OMCA Announces Public Programs and Events for September 2026

A Summer of Friday Nights at OMCA Continues, Opening of Special Exhibition BeHere/1942, Good Medicine Returns to OMCA, Spotlight Sundays Film Screening, Special Guest Gallery Chats, and More
OMCA PRESS KIT

August 13, 2026

(Oakland, CA) August 13, 2026 – The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) announces its September 2026 public programs, inviting visitors to enjoy a month of live music, dance, film, art, and community experiences. Friday Nights at OMCA continues throughout the month with weekly evenings featuring live performances, DJ sets, dance lessons, hands-on activities, educator events, and late-night access to galleries. September also marks the opening of OMCA’s latest special exhibition, BeHere/1942: A New Lens on Japanese American Incarceration, bringing visitors into a deeper exploration of historic photographs through immersive installations and augmented reality. During opening weekend, multimedia artist Masaki Fujihata joins visitors for special Gallery Chats offering an opportunity to engage directly with the artist and his groundbreaking work. Spotlight Sundays returns with a screening of Alice Street, accompanied by performances from Malonga Arts Dance and Drums and a conversation exploring community, cultural resilience, and anti-displacement work in Oakland. See the full calendar at www.museumca.org.

OMCA PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2026

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

Every Friday, April–October | 5–9 pm | OMCA Campus
Link to Friday Nights Images

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is turning up the heat for its 2026 summer season. Friday Nights invites the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors—starting at 5 pm with a free evening of live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket purchase, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions.

The Museum welcomes guests to a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond, beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options are available for purchase to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt invite visitors to settle in with their meals. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.

OMCA also offers a $10 flat-rate parking in the OMCA Garage until 10 pm. Please note that outside alcohol is not permitted, and event details and performances are subject to change.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the OMCA website.

Friday Nights September Program Dates:
Friday, September 4, 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026
Friday, September 18, 2026
Friday, September 25, 2026

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is proudly supported by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America. Additional support provided by Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, OAKLAND ROOTS AND SOUL SC, LaSalle Mortgage, and Townsend Public Affairs.

Friday, September 4 l 5–9 pm

Friday Nights at OMCA | Live Music by PHER, DJ Set by JAZZ.FM, Drag Storytime with Per Sia, Suncatcher Making, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) welcomes Oakland-born vocalist and songwriter PHER to the Garden Stage for a powerful live performance. Blending contemporary R&B, jazz, and soul with heartfelt storytelling, the three-time Grammy-winning collaborator delivers an uplifting set of original music, reimagined classics, and joyful grooves that invite audiences to sing, reflect, and celebrate together.

Keeping the music going throughout the evening, Bay Area JAZZ.FM takes over the Amphitheater with an energetic DJ set that moves effortlessly across genres. Rooted in Hip-Hop and R&B while inspired by the energy of the crowd, her vibrant DJ set creates the perfect soundtrack for dancing, relaxing, and enjoying a summer night at the Museum.

Families can also gather in the Garden for Drag Storytime with Per Sia, San Francisco’s Drag Laureate, featuring a reading of I Am Me: A Book of Authenticity. Guests of all ages are also invited to create their own colorful suncatcher inspired by the beauty of the sky, making a keepsake to take home after an evening of creativity and self-expression.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also features Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Putting a twist on the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in meaningful conversations, share personal reflections, and explore new perspectives on the artwork, artifacts, and stories throughout OMCA’s galleries. Enthusiastic volunteer facilitators can be found floating between all of OMCA’s galleries, including its Great Hall Special Exhibitions, throughout the evening. Look for the blue “Let’s Chat” shirts to join the conversation. Gallery Chats are included with Museum admission.

