The best arts & culture spots in San Leandro

39 arts & culture spots we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.

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Arts & Culture · 39 places · showing the latest additions first

The Gregangelo Museum

Arts & Culture

Opulently decorated house, HQ & museum for avant-garde entertainment troupe, with private tours.

225 San Leandro Wy (San Francisco)

Opulently decorated house, HQ & museum for avant-garde entertainment troupe, with private tours.

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Skip the same old weekend routine and step onto the USS Lucid with Stockton Maritime Museum, Home of the USS Lucid. Veterans lead you…

3100 Monte Diablo Ave (Stockton)

Skip the same old weekend routine and step onto the USS Lucid with Stockton Maritime Museum, Home of the USS Lucid. Veterans lead you through this multi-level, ocean-going minesweeper, the last of its class in the United States, while the museum brings Stockton’s inland port and shipbuilding roots to life.

From the Lodi newsletter, August 5, 2026

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Whether you grew up blowing into cartridges or fine-tuning your aim, make The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (MADE) your this-week…

921 Washington St (Oakland)

Whether you grew up blowing into cartridges or fine-tuning your aim, make The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (MADE) your this-week nostalgia fix. Play thousands of games on original hardware, explore one-of-a-kind gaming history, then stick around for workshops and community nights.

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History San Jose

Arts & Culture

Skip the doomscroll and wander History San Jose at History Park, an outdoor campus of historic buildings and museums where the Valley’s…

Pacific Hotel Building, 1650 Senter Rd (San Jose)

Skip the doomscroll and wander History San Jose at History Park, an outdoor campus of historic buildings and museums where the Valley’s story comes alive through exhibits, festivals, and tours, including the South Bay Flashback: Riffs, Rhythms, and Revolution show that’s perfect for a quick this-week reset.

From the Morgan Hill newsletter, August 7, 2026

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Whether you’re nerding out on mummies or chasing a midweek curiosity kick, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum packs the largest collection of…

1660 Park Ave (San Jose)

Whether you’re nerding out on mummies or chasing a midweek curiosity kick, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum packs the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in western North America, hands-on workshops, 360° gallery and tomb tours, and even a Thoth AI Robot.

From the San Jose newsletter, August 6, 2026

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Nonprofit gallery showing works including paintings & sculptures created by world-class artists.

1025 Market St (San Francisco)

Nonprofit gallery showing works including paintings & sculptures created by world-class artists.

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Magic Theatre

Arts & Culture

A local institution staging highly acclaimed plays & nurturing talents like David Mamet since 1967.

Fort Mason Center, Landmark Building D, 2 Marina Blvd (San Francisco)

A local institution staging highly acclaimed plays & nurturing talents like David Mamet since 1967.

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Letterform Archive

Arts & Culture

Free-admission museum and library showcasing 85,000+ objects related to typography and graphic design.

2325 3rd St Fl 4R (San Francisco)

Free-admission museum and library showcasing 85,000+ objects related to typography and graphic design.

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Nonprofit theater company with an innovative bent putting on 6 plays annually in its intimate venue.

529 S Second St (San Jose)

Nonprofit theater company with an innovative bent putting on 6 plays annually in its intimate venue.

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Featuring an expansive collection spanning from historical garments to contemporary textile art.

520 S 1st St (San Jose)

Featuring an expansive collection spanning from historical garments to contemporary textile art.

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A place for kids to explore arts & technology by making music videos, animating short films & more.

221 4th St (San Francisco)

A place for kids to explore arts & technology by making music videos, animating short films & more.

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Free galleries with rotating exhibits on art, history, science & culture, plus an aviation museum.

International Terminal Departures Level (San Francisco)

Free galleries with rotating exhibits on art, history, science & culture, plus an aviation museum.

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IMAX Dome Theater

Arts & Culture

Movie theater chain known for presenting 3D films on a giant screen, including blockbusters.

201 S Market St 1st floor (San Jose)

Movie theater chain known for presenting 3D films on a giant screen, including blockbusters.

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Museum highlighting Japanese art, history & culture with an emphasis on the Bay Area.

535 N 5th St (San Jose)

Museum highlighting Japanese art, history & culture with an emphasis on the Bay Area.

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The Tech Interactive

Arts & Culture

Accessible, hands-on exhibits for all ages in a spacious facility, plus an attached IMAX theater.

201 S Market St (San Jose)

Accessible, hands-on exhibits for all ages in a spacious facility, plus an attached IMAX theater.

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Transamerica Pyramid

Arts & Culture

Landmark 850-ft-tall building shaped like a narrow pyramid & housing offices & retail space.

