San Francisco | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/san-francisco/RSS feed for San FranciscoenThu, 07 May 2026 16:19:46 +0000Chonkers the Massive Sea Lion Drew Crowds to San Francisco's Famed Pier 39. Then, a New Chunky Showstopper Stole His Identityhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chonkers-the-massive-sea-lion-drew-crowds-to-san-franciscos-famed-pier-39-then-a-new-chunky-showstopper-stole-his-identity-180988691/The Steller sea lion was an unusual visitor to the pier, which typically hosts smaller California sea lions. However, he may have moved on days ago, during which time a humongous member of the area's more common species tricked onlookersThu, 07 May 2026 16:19:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chonkers-the-massive-sea-lion-drew-crowds-to-san-franciscos-famed-pier-39-then-a-new-chunky-showstopper-stole-his-identity-180988691/This Rare-Coin Scavenger Hunt in San Francisco Offers Participants the Chance to Relive the California Gold Rushhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-rare-coin-scavenger-hunt-in-san-francisco-offers-participants-the-chance-to-relive-the-california-gold-rush-180988598/A local coin dealer will hide historic currency worth a total of $50,000 in its third annual citywide challenge on April 25Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:42:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-rare-coin-scavenger-hunt-in-san-francisco-offers-participants-the-chance-to-relive-the-california-gold-rush-180988598/Rare Mountain Lion Standoff in San Francisco Ends Peacefully After a 30-Hour Searchhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-mountain-lion-standoff-in-san-francisco-ends-peacefully-after-a-30-hour-search-180988082/Wildlife officials successfully captured the young male, known as 157M, after he wandered into the northern Pacific Heights neighborhoodThu, 29 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-mountain-lion-standoff-in-san-francisco-ends-peacefully-after-a-30-hour-search-180988082/See How Manet and Morisot's Creative Friendship Influenced Their Artistic Styleshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-how-manet-and-morisots-creative-friendship-influenced-their-artistic-styles-180987574/A new exhibition in San Francisco reframes the complicated relationship between two renowned 19th-century French artistsTue, 28 Oct 2025 20:43:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-how-manet-and-morisots-creative-friendship-influenced-their-artistic-styles-180987574/Can This Controversial Brutalist Fountain in San Francisco Be Saved From Demolition?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/can-this-controversial-brutalist-fountain-in-san-franciscos-be-saved-from-demolition-180987513/Critics have called the Vaillancourt Fountain an "eyesore," while supporters say it's an important chapter in the city's historyThu, 16 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/can-this-controversial-brutalist-fountain-in-san-franciscos-be-saved-from-demolition-180987513/Third Places Are Being Reimagined—and Welcoming Travelers in the Processhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/third-places-are-being-reimagined-and-welcoming-travelers-in-the-process-180987159/Outside of home and work, spaces like parks, food halls and libraries are stepping up with social offeringsThu, 14 Aug 2025 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/third-places-are-being-reimagined-and-welcoming-travelers-in-the-process-180987159/One of San Francisco's Most Famous Houses Is Hosting a Pop-Up Museum of Street Artist Fnnch's Honey Bearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-of-san-franciscos-most-famous-houses-is-hosting-a-pop-up-museum-of-street-artist-fnnchs-honey-bears-180987145/Visitors to the Pink Painted Lady near Alamo Square Park will be able to see 116 editions of fnnch's honey bear paintingsMon, 11 Aug 2025 17:53:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-of-san-franciscos-most-famous-houses-is-hosting-a-pop-up-museum-of-street-artist-fnnchs-honey-bears-180987145/Wild Pigs Are Causing Big Problems in California's Bay Area, and Their Population Seems to Be Growinghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wild-pigs-are-causing-big-problems-in-californias-bay-area-and-their-population-seems-to-be-growing-180986798/Land managers and other authorities are ramping up efforts to trap and kill the destructive, non-native animalsFri, 13 Jun 2025 18:10:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wild-pigs-are-causing-big-problems-in-californias-bay-area-and-their-population-seems-to-be-growing-180986798/Parts of California Are Sinking, and It Could Worsen the Effects of Sea-Level Rise, NASA Study Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/parts-of-california-are-sinking-and-it-could-worsen-the-effects-of-sea-level-rise-nasa-study-finds-180986071/The ground in many parts of the state—including Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Central Valley—is subsiding due to groundwater withdrawal, landslides and compacting of sedimentThu, 06 Mar 2025 16:38:21 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/parts-of-california-are-sinking-and-it-could-worsen-the-effects-of-sea-level-rise-nasa-study-finds-180986071/Can You Identify the Mystery Photographer Who Captured Thousands of Captivating Images of 1960s San Francisco?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/can-you-identify-the-mystery-photographer-who-captured-thousands-of-captivating-images-of-1960s-san-francisco-180986107/Discovered in an abandoned storage locker, the 2,042 processed color slides and 102 rolls of black-and-white film depict key moments in the city's historyWed, 26 Feb 2025 15:09:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/can-you-identify-the-mystery-photographer-who-captured-thousands-of-captivating-images-of-1960s-san-francisco-180986107/