Friday, September 11 | 5–9 pm

Friday Nights at OMCA | Live Music by Bongo Sidibe & The TonTons, DJ set by VEYN, Afro Soca Dance Lesson with Caliwynd, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) comes alive with the vibrant sounds of West Africa as Bongo Sidibe & The TonTons take the Garden Stage. Led by Guinean master drummer and educator Bongo Sidibe, the nine-piece ensemble blends traditional rhythms with Afrobeats, reggae, Hip-Hop, and contemporary influences, creating a joyful celebration filled with soaring percussion, powerful vocals, and plenty of opportunities for the audience to join in the fun.

Keeping the celebration going, international DJ VEYN fills the Amphitheater with an infectious mix of Caribbean Global Sound throughout the evening. Drawing from Soca, Dancehall, Afrobeats, Reggae, Hip-Hop, R&B, and more, the Bay Area favorite creates a vibrant soundtrack that brings people together on the dance floor and celebrates the rhythms of the African diaspora.

Guests can also get moving during an Afro Soca dance lesson with Caliwynd, whose joyful, community-centered instruction invites participants of all experience levels to explore movement, creativity, and self-expression. Set to the infectious sounds of Soca and dance styles rooted across the African diaspora, this high-energy class is the perfect way to kick off an evening of music, culture, and connection.

Friday, September 18 | 5–9 pm

Friday Nights at OMCA | Live Performance by Cal Raijin Taiko, Live Music by Kiyomi, Music Set by DJ Dailo Mac, Annual Fall Teacher Night, ScholarMatch, and Gallery Chats

Celebrate the opening week of BeHere/1942: A New Lens on the Japanese American Incarceration this Friday Night at OMCA with an evening of music, culture, and community. The Garden Stage features two dynamic performances, beginning with Cal Raijin Taiko, whose original compositions blend the tradition of Japanese taiko drumming with contemporary influences. Following, Bay Area singer-songwriter Kiyomi brings her soulful alternative R&B sound to the stage, weaving rich harmonies, live looping, and heartfelt storytelling into an intimate performance that invites audiences to slow down and connect.

Keeping the energy flowing, DJ Dailo Mac takes over the Amphitheater with a vibrant, genre-spanning mix of Hip-Hop, R&B, K-pop, Latin, House, EDM, and global rhythms. Her joyful, community-centered sets create the perfect soundtrack for dancing, gathering, and celebrating together throughout the evening.

Teachers and school leaders are specially invited to join OMCA’s Annual Fall Teacher Night, for an evening of connecting with fellow educators, discovering museum resources, and exploring the galleries—including an introduction to the Gallery of California History and themes from the newly opened BeHere/1942 exhibition. All guests are also welcome to visit ScholarMatch in the Garden to learn about free college access programs supporting first-generation students while enjoying games, prizes, and opportunities to connect.

Friday, September 25 | 5–9 pm

Friday Nights at OMCA | Live Music by Los Tranquilos, Disco Dance Lesson with Soulchild, Caja Mágica’s All-Vinyl DJ Set, Bike with East Bay Community Tabling, and Gallery Chats

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) welcomes guests to step into an evening of nostalgic rhythms, movement, and community connection this Friday Night. The Garden Stage comes alive with Los Tranquilos, a California trio blending the romantic soul, psychedelia, and classic grooves of 1960s and ’70s Latin America. With soulful melodies, rock influences, and timeless rhythms, their performance celebrates the rich musical traditions that continue to inspire generations.

The celebration continues in the Amphitheater with Caja Mágica’s all-vinyl DJ set, featuring a vibrant selection of Latin American records from the ’60s and ’70s across a range of genres. Guests can also get into the groove with community activist and dancer Soulchild during an introductory disco dance lesson, inviting participants to learn classic moves, embrace self-expression, and enjoy the joy of dancing together.

Visitors can connect with Bike East Bay in the Garden to learn about efforts to create safer, more accessible streets throughout the East Bay. Explore their advocacy work, discover free bike education classes and community events, and join in a creative “Draw a Bike From Memory” activity for all ages.

