Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Will Close San Francisco Site
The iconic Fisherman's Wharf museum will shut its doors by the end of 2026 after six decades of operations.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Live Poll
Do you believe local tourist attractions are essential to your community's identity?
Ripley's Believe It Or Not! announced it will close its long-standing Fisherman's Wharf museum in San Francisco by the end of 2026. The closure follows a company-wide reassessment of the location and the evolving landscape of the waterfront district.
Why it matters
The closure marks the end of a 60-year residency for the attraction in San Francisco, which has historically served as a significant hub for the brand. The company is currently re-evaluating its global footprint, having shuttered other locations in recent years.
The San Francisco museum has operated for 60 years since its 1967 debut, serving as one of 27 total global sites. The company maintains 26 other museums, while founder Robert Ripley documented visits to 200 countries during his career.
The players
Ripley's Believe It Or Not!
This global entertainment company manages a vast collection of oddities and artifacts centered on the interests of founder Robert Ripley.
Robert Ripley
He was a cartoonist and entrepreneur who gained fame for documenting unusual travel experiences and cultural oddities.
Joe DiMaggio
A legendary professional baseball player who played his entire career for the New York Yankees and became a cultural icon in San Francisco.
Janis Joplin
A prolific American singer and songwriter who rose to prominence in the late 1960s as a major figure in the San Francisco music scene.
The details
Ripley's plans to sell a select group of San Francisco-themed artifacts from its collection, using nostalgia pricing for the items. Notable pieces considered for sale include Joe DiMaggio's crutches and a chicken-wire portrait of Janis Joplin.
Timeline
1909: Robert Ripley began his career at the San Francisco Bulletin.
February 2, 1967: The San Francisco museum opened to the public.
2022: The company closed its Atlantic City, New Jersey location.
August 2025: The Scottsdale, Arizona museum was shuttered.
End of 2026: The Fisherman's Wharf location will officially close.
Market Landscape
This exit follows the pattern established by the 2025 closure of the Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Scottsdale location as the firm consolidates its physical footprint. The move signals a broader transition in tourist attraction strategy within dense, legacy urban markets.
Local visitors and tourists can expect the museum to remain operational through 2026 before its final closure. Fans of the brand will have the unique opportunity to purchase specific San Francisco-themed artifacts from the company's private collection.
The takeaway
The closure of this landmark site highlights how even historic tourist attractions are subject to changing real estate trends and corporate reassessments. Residents should keep an eye on official announcements regarding the sale of historical city artifacts later in 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local business transitions in the San Francisco Openings & Closings section.
Live Poll
Do you believe local tourist attractions are essential to your community's identity?
