Musée Mécanique – San Francisco’s Antique Coin-Operated Arcade

Located amid the noise of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, California, the Musée Mécanique is a hidden gem. In English, the name translates to Mechanical Museum—a fitting name for the museum, given its focus on mechanical musical instruments and antique arcade artifacts. There are more than 300 mechanical items in the museum that still operate using coins.

A privately operated family venture since 1933, Musée Mécanique should be on the list of must-sees for anyone visiting San Francisco. If you have kids, plan to spend a few hours here, and they will be mesmerized by the old arcade games.

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How Musée Mécanique Came To Be

The owner of Musée Mécanique was Ed Zelinsky; sadly, he passed away in 2004 due to pancreatic cancer. His family continues to own and run the museum.

Ed began collecting coin-operated musical instruments, bird boxes, and antique slot machines at age seven. Now, most of the items he has collected throughout his life are part of Musée Mécanique. By his admission, Ed kept a small piece of his collection at home. The private machines are the ones Ed thought could not stand the test of time and would likely break under the hands of an overexcited child.

Ed shares how his fascination with arcade games began:

“I went to the Ellis Theatre on Fillmore Street, and during the intermission, they had a Bingo game. My number was called, and I ran on stage. They had a big wheel. I spun the wheel, and believe it or not; I won the grand prize! No, I didn’t win a slot machine or a music box; I won five quarts of motor oil”. – Ed Zelinsky

The eleven-year-old did need motor oil, so he sold it to his teacher for 75 cents. It’s these 75 cents that he used to buy a penny skill game from Golden Gate Avenue.

Ed acquired many items from  Golden Gate Avenue, where they sold slot machines and old jukeboxes. He also purchased items from Playland-at-the- Beach and other old-time San Francisco attractions.

His first exhibition was during the 1920s, where he displayed the games he had collected. On public display for decades, first at Playland on Ocean Beach.

The Moving of Locations

After Playland closed in 1972, Musée Mécanique joined the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the collection lived in the Cliff House’s basement.

When Cliff House underwent renovation in 2002, the museum had to move again to Fisherman’s Wharf, a temporary measure announced by the National Park Service, among the money allocated for the renovation, about $14 million was set aside for moving the museum, something that Golden Gate National Recreation Area, National Park Service, and Zelinsky himself supported.

The locals of San Francisco didn’t take this news lightly. Initially, they believed the museum might close permanently. Locals were unaware of the funds set aside to relocate it. Locals also did not want the museum to move to Fisherman’s Wharf because of the nostalgia associated with it from when it was at Playland. To them, losing the museum to Fisherman’s Wharf was like losing a part of their childhood.

Due to this, an online petition took off, which received 12,000 signatures. Many well-wishers even attempted to donate money to the museum, unaware it had a for-profit status.

Despite the opposing sentiments, Dan Zelinsky, the museum’s manager, was happy about the move. He understood why people got so emotional over it, but he knew it ultimately wasn’t going anywhere else. Initially, the plan was for the museum to return to the Recreation Area sometime in 2004, once Cliff House had been entirely reconstructed. However, Musée Mécanique remains an integral part of Fisherman’s Wharf.

The only time one had to truly fear the loss of everyone’s beloved Mechanical Museum was in May 2020, when a fire broke out in Fisherman’s Wharf at 4 am. Fortunately, the fire stopped before it could reach the museum.

Why Visit Musée Mécanique?

Why visit Musée Mécanique or the Mechanical Museum? Well, for starters, the museum is heaven for anyone interested in the old times. Once you step inside the black carpeted museum, it feels like you have traveled back in time. Musical instruments and arcade games line up, one after the other.

Experience a special trip down memory lane. Start with the hand-operated music boxes, then try your hand at early modern-day video game pioneers.

Palm reading,  execution re-enactments,  various dancing ensembles, steeplechases, peeping toms, and tons of traditional games. There is something in here for everyone.

An Execution?

Opium Anyone?

Before you know it, you will be standing in front of video-based arcade games, transported back to the modern world. There is a whole section of contemporary video games at the back of the museum.

As for your kids, they will enjoy experiencing something they never got the chance to, having grown up in a world full of advanced technology. It is an excellent way for kids to learn the history of mechanics and video games. My nephew loved it here and nagged me to go back. I was surprised. I expected him to snuff the antiques, and he had the opposite reaction. Landon spent lots of time playing the claw machines, a favorite of his:

We spent several hours in Musée Mécanique, and we will return!

Musée Mécanique Arcade Games

As the collection continued to grow, Dan Zelinsky Ed’s son bought Laughing Sal.  Potentially the most recognizable mannequin that sets the tone for the experience ahead.

Laughing Sal – real name Laffing Sal is famous for its mechanical laughter that all could hear at the Fun House entrance at Playland. Laffing Sal’s were a popular attraction for carnival attraction owners during the 1940s.

There are so many games to choose from, you will find it overwhelming!

What You Need to Know

• Musée Mécanique is located at Pier 45, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco.
• The museum receives over 100,000 visitors every year.
• Entrance to the museum is free, but you will have to pay to play if you wish to play games here.
• All of the games require quarters, and a coin machine is on hand.
• $20 will keep two people entertained for at least an hour, realistically longer.
• The hours of operation are 10 am – 8 pm, seven days a week.

Closing Thoughts

In some ways, the 20th century lives on at the Musée Mécanique—the perfect place to revisit your childhood while on vacation.  Perhaps, if you were a San Francisco Bay Area kid, you would enjoy this museum more than anyone.

If you like playing games in general, you have already mastered today’s arcade games. The question is, are you capable of acing the antique ones? Musée Mécanique is one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy arcade games in their pure operating form. Lastly, it’s one of the largest collections you will ever get to experience!

Looking for more inspiration on places to visit? Start here:

• Hocking Hills State Park – Why You Should Visit
• Yellowstone – The Most Beautiful State Park

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