600 Montgomery St (San Francisco)

Landmark 850-ft-tall building shaped like a narrow pyramid & housing offices & retail space.

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Big complex featuring interactive exhibits on outer space, a planetarium, a gift shop & more.

10000 Skyline Blvd (Oakland)

Big complex featuring interactive exhibits on outer space, a planetarium, a gift shop & more.

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Pardee Home Museum

Arts & Culture

Built in 1869, this Italianate mansion houses a museum with period furnishings & decor.

672 11th St (Oakland)

Built in 1869, this Italianate mansion houses a museum with period furnishings & decor.

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Asian Art Museum

Arts & Culture

Over 18,000 Asian artworks & artifacts in the updated former main library opposite City Hall.

200 Larkin St (San Francisco)

Over 18,000 Asian artworks & artifacts in the updated former main library opposite City Hall.

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The Bob Hope Theatre

Arts & Culture

Ornate landmark theater with red velvet seats, featuring concerts, dance & other live performances.

242 E Main St (Stockton)

Ornate landmark theater with red velvet seats, featuring concerts, dance & other live performances.

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Exploratorium

Arts & Culture

Hundreds of interactive, educational exhibits & activities illustrating scientific principles.

Pier 15 Embarcadero at, Green St (San Francisco)

Hundreds of interactive, educational exhibits & activities illustrating scientific principles.

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Sprawling landmark with a staircase leading nowhere & other odd features designed to confuse ghosts.

525 S Winchester Blvd (San Jose)

Sprawling landmark with a staircase leading nowhere & other odd features designed to confuse ghosts.

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Park featuring homes, businesses, landmarks and trolley rides, with events and an ice cream parlor.

635 Phelan Ave (San Jose)

Park featuring homes, businesses, landmarks and trolley rides, with events and an ice cream parlor.

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Historic BAL Theatre

Arts & Culture

Family-owned/operated theater for classic films plus community events like fund-raisers & lectures.

14808 E 14th St

Family-owned/operated theater for classic films plus community events like fund-raisers & lectures.

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Natural history museum with an aquarium, planetarium & scientists conducting a variety of research.

55 Music Concourse Dr (San Francisco)

Natural history museum with an aquarium, planetarium & scientists conducting a variety of research.

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Children of all ages explore more than 150 interactive exhibits including a full-size fire truck.

180 Woz Way (San Jose)

Children of all ages explore more than 150 interactive exhibits including a full-size fire truck.

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Performing arts theater staging a variety of productions in a casual setting that's also good for children.

2312 Rose Marie Ln (Stockton)

Performing arts theater staging a variety of productions in a casual setting that's also good for children.

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Museum displaying rare & vintage pinball machines, which are also playable, amid colorful local art.

1510 Webster St (Alameda)

Museum displaying rare & vintage pinball machines, which are also playable, amid colorful local art.

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Museum with more than 40 interactive exhibits & an art studio for kids.

402 W Weber Ave (Stockton)

Museum with more than 40 interactive exhibits & an art studio for kids.

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Haas-Lilienthal House

Arts & Culture

This historic Queen Anne Victorian home is open to the public as a museum with docent-led tours.

2007 Franklin St (San Francisco)

This historic Queen Anne Victorian home is open to the public as a museum with docent-led tours.

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Artifacts & interactive displays in a modern building focusing on state art, history & science.

1000 Oak St (Oakland)

Artifacts & interactive displays in a modern building focusing on state art, history & science.

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Haggin Museum

Arts & Culture

3 stories of galleries with paintings by noted 20th-century artists & exhibits on local history.

1201 N Pershing Ave (Stockton)

3 stories of galleries with paintings by noted 20th-century artists & exhibits on local history.

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Museum housing an extensive aircraft collection & various aviation exhibits in a historic hangar.

8252 Earhart Rd (Oakland)

Museum housing an extensive aircraft collection & various aviation exhibits in a historic hangar.

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Presidio museum exploring the life of Walt Disney featuring hands-on exhibits & original artwork.

104 Montgomery St (San Francisco)

Presidio museum exploring the life of Walt Disney featuring hands-on exhibits & original artwork.

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Contemporary & modern paintings, installations, photographs, media & more in a sleek space.

151 3rd St (San Francisco)

Contemporary & modern paintings, installations, photographs, media & more in a sleek space.

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A sleek, minimalist space featuring 3 galleries dedicated to rotating exhibits of contemporary art.

560 S 1st St (San Jose)

A sleek, minimalist space featuring 3 galleries dedicated to rotating exhibits of contemporary art.

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Local Color

Arts & Culture

Gallery showing work by local artists, with frequent events.

300 S 1st St Basement Level (San Jose)

Gallery showing work by local artists, with frequent events.

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