Recent Blog Posts
What Makes a Great Craft at Home for Kids?
Nancy Ellis has been with the Randall for 24 years! She has been part of countless Halloween Day, Bug Day and Winter Holiday Events, as well as the shift to online events during the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked her what makes a successful Randall Museum crafting...
Black Lives Matter & The Randall Museum’s Work
Black Lives Matter The Randall Museum Friends, the non-profit organization that supports the Randall Museum in San Francisco, condemns the police brutality that led to the murder of George Floyd and many other people of color. We stand with everyone who has spoken out...
Randall Museum UPDATE 3/18/2020 regarding SHELTER IN PLACE
Updated April 2, 2020 Dear Randall Community, I am sure you have heard that a new Shelter in Place order was issued Monday night for the City and County of San Francisco and other Bay area counties and will remain in effect until May 3rd. The Randall Museum is...
Important COVID-19 Information
Dear Randall Community, As the world addresses the issues around the Coronavirus, we wanted to take the opportunity to inform you that the Randall Museum is open for you and your family during our regularly scheduled hours, and we are focused on the safety of our...
Director’s Update – Spring 2020
Our location, atop a hill in a 17-acre park, has always been an asset. The vistas of the city and the bay are spectacular. They are an attraction all by themselves and give us a front row seat on the changes taking place in the city skyline. The changes to our city...
Randall Museum Friends Update – Winter 2019
Dear Friends, I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the Randall Museum Friends new Executive Director. I have been a frequent visitor, a member, and a longtime fan of this amazing gem. I feel honored and prepared to take on this role. Just like many of you, I found the...
Director’s Update – Winter 2019
One of the things that I appreciate so much about working at the Randall Museum is the partnership that I have with the Randall Museum Friends, our non-profit support group. It is interesting to note that their non-profit status was established in 1952. That was only...
Director’s Update – Spring 2019
I have an old black and white photograph of a half-dozen middle aged men with a dream and a plan, standing in the unfinished basement below the theater in the Randall Museum. The picture is dated in 1961, and the group is holding a roll of plans for what was to become...
National Basketry Organization Magazine Feature
On Friday, September 14th, the Randall Museum hosted a reception and discussion with the Parkers, a 4-generation family of master basketmakers, on the opening of the Randall's exhibition of native California basketry - "A Tradition of Making: California Native...
Meet Kylie Carpenter — the Randall’s Science Educator and Facility Coordinator
My passion for science, education, and preservation first developed while attending Sonoma State University. While in school I was an intern for the Wildlands Conservancy (TWC) and Sonoma Land Trust (SLT), conducting research for natural resource management. I enjoyed...
Director’s Update – Fall 2018
I am delighted to report that even though it took 68 years to get the first cup of coffee at the Randall Museum’s Café Josephine, it was well worth the wait... After crossing many “T”s and dotting many “I”s, the Randall’s Café Josephine, had its grand opening on...
Director’s Update – Summer 2018
It has been such a pleasure for me to come to the Randall each morning since the museum reopened in February. The new spaces, the new exhibits, and the new color scheme and finish materials have made such a big difference in the museum experience. I am especially...
With a Lot of Help from our Friends
People often wonder how we get so much done at the Randall with only five full time staff. The truth is, we get a lot of help from our friends. A great case in point is our new Fab Lab, “The Garage”. You’ve probably heard the term “Fab Lab”, but might be wondering...
Wild in California
The Randall Museum hosts an assortment of California native animals in its Wild in California Exhibit. We have these animals because as part of the Randall’s mission we hope to inspire a genuine connection between our visitors and nature in California. By showcasing...
Sci-cycle in Action!
I live in San Rafael, about 24 miles from the Randall Museum. 2–3 days each week I ride in to work on my bicycle and take the ferry back home. Biking to work is such an energizing way to start the day. Morning exercise really wakes up my body and prepares it for the...
STEAM in Spain
I recently took a trip to Spain, starting out in Barcelona and finishing in the coastal towns on the Bay of Biscay. Having STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) running through my veins, all I could see was “making” through the ages as I toured...
Birding in the Bay Area
This month’s insight is brought to you by Dominik Mosur, Randall Museum Animal Keeper and Birder Extraordinaire. “Birding or birdwatching is many things to many people. For most it is a pleasurable hobby, for some it is an often competitive game and for a few it...
It Takes a Village
Organizationally, the Randall Museum is a public/private partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and the nonprofit organization, the Randall Museum Friends. Technically, there are only FIVE full-time Randall staff, who are Rec and Park...
A Small Bilingual Art Class with a Significant Community Impact
The Randall Museum offers a diverse array of classes, for almost all ages, organized in season-based quarterly sessions. Most are preregistered weekly classes for a few months at a time. But, one of our more unique learning environments are the drop-in classes that...
Ceramics Self-Discovery
This month I interviewed Tomoko Nakazato, ceramics instructor extraordinaire at Randall Museum and beyond. This month we thoughtfully reflect on the act of creating art with clay and the extensive effects it has on the artist. The topic came to mind as I was thinking...
Curiosity Piqued
Director’s Update
