Lands End FAQs
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- What was the inspiration for the project?
- Why is this exhibition in a national park? Why the title Lands End?
- Is there a cost to view the exhibition?
- What are the exhibition viewing hours?
- Is the exhibition open during holidays?
- What kind of exhibition information is available on-site?
- How can I share feedback, comments, or reflections on the exhibition?
- What measures are in place to limit COVID-19 spread at the former Cliff House?
- How do I get there?
- Is the exhibition site Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)–accessible?
- Are domestic animals allowed inside the exhibition?
- How long does it typically take to view the exhibition?
- Are there any related public programs occurring during the exhibition?
- How can I learn more about the partnering organizations?
- If I am not ready to visit in person, can I still engage with the show?
- Can I eat and drink at the former Cliff House?
What was the inspiration for the project?
We can no longer deny that our relentless cycle of consumption and disposal has left the natural world more vulnerable than ever to human impact. The seeming abundance of natural resources that supports exponential population growth and endless expansion belies the fragility of this planet. Our ability to address the evidence—in spite of flagrant disbelief, hubris, and resistance to the realities of climate change—is now of the greatest importance. The former Cliff House is an ideal venue for framing and exploring these critical issues. This Victorian-era landmark, originally built in 1863, represents the hubris and idealism of the age and a throwback to a time before the contemporary fear of climate’s wrath. Historically, the Cliff House provided spectacular vistas of the sea, a place to gather and indulge oneself in culinary excess and comfort while being mesmerized by the crashing waves of the turbulent sea below. The building now stands empty and discarded, perhaps a harbinger of things to come.
Why is this exhibition in a national park? Why the title Lands End?
Dedicated to the creation, presentation, and understanding of art about place, the FOR-SITE Foundation, for the last 18 years, has organized exhibitions on public land that bring forth questions around the most pressing issues of our time. Working in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), we produce projects in historic structures within and around San Francisco. Past use imbues these locations with a rich foundation from which to build a platform for understanding complex histories and present challenges. The sites are chosen carefully to support the concepts contained within the exhibitions.
Lands End, sited at the historic former Cliff House—a place where land meets the sea—metaphorically marks the end of things as we know them. The former Cliff House—an iconic San Francisco site that is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and operated by the National Park Service (NPS)—is well suited to an exhibition investigating human impact on the natural world.
Is there a cost to view the exhibition?
Entry to the exhibition is free, but you must reserve a timed ticket in advance. Reserve now.
What are the exhibition viewing hours?
Lands End is on view from Sunday, November 7, 2021, to Sunday, March 27, 2022.
Viewing hours are Thursday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reserve now.
Is the exhibition open during holidays?
Please make note of the following holiday hours:
| Veterans Day Thursday, 11/11/21: | Closed |
| Thanksgiving Thursday, 11/25/21: | Closed |
| Christmas Eve Friday, 12/24/21: | Open 11-3 |
| Christmas Day Saturday, 12/25/21: | Closed |
| New Year’s Eve Friday, 12/31/21: | Open 11–3 |
| New Year’s Day Saturday, 1/1/22: | Closed |
Reserve your timed tickets now.
What kind of exhibition information is available on-site?
On-site interpretation includes printed materials and signage. Trained Art Guides are available to answer questions and offer assistance during exhibition viewing hours.
How can I share feedback, comments, or reflections on the exhibition?
Visitors are actively encouraged to delve deeper into the exhibition’s artists and themes online and through social media before, during, and after their visits. Participate in conversations and share experiences via social media using the hashtag #ArtAboutPlace (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). Visitors are also invited to use the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy’s’ hashtag #Parks4All (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) and the NPS’s hashtag #FindYourPark (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). Wi-Fi is available at the exhibition site. A hard-copy comment book is available to on-site visitors, as well.
What measures are in place to limit COVID-19 spread at the former Cliff House?
In accordance with the San Francisco Health Order to limit the spread of COVID-19, face masks are mandatory for all visitors ages 2 years and older to Lands End at the former Cliff House, regardless of vaccination status.
FOR-SITE enforces social distancing between exhibition staff and visitors, and we ask that visitors maintain a 6-foot distance from others.
Contactless hand-sanitizer stations are available on-site: at the entrance of the former Cliff House, and next to the elevator on the lower level of the building. Additionally, restrooms are located on the entrance level.
In order to participate in guided tours, educational programs, and all events related to the exhibition, FOR-SITE requires attendees 12 years and older to present a vaccination card or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the program, along with a photo ID.
Food and drinks are not allowed inside the exhibition.
Timed tickets must be reserved in advance. Reserve now.
Thank you for your understanding, and for supporting our efforts to keep all visitors safe.
Before coming to your scheduled visit, we encourage you to answer the COVID-19 pre-screening questions. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, we strongly encourage you to reschedule your visit.
