Best Deals For Veterans In the Bay Area

"San Francisco Starts Here," is the tagline, because before there was a town, there was the Presidio. Established in 1776 by missionaries from New Spain, the adobe walls of the Officers' Club stand as a testament to California's colonial beginnings. Now restored, the Officers' Club is home to a free Heritage Gallery, tracing the Presidio timeline from Ohlone/Costa natives through claims by three nations, as an earthquake refugee camp, through a long military presence and Operation Babylift 40 years ago. The Presidio is also home to the San Francisco National Cemetery, the final resting place for 30,000 soldiers.

Legion Of Honor
100 34th Ave.
Lincoln Park
San Francisco, CA 94121
www.legionofhonor.famsf.org

The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is dedicated to the 3,600 California soldiers, sailors and marines who gave their lives during World War I. The Book of Gold, dedicated to Gold Star Mothers, and listing the fallen by name, will be on display at the fine art museum throughout the day on the 11th of November. In honor of those who serve and have served, the Legion of Honor fine art museum offers free general admission on Veterans Day to veterans and active military personnel with military I.D. Happy 91st birthday to the Legion of Honor, which opened on Armistice Day in 1924.

de Young Museum (credit: Randy Yagi)

De Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 750-3600
www.deyoung.famsf.org

The Legion of Honor's fine art museum sister offers free general admission for all veterans and active military personnel with military I.D. on Veterans Day. At the de Young Museum, this represents a savings of $10 on each adult admission. The museum in Golden Gate Park is open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 11. Free docent tours, available to all guests, take place from 10:30 a.m. through 2 p.m., including museum highlights, masterpieces, American Art, sculpture and more.

Robin Williams at Madame Tussauds, San Francisco (credit: Laurie Jo Miller Farr)

Madame Tussauds
145 Jefferson St.
San Francisco, CA 94133
(866) 223-4240
www2.madametussauds.com/san-francisco

Visitors to Madame Tussauds at Fisherman's Walk are greeted by two new iconic wax depictions of Robin Williams, longtime San Franciscan. One figure is modeled on his early career; the other depicts Williams in his later years. Williams toured extensively with the USO, making three tours each to Iraq and Afghanistan and to 12 countries entertaining 89,000 troops. The wax museum and neighboring San Francisco Dungeon are offering half-off discounted entry tickets for veterans and their families upon presentation of a military I.D. throughout the period leading up and including Veterans Day.

Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 581-3500
www.asianart.org

After the Veterans Day Parade passes by City Hall, the Asian Art Museum makes an ideal destination, only one block away. The museum is offering free admission to retired veterans, active military and their families (up to five people) beginning Nov. 7 through Nov. 11. (Note the museum is closed on Mondays). They're also waiving admission for a special exhibition, "Looking East: How Japan Inspired Monet, Van Gogh, and Other Western Artists." The Asian Art Museum has a generous admission policy for active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including five family members, throughout the year. With general adult tickets at $15, this represents a substantial savings.