“Step right up” echoes in your mind. It is as if you have just entered a time machine. The Mus\u00e9e M\u00e9canique is a vibrant collection of 20th-century penny arcade games. It is nestled right here at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
This interactive museum houses over 300 mechanical machines. This makes it one of the world’s largest privately owned collections. Ed Zelinsky, the original owner, started collecting these treasures at age 11. His games were first exhibited in the 1920s at Playland.
In 1972, Playland closed. The Mus\u00e9e M\u00e9canique then became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It moved to the basement of Cliff House. Ed’s son, Dan Zelinsky, began maintaining the collection in the 1970s.
The Mus\u00e9e M\u00e9canique even starred in “The Princess Diaries” in 2001. It also featured in a 2011 episode of a Japanese TV show.
In 2002, renovations at Cliff House led to a temporary relocation. The National Park Service moved the Mus\u00e9e M\u00e9canique to Fisherman’s Wharf. The move sparked protests from locals. They felt a strong connection to its history at Playland. Many tried to donate. They did not realize that the museum was for-profit.
Dan Zelinsky understood the public’s feelings. He said that people grew up with these machines. For older generations, these were the video games. Visitors step back in time when they walk through the door.
The Mus\u00e9e M\u00e9canique remains at Fisherman’s Wharf today. Dan Zelinsky owns and manages it. The machines require constant care. Some have undergone major restorations. Over 100000 visitors come each year. It is free to enter. However, you have to pay to play each game. In 2011, U.S. News & World Report called it one of the top three things to do in San Francisco.
The collection includes music boxes and fortune tellers. You can also find Mutoscopes and video games. There are player pianos, photo booths, dioramas, and pinball machines. About 200 machines are on display.
The Mus\u00e9e M\u00e9canique features many rare and historical pieces. A large diorama of a traveling carnival occupies the center. It also has what they think is the only steam-powered motorcycle in the world. It was built in Sacramento in 1912. The Royal Court diorama shows couples ballroom dancing. It appeared at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
Laffing Sal is a six-foot-tall laughing automaton. Some people say that she is famously creepy. The museum also owns machines made of toothpicks. Prisoners at San Quentin made them.
The Mus\u00e9e M\u00e9canique nearly met its end in 2020. A fire broke out at Fisherman’s Wharf. It destroyed a warehouse. Fortunately, it was stopped before it reached the museum.
So, go ahead. Step inside the Mus\u00e9e M\u00e9canique. Experience a piece of history. It is a nostalgic trip you will not soon forget.