Building A New Permanent Home.

Why?

The GLBT Historical Society established the nation’s first museum dedicated to LGBTQ history and culture in San Francisco. Each day, together with our archives and research center, we build a world where people are inspired by LGBTQ history to gain greater understanding, promote civic engagement, social justice, and positive change in our local, national, and international communities.  

The last several years have been very challenging for our LGBTQ community - with attacks targeting the most vulnerable among us. We are no strangers to this hate; history has proven time and time again that we are a strong community and that together, we face adversity head-on. Those who seek to marginalize us have underestimated our collective power. They have miscalculated the strength of our resolve. They mistakenly assume that our challenges make us weaker rather than realizing they make us wiser. They do not understand the depth of our commitment to one another and that together, we embrace our storied past and on it we build a brighter future. 

Like many other institutions our community has built, we will build this new museum, archives, and research center TOGETHER, demonstrating our strength and resolve to the world. We will continue to increase understanding not only to better appreciate our progress but also to fuel the work ahead that still needs to be done. By preserving and sharing our stories, we will continue to honor the legacies of those who fought before us and inspire future generations to continue the fight ahead with the security that no one will deter us. 

Wherever there has been history there has always been LGBTQ history. We’re here and we’re not going anywhere and this new museum, archives and research center is a testament to just that. We hope you can join us on this incredible journey that has been a dream in the making for many decades and on the eve of our 40th anniversary is on our fingertips. 

The City of San Francisco and the State of California have made an extraordinary commitment of $18 million to acquire and renovate a permanent home for the first museum dedicated to LGBT history and culture.

With the September 2024 announcement of the new site of our permanent home in the Castro, we’re entering the next chapter for our mission and work. The City is acquiring the space. We will need to raise additional funds to cover the cost of construction and renovation, and we intend to own the site in the future. We’ll be launching a campaign soon to make this dream a reality!

Enhance Preservation and Accessibility

We will create new spaces to ensure the long-term preservation of our priceless historical collections, one of the largest in the world, spanning a century of LGBTQ history. This will make them more accessible to the public and researchers. With this additional space, we will retain valuable pieces of our history and expand the number of collections, especially from historically marginalized groups, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, trans, and gender-non-binary individuals and women. Our new home will allow us to ensure our collections' safety, care, and preservation for generations to come.

Expand Exhibition and Program Spaces

Larger and more versatile exhibition areas will enable us to host exhibits that leverage emerging technology, cutting-edge programs, and engaging community events. This expansion will allow us to showcase more of our collections and tell a broader range of stories, ensuring visitors find themselves reflected in the exhibitions and inspired to enact change in their communities.

Improve Visitor Experience

A welcoming and inclusive environment that reflects the broadest diversity of the LGBTQ community will enhance the overall visitor experience. Our new facility will feature modern amenities and accessible design, ensuring everyone can access and enjoy our exhibits regardless of ability.

Strengthen Community Engagement

We will increase educational and public programs, including workshops, talks, film screenings, and celebration events, and build on our rich tradition of partnership and collaboration with other community-based organizations to provide more opportunities for community members to engage with LGBTQ history and culture.

Encourage Empathy and Global Action

In the wake of rising anti-LGBT legislation, bans on Pride flags, and book bans, the GLBT Historical Society has a unique ability to bring its “one-of-a-kind” collections of LGBTQ history to the world through further digitization, oral histories, online presentations, and global outreach. Part of our expansion will focus on expanding our technology platform to reach parts of the world where LGBTQ people are oppressed or even banned from their local, regional, or national communities.

Next Steps.

We plan to begin designing the space in 2025, considering community and organizational needs and working to expand into the site as space becomes available in the future. The space will require significant renovations before we can move in. In the meantime, we will continue to operate our current locations, the museum in the Castro and our archives and research center in mid-market.

Over the next several years, we will also conduct an ambitious capital campaign with unique opportunities for individuals, foundations and businesses to partner with us.

Home for Our History in the Media.

Press Release

Media Coverage

How can I get involved?

The GLBT Historical Society needs your support to ensure we have the funds, tools, and opportunities to continue preserving over 1,000 archival collections, creating digital and physical exhibitions throughout the year, and keeping our museum open for more than 20,000 annual visitors on average. 

You can support the work that has gotten us to this historic point by making a tax-deductible gift today. 

Want to learn more about our capital campaign or to help us raise funds?  Contact our Interim Development Director, Deb Stallings at deb@glbthistory.org.