Good Medicine: A Night of Live Native Stand-Up

Saturday, September 12 | 6–10 pm | OMCA Garden

After selling out venues across the country, the smash-hit, all-Native comedy show, Good Medicine, returns to the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) for the fourth year for a night of live stand-up from the best and brightest Native comedians across North America. Hosted and produced by comedian Jackie Keliiaa (Netflix) this year’s showcase features Brian Bahe (CBS), Cheyenna Sapp (Acting Good), and Marc Yaffee (Showtime). Doors open at 6 pm and the show starts promptly at 7:30 pm.

The Museum welcomes visitors to arrive early to enjoy live music, food by critically acclaimed Native American restaurant Wahpepah’s Kitchen, and a Native artisan market featuring handcrafted art and jewelry from Hokuemek, Feisty Pueblo, and Bazi Beaded It. Alcoholic drinks and other beverages will also be available for purchase. Guests are welcome to bring their own food; however, no outside alcoholic beverages are allowed in the venue.

Held outdoors in the OMCA Garden, “Good Medicine” is the perfect opportunity for guests to grab their favorite picnic blanket and dine al fresco before enjoying 90 minutes of hilarious live Native comedy. As the venue for “Good Medicine” is an open, grassy field, the organizers recommend that guests bring blankets or low chairs that rest on the ground with a low back. Tall chairs are not permitted as they obstruct views of the stage. Lawn space is first-come, first serve. Accessible seating is also available. To request accessibility accommodations, please call the Customer Service team at 510-318-8400, or email OMCA at [email protected].

Member Tours at OMCA

Gallery Walk with Preparator Supervisor and Taxidermist, Alicia Goode
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 1–2 pm | Gallery of California Natural Sciences

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) welcomes guests to join Alicia Goode, Preparator Supervisor and Taxidermist, as she leads us on a tour of OMCA’s Gallery of California Natural Sciences. The tour will showcase the beautiful and intricate dioramas, along with other displays and specimens she has helped to design and create for the Museum. This is a unique experience to learn from a professional taxidermist and museum preparator who oversees the maintenance of the permanent natural science exhibits at OMCA.

Fall Teacher Night

Friday, September 18 | 4:30–7 pm | California Room, Lower Level

Calling all teachers! In celebration of our school communities, teachers and principals are invited to join us for OMCA’s Annual Fall Teacher Night.

Stop by a dedicated educators’ lounge to learn more about OMCA’s education resources and connect with fellow teachers and principals. While you’re here, explore the Museum’s galleries, including an introduction to the Gallery of California History and themes related to our latest special exhibition, BeHere/1942: A New Lens on the Japanese American Experience.

Then head to the Garden to celebrate the start of a new school year with colleagues and the OMCA community while enjoying the incredible food, live music, and vibrant atmosphere of Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid.

OMCA’s Latest Special Exhibition | BeHere/1942: A New Lens on Japanese American Incarceration

Friday, September 18, 2026—Sunday, December 27, 2026 | Great Hall

“My aim was to peer deeply into photographs…to derive from them more than was visible on the surface.”

—Masaki Fujihata

Can looking closely at photographs change what we see, know, and feel about this history? Japanese artist Masaki Fujihata explores this very question in BeHere / 1942: A New Lens on the Japanese American Incarceration. Through immersive installations of historic images and augmented reality (AR) experiences, the exhibition brings visitors into the moments of 1942—before Japanese Americans in Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles were transported to concentration camps during World War II.

Fujihata has spent years combing through the archives of famed photographers Dorothea Lange and Russell Lee, who documented the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, respectively. In this exhibition, he enlarges, zooms into, and activates their images to encourage visitors to look more closely—at the emotions of each subject and at the power dynamics at play between the photographer behind the camera and people in front of it.

