Discover how Avery Brundage's 1966 donation of 7,700 Asian artifacts—despite his controversial legacy—formed the foundation of San Francisco's Asian Art Museum, now housing 18,000 works spanning 6,000 years.

This institution reminds us that great art transcends the circumstances of its creation and collection, serving its highest purpose: fostering understanding, appreciation, and connection across cultures and centuries.
The origin of San Francisco Asian museum






Creato da alumni della Columbia University a San Francisco
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Creato da alumni della Columbia University a San Francisco

Did you know that one of the world's most impressive collections of Asian art began with a controversial Chicago millionaire who couldn't afford a hamburger? In 1966, Avery Brundage—a man whose complicated legacy includes both racist views and an unparalleled eye for Asian treasures—donated 7,700 artifacts to San Francisco, planting the seed for what would become the Asian Art Museum. Today, this cultural gem houses over 18,000 works spanning 6,000 years of history, from ancient Chinese bronze rhinos to contemporary Japanese pop art. What began as a wing in the de Young Museum outgrew its space and in 2003 found a spectacular new home in the former San Francisco Public Library across from City Hall. As you explore its three floors of wonders, you'll discover why this museum received Japan's prestigious Foreign Minister's Commendation for building cultural bridges between East and West.