Group Visits and Guided Tours

Thank you for your interest in booking a group visit to the GLBT Historical Society Museum! We offer discounted admission rates for groups of 10 or more visitors scheduled in advance, whether you are an informal group, nonprofit or corporate organization, or school.

Guided tours of our museum are currently available for sponsors. Docent-led tours of the museum are temporarily suspended due to the COVID pandemic, but will be available in the future. Additional fees may apply, and docent-led tours will be subject to availability.

Please be aware that due to space constraints and COVID safety guidelines, we cap all group visits at a maximum of 20 guests, including both students and adult chaperones. If you have a larger group than this, please request two separate visits.

Please read the group tour FAQs below and then fill out the Group Visit Request form at the bottom of this page with information regarding your group visit or tour request.

We will get back to you within 5 business days to discuss confirmation, details, and any other questions we may have.

Group Visits

self-guided Group VISITS may be arranged with 2 weeks’ notice

Receive a discounted group rate when you book your visit for 10 people or more using our online registration form. Groups who book online will also receive supplemental educational materials to enrich their visit and design their own self-guided tour experience.

Days and Times: Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m., except on the first Wednesday of the month, when the museum is free to all visitors. To prioritize public access, large group visits are not available on free days.

Fees: $5.00 per adult, $3.00 per student/youth

Minimum group size: 10 visitors

Maximum group size: 25 visitors

All visits must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. Reservations are required and walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

Guided Tours

SPONSOR TOURS

Guided museum tours are currently available only for sponsors. Sponsor tours are delivered by trained historians and curators, skilled at engaging audiences and providing context beyond the artifacts. Sponsors receive benefits throughout the year, including significant marketing value and free museum access for your team. To learn more, visit our corporate engagement page.

DOCENT TOURS

Temporarily suspended until further notice.

Trained GLBT Historical Society volunteer docents guide visitors through our galleries and exhibitions, providing historical context and storytelling about San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ history and engaging visitors in thoughtful discussions.

Days and Times: Not currently available

Fees: $5.00 per adult, $3.00 per student/youth

Duration: 45–60 minutes

Maximum group size: 25 visitors

All tours must be booked at least 4 weeks in advance and are subject to volunteer docent availability. Reservations are required and walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

FAQs

How do you define a “group” for the purposes of arranging group tours?

A group is 10 or more people. We encourage 10 or more people visiting the museum together to arrange a group visit in advance in order to receive discounted admission rates and assistance planning your visit.

Can I bring my students on a field trip?

While docent-led guided tours for K–12 or college-level field trips are not currently available, we encourage visitors to book a self-guided group visit and inquire about educational resource materials we can provide to enrich your experience. All field trips with students under the age of 18 require advance reservations and will require 1 adult chaperone per 10 students.

To best prepare your students for your visit, please bring a clipboard and writing instrument for each student if you choose to use our educational resources — there are no available writing surfaces in the museum.

 
 

Are there vaccination and mask requirements for my group?

All group visits and guided tours must follow the same COVID-19 policies in place for individual visitors to the museum. All visitors over the age of two are required to wear masks or face coverings, and all visitors are strongly encourage to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

What if some members of my group have GLBT Historical Society memberships?

If some members of your group have memberships with the GLBT Historical Society, we are more than happy to apply the number of complimentary entries to which they are entitled to members of the group. Please let us know in the extra notes section of the order form how many members are part of your group.

Do you waive admission fees for Title I schools?

The GLBT Historical Society offers admission waivers for Title I schools. Please indicate your school’s status on your reservation form.

 
 
Legal Disclaimer: COVID-19 warning: We have taken enhanced health and safety measures—for you, our other guests, and our staff. You must follow all posted instructions while visiting the museum. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. By visiting the GLBT Historical Society Museum, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. Please help keep each other healthy.
 
 

Banner image: Visitors in the Main Gallery at the GLBT Historical Society Museum; photograph by Gerard Koskovich.