Originally developed by the Yanai Initiative at UCLA and presented at the Japanese American National Museum in 2022, OMCA’s exhibition features new elements specific to the Bay Area. Highlights include installations that draw from Dorothea Lange’s 1942 photographs of San Francisco and Oakland, some taken directly across the street from what is now Oakland Museum of California. Fujihata also created a new three-screen video featuring local residents, some with connections to the story of Japanese American incarceration and others impacted by present-day anti-immigrant policies. Significantly, BeHere / 1942 extends into Oak Street Plaza, where a life-size image of Japanese Americans lined up to board buses creates the basis for an AR experience. When visitors look at the AR app, they will see images of buses and people moving as they might have in 1942 layered over the plaza.

Support for BeHere / 1942: A New Lens on the Japanese American Incarceration is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board and the Japanese American

BeHere / 1942: A New Lens on the Japanese American Incarceration is an exhibit by the Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities at UCLA and Waseda University, in collaboration with the Oakland Museum of California. BeHere / 1942 was first exhibited at the Japanese American National Museum, where it was co-presented by the museum and the Yanai Initiative.

Special Guest Gallery Chats: Masaki Fujihata

Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 1–1:30 pm & 2–2:30 pm | Great Hall — BeHere/1942

During the opening weekend of the Oakland Museum of California’s (OMCA) latest special exhibition, BeHere /1942: A New Lens on the Japanese American Incarceration, the Museum is excited to invite guests to join multimedia artist Masaki Fujihata for a Special Guest Gallery Chat walkthrough of his groundbreaking work. On view in OMCA’s Great Hall Sept 18, 2026 through Dec 27, 2026, this exhibition is a deep meditation on a dark moment of US history and the power image makers have in shaping our understanding of the past. Through photography, video, and AR interactive experiences, visitors are invited to enter that moment in time, while staying rooted in the present. Don’t miss this special opportunity to meet the artist.

Space for each in-gallery talk is limited to 15 and will be first come, first served. All visitors must sign up at the Mid-Level Ticketing Desk.

**Spotlight Sundays: Alice Street Screening with Malonga Arts Dance and Drums**

Sunday, September 20, 2026 | 1–3 pm | $10 All-Inclusive Ticket | James Moore Theater

This month, the Oakland Museum of California’s (OMCA) Spotlight Sundays welcomes guests to a screening of Alice Street. The documentary spotlights the intersection of 14th and Alice Street in Oakland as a nexus of community belonging and resilience in the face of rapid gentrification, themes central to Mildred Howard’s artwork and practice. Filmmaker Spencer Wilkinson will provide an introduction to this film that explores how a neighborhood mural catalyzed a multiracial coalition to rally in protection of cultural arts and livability in Oakland.

Groups featured in the film from the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts will open and close the program, including a drum offering by Bantaba Drum Call to call in ancestors, and dance by Dimensions Dance Theater to root in Black joy and resistance—hearkening back to Howard’s many years spent honing her dance skills with Oakland’s dance legend Ruth Beckford before immersing in the visual arts. Hosted by Oakland Chinatown organizer Lailan Sandra Huen, this day will delve into the intimate layers of anti-displacement work ranging from ensuring cultural continuance to sustaining the places that house personal, collective, and ancestral memory. The Museum welcomes guests to join this experience and reflect on the power of multicultural community engagement.

Language access: The film will screen in English with Chinese subtitles.

This Spotlight Sundays is a part of our exhibition programming for Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory, on view through October 18, 2026.

Gallery Chats at OMCA

Fridays, 5:30–7:30 pm | All Galleries

Gallery Chats puts a twist on the traditional museum tour by encouraging meaningful conversations and fresh interpretations of the artwork, artifacts, and stories in OMCA’s galleries. This informal drop-in experience is an opportunity for visitors to share their personal reflections with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteer facilitators.

Visitors can find Gallery Chatters—wearing their blue “Let’s Chat” shirts—and floating between all of OMCA’s galleries during Friday Nights (April-Oct), ThursDates (Jan-March), and the Museum’s community celebrations, including Lunar New Year, Día de los Muertos, and Juneteenth (hours vary).

