November 18, 2025
The Beat Museum
540 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133
The Beat Museum Announces Temporary Closure for Earthquake Retrofit — Staff and Programming Move to the Counterculture Museum
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — After more than two decades at its iconic home in North Beach, The Beat Museum will temporarily close its doors for a soft-story seismic retrofit. The last day of public operations will be November 30, 2025. The museum expects to return to its longtime home at 540 Broadway after construction is completed—likely within 6 to 9 months.
Founded in 2003 and located at the intersection of Broadway and Columbus directly across from City Lights bookstore—The Beat Museum has welcomed visitors from around the world to celebrate the writers, poets, artists, and rebels who shaped American culture. In 2026, the museum will mark its 23rd anniversary, making this moment a significant milestone in its ongoing story.
“This retrofit has been a long time coming,” said Jerry Cimino, Founder and Executive Director of The Beat Museum. “Construction was delayed more than once due to Covid and other complications, but now it’s finally moving forward. While it’s never easy to close even temporarily—we know this work is essential for the safety and longevity of our home. Our plan is to vacate in December 2025 and return better than ever in 2026.”
The retrofit is being led by the Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC), the nonprofit owner of the building and a trusted partner since the museum first moved into the space.
“The CCDC took a chance on us twenty years ago,” Jerry continued. “We were a small, scrappy, underfunded operation with a big dream, and they believed in our mission. Their support has allowed us to continue sharing the legacy of the Beat Generation with San Francisco and the world. We’re deeply grateful for their ongoing commitment and we’re proud to say they want us back when construction is complete.”
Temporary Closure Timeline
- Now–November 30, 2025
- Normal operating hours and full museum access
- December 2025–Mid /Late 2026
- Building vacated for soft-story retrofit
- 2026: Grand Reopening (date to be announced)
The Counterculture Museum:
Continuing the Story While
The Beat Museum Doors Are Closed
The entire Beat Museum team will shift operations to the Counterculture Museum, which opened in May 2025 at the legendary intersection of Haight & Ashbury.
“When we signed the lease for the Counterculture Museum, we had no idea The Beat Museum’s retrofit would be scheduled so soon,” said Estelle Cimino, Executive Director of the Counterculture Museum. Our new museum expands the story of how the Beats helped ignite the cultural revolutions of the 1960s. As one door closes for renewal, another opens wide with possibility.”
Both museums, each rooted in San Francisco’s legacy as a birthplace of creative rebellion are actively raising funds to support operations, create new and special exhibits, plan and organize live events, host school and other group tours, and design current and future programming.
“We welcome our community, longtime supporters, first-time visitors, and fans around the world to stand with us in this transition,” Estelle added. “Your support ensures that these stories—of courage, curiosity, nonconformity, and artistic freedom remain alive and accessible for generations to come.”
A Message of Gratitude and Invitation
The museum leadership expresses deep gratitude to the countless patrons, donors, tourists, locals, scholars, and fans who have walked through the doors and supported us in many ways over the years.
“You are the reason we’re still here,” Jerry said. “Every visit, every donation, every handwritten note, every conversation about Kerouac, Ginsberg, Corso or any of the Beat circle—each one has sustained us. We invite you to stop by The Beat Museum before November 30, visit us at the Counterculture Museum, and help us keep these legacies alive long into the future.”