Public transportation
FOR-SITE and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy encourage visitors to use public transportation to access the exhibition.
The number 38 bus line goes to the former Cliff House; the stop is 48th Street / Point Lobos.
The Muni N line stop at Judah / La Playa / Ocean Beach is a roughly 30-minute walk along Ocean Beach from the former Cliff House.
For trip planning (including routes and schedules), visit sfmta.com or follow this Google Maps link.
Foot or Bike
Lands End trail access is located 1.1 miles north of the exhibition site. Bicycle parking is available at the Lands End Lookout Visitor Center parking lot.
Car
Parking is available at the Lands End Lookout Visitor Center parking lot. Please do not leave any valuables inside your car.
Is the exhibition site Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)–accessible?
The historic former Cliff House has one ADA-accessible parking space, and more are available at the Lands End Lookout Visitor Center parking lot. There are wheelchair accessible pathways to the exhibition site. The exhibition offers large-print and braille exhibition brochures. On-site Art Guides are also available to assist those with accessibility needs. Service animals are permissible at the exhibition site.
Are domestic animals allowed inside the exhibition?
Because of the fragility of the artworks, only service animals are allowed inside the former Cliff House. Domestic animals are allowed in the outdoor areas of the site, but they must be kept on leash at all times.
How long does it typically take to view the exhibition?
The exhibition features works by 26 artists. We recommend that you plan to spend a minimum of 1 hour on-site. Timed entry tickets are required, but once admitted, you may stay as long as you wish.
Are there any related public programs occurring during the exhibition?
Information about public programs information will be released throughout the run of the exhibition. Stay informed by following FOR-SITE on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and/or subscribing to the FOR-SITE newsletter.
How can I learn more about the partnering organizations?
About the FOR-SITE Foundation
Established in 2003 by curator Cheryl Haines, the FOR-SITE Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation, understanding, and presentation of art about place. Recent projects encompass commissions, artist residencies, and educational programs, and include the acclaimed exhibition @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz; Homeland SecurityInternational Orange, a group exhibition honoring the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge; Sanctuary; and a series of land-art installations by Andy Goldsworthy currently on view in the Presidio.
About the National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is a federal agency within the US Department of the Interior charged with managing the preservation and public use of America’s most significant natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources. The NPS manages the coastal areas of the Presidio and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, as well as 400 other park sites across the United States. NPS celebrated its centennial two years ago. Learn more at nps.gov.
About the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit membership organization that supports the most-visited outpost in the US national park system. The conservancy provides aid for site transformations, trail improvements, habitat restoration, volunteer and youth engagement, and interpretive and educational programs. Conservancy-funded projects, in partnership with the National Park Service and Presidio Trust, are visible across the parks’ 80,000 acres—including the Presidio, Crissy Field, Muir Woods, Lands End, and Alcatraz. Learn more at parksconservancy.org.
About the California Academy of Sciences
The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The academy vision is that within a generation, the natural world is healthier, more resilient, and wilder each year. The academy is committed to:
- Exploration: We generate new knowledge and understanding of the natural world and the role of people within it through scientific excellence, asking bold questions about the nature and future of life on Earth and bringing innovation and integrity to answer them.
- Collaboration: We recognize that we can’t solve our planet’s vast environmental challenges alone, so we partner with world-leading environmental, scientific, and community organizations to strengthen and amplify our work and reach new audiences.
- Diversity and equity: Diverse communities are stronger and more resilient, both in nature and in human society. We are committed to cultivating a culturally inclusive and equitable environment in which diversity of thought and expression is valued, respected, and celebrated.
- Courage: Embracing the challenge of the present moment, we don’t shy away from tough challenges. Science is more important to our daily lives than ever before, and we unapologetically advocate for using scientific data to solve problems and make informed decisions about our collective future.
- Advocacy: We harness our voice as a scientific and cultural institution to positively impact policy and public opinion in support of thriving social and ecological communities—and by listening to, lifting up, and learning from underrepresented voices.
To learn more about the California Academy of Sciences, visit calacademy.org
If I am not ready to visit in person, can I still engage with the show?
The exhibition website includes the biographies of each artist and texts about the works presented in Lands End. You can follow stories and posts from Lands End on FOR-SITE’s (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) accounts, and you can comment using the hashtag #ArtAboutPlace. We also plan to organize some remote programs related to the exhibition, so stay tuned!
Can I eat and drink at the former Cliff House?
Because of the fragility of the artworks, food and drink are strictly forbidden inside the former Cliff House building. The restaurant and bar formerly installed in the building are closed. Snacks and beverages are available at the Land Ends Lookout Visitor Center nearby. Please check in with staff there about the specific COVID-19 restrictions at the visitor center.