Whether visitors are curious about something on view or excited to reflect on their own experiences, Gallery Chatters are there to help spark conversation and connection.

First Sundays at OMCA

First Sunday of each month

Every first Sunday of the month, enjoy free admission to the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)—now including all Special Exhibitions! Explore the Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences, shop for locally made goods, or relax in our garden—all for free.

Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance to secure preferred entry times and reduce wait times. Tickets are also available at the admissions desk on a first-come, first-served basis.

OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk

First Sunday of each month at 1 pm

Walk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture, and learn about the history, design, and evolution of this award-winning structure with guides who are passionate about OMCA and Oakland.

No reservations or tickets are required. Walk and Talk begins near the Mid Level ticketing desk and lasts approximately one hour.

If you’d like to visit OMCA’s Galleries or Special Exhibitions, please purchase a ticket online in advance or at the ticketing desk on the day of your visit.

ALSO ON VIEW AT OMCA

Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory
Closing in October | Great Hall

Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory is the first major museum exhibition to celebrate the work of beloved Bay Area artist Mildred Howard. Spanning Howard’s five-decade practice, Poetics of Memory brings together her renowned collages, found-object sculptures, and immersive installations that explore memory, identity, and the African American experience. New and never-before-seen pieces punctuate the exhibition, while archival materials from Howard’s Oakland studio illuminate the cultural currents and lived experiences that shape her practice.

Born in San Francisco in 1945, Howard has been a lifelong resident of the East Bay. In the 1970s, she began making art influenced by textiles, African Diasporic dance, and fellow artists like Betye Saar, Raymond Saunders, and David Ireland. Howard’s studio became a space for experimentation, where her work has referenced both personal history and collective, generational experiences—from World War I and rapper Tupac Shakur to her family’s own roots in the Great Migration. Similarly, Howard’s monumental public artworks—found across the Bay Area—have highlighted often overlooked histories, from the Black shipworkers of Hunters Point to the musicians who defined San Francisco jazz.

Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory invites visitors into Howard’s vibrant, poetic world—to reflect on how personal memory and collective history intertwine, and to connect their own lived experiences to the broader stories that define us.

Konkow Maidu Baskets
Ongoing | Gallery of California History

Learn about historic Konkow Maidu master weavers and their descendants carrying forward the living tradition of basketry from generation to generation. Originally in the Oakland Museum of California’s collection, the baskets from this display are part of a group of items repatriated to the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California in 2024.

The baskets on view represent an intergenerational exchange of knowledge that is essential to Konkow Maidu daily life, food systems, ceremony, and survival. Visitors will encounter Native voices directly through text from members of the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California.

Fairyland @ 75: A Legacy of Magic
Ongoing | Gallery of California Natural Sciences Corridor

This collaborative installation invites visitors to learn more about Fairyland’s history, evolution, and enduring magic. Explore a timeline of Fairyland’s journey, a “then-and-now” look at its beloved park attractions, and a glimpse into the park’s bright future. Visitors will discover miniatures created by local artists, photos of Magic Keys through the decades, and even one of Fairyland’s original Jolly Trolly cars for kids and families to climb aboard. This feature celebrates Fairyland’s lasting legacy and role in shaping Oakland’s cultural landscape.

OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace
Ongoing | Gallery of California Natural Sciences

Little learners can unleash their curiosity and imagination in OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace. Located inside the Gallery of California Natural Sciences, the playspace is focused on the unique needs of children ages 2 to 5, along with their families and caregivers. Play is critical to every child’s healthy development and the playroom offers something for everyone—from building materials and nature-themed puzzles to hands-on activities that spark creativity, wonder, and joy. Our youngest museum visitors can also discover the animals that make their homes in Oakland’s streams, hills, and backyards. The playspace gives families a fun, safe place to play and build community with other families.

