science church, the nonprofit Internet Archive hosts more than 30 petabytes (that's 300 million gigabytes) of bygone media, and counting. The archive is run by 100-plus dedicated volunteer archivists, depicted in ceramic sculptures by artist Nuala Creed.

Check the website for Friday visits (1pm to 2pm) and tours, often led by founder, internet pioneer and Alexa inventor Brewster Kahle.

Transportation

  • bus: 2, 38

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby San Francisco attractions

1. de Young Museum

0.77 MILES

Follow sculptor Andy Goldsworthy's artificial fault line in the sidewalk into Herzog & de Meuron's sleek, copper-clad building that's slowly oxidizing…

2. Columbarium

0.82 MILES

Art nouveau stained-glass windows and a dome skylight illuminate more than 8000 niches honoring dearly departed San Franciscans and their beloved pets…

3. Japanese Tea Garden

0.87 MILES

First planted in 1894, these 5 acres of gorgeous flower gardens are especially delightful in the spring, when the cherry blossoms pop, and also the fall…

4. California Academy of Sciences

0.92 MILES

This classic research institute and museum has been teaching San Franciscans about natural history since 1853. Right in the middle of Golden Gate Park,…

5. Shakespeare Garden

0.95 MILES

Sonnets dot the flower beds in this romantic gated garden, home since 1928 to more than 200 flowering plants mentioned in Shakespeare's writings. With all…

6. Stow Lake

0.96 MILES

When the weather's behaving, pedal boats and rowboats are available daily at the magnificent 1946 boathouse on Stow Lake. Folks also tend to drop by for…

7. Conservatory of Flowers

0.96 MILES

Flower power is alive and well at San Francisco's Conservatory of Flowers. This gloriously restored 1878 Victorian greenhouse is home to freaky outer…

8. Baker Beach

0.98 MILES

Picnic amid wind-sculpted pines, fish from craggy rocks or frolic nude at mile-long Baker Beach, with spectacular views of the Golden Gate. Crowds come…

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