You Are Here: California Stories on the Map
Ongoing | Gallery of California Natural Sciences

We all use maps in our everyday lives—to navigate public transportation, find places to eat, and visualize big data like weather patterns or political opinions. But have you ever considered the deeper stories maps tell us? In You Are Here: California Stories on the Map, you’ll discover there’s more to maps than meets the eye. Showcasing a diverse range of maps from Oakland, the Bay Area, and California—from environmental surroundings and health conditions to community perspectives and creative artworks—experience how maps can be a powerful tool to share unique points of view and imagine a better future. Explore new perspectives of familiar places through maps made by the community, and mark your own stories on the community map inside the exhibition.

Black Power
Ongoing | Gallery of California History

Uncover the history of the Black Power movements in California with a compelling addition to the Gallery of California History. In response to the widely popular 2016 exhibition All Power to the People: Black Panthers at 50, Black Power illustrates the creative ways Black anti-racist activists in California supported their communities and challenged the U.S. government. Focusing on the example of the Black Panther Party, Black Power brings to light the tensions between a culturally and socially progressive California and examples of economic racism and oppression in the state. This moment in California history is represented through historic photographs, provocative objects, iconic posters, paintings, and interactive prompts that encourage visitors to take action out in the world. Learn more about the Bay Area’s role in this national story and the impacts this history continues to have today.

Question Bridge: Black Males
Ongoing | Gallery of California Art

Immerse yourself in intimate videos—woven together and arranged to simulate face-to-face conversations between participants—among a diverse group of over 160 Black men across the United States. Hear these men answer each other’s questions with exceptional honesty and vulnerability, and share stories, beliefs, and values in a personal portrayal of their lives. Encompassing themes of family, love, interracial relationships, community, education, and wisdom, Question Bridge: Black Males presents nuanced portraits of the past, present, and future of Black men in American society. Listen, watch, learn, and start your own conversations with this profoundly moving installation. Question Bridge is an innovative and widely exhibited video installation from artists Chris Johnson and Hank Willis Thomas in collaboration with Bayeté Ross Smith and Kamal Sinclair.

Dorothea Lange: Photography As Activism
Ongoing | Gallery of California Art

Experience the iconic life and work of Dorothea Lange, world-renowned documentary photographer, with an expanded installation in the Gallery of California Art dedicated to her works. Through the lens of her camera, Lange documented American life with riveting photographs that captured some of the most powerful moments of the 20th century. Drawn from Lange’s personal archive, which was gifted to OMCA over 50 years ago, and in response to the popular 2017 exhibition Dorothea Lange: The Politics of Seeing, a number of newly added photographs illustrate the power of photography as social activism. See how Lange’s work continues to resonate with millions and inspire new generations of artists and activists.

Dorothea Lange Digital Archive
Explore prints, field notes, negatives, contact sheets, and more with OMCA’s Dorothea Lange Digital Archive.

ABOUT THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
Founded in 1969 as a “museum of the people,” Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) tells the diverse stories of California’s art, history, and natural environment. Through inclusive exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, OMCA creates space for meaningful dialogue and strives to build more equitable, empathetic, and connected communities. With more than 2 million objects, OMCA’s collection of art, history, and natural science is a resource for understanding California’s dynamic heritage—all within its 110,000 square feet of gallery space and seven-acre campus. A leading Bay Area cultural institution rooted in Oakland, OMCA is dedicated to fostering an environment where visitors from the region, state, and beyond feel valued and empowered to shape the future of California’s cultural landscape.

VISITOR INFORMATION
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is located at 1000 Oak Street, at 10th Street, in Oakland. All-inclusive Museum admission is $25 general admission; $22 for seniors; $18 for youth ages 12 to 17, as well as for students and educators with valid ID; and free for Members and children 12 and under. OMCA offers onsite underground parking and is conveniently located one block from the Lake Merritt BART station, on the corner of 10th Street and Oak Street. An accessibility ramp is located at the 1000 Oak Street main entrance to the Museum.