Visit Us
Experience Letterform Archive’s new home or visit virtually from anywhere in the world.
Getting to the Archive
Visitor Entrance
Enter under the glass awning at 2325 Third Street and take the elevator to floor 4R.
Parking
Street parking is limited. There is a paid parking lot at Illinois and 20th Streets.
Public Transit
Several Muni lines stop directly in front or within a block of the Archive, including the 48 Quintara/24th Street bus, the 55 Dogpatch bus, the 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express bus, and the T Third Street Metro Light Rail.
Ways to Visit
In-Person
- Experience the current exhibition
- Coming soon: Take a guided tour of the Archive’s collection
- Coming soon: Book a private tour for your team or class
- Coming soon: Conduct research for a project
- Coming later: Attend a lecture or salon
- Coming later: Attend an educational workshop
Online
- Experience the current online exhibition
- Take a guided tour of the Archive’s collection
- Book a private tour for your team or class
- Browse the Online Archive
- Attend a lecture or salon
- Learn something new at an educational workshop
Gallery
Bauhaus Typography at 100
On Exhibit November 13, 2021 to April 27, 2022
Few design movements have shaped contemporary typography quite like the Bauhaus. Founded in 1919 by German architect Walter Gropius, the school embraced the tools of mass production in the creation of radical new art.
Bauhaus Typography at 100 explores the school’s unique legacy in graphic design through artifacts of its own making — its books, magazines, course materials, product catalogs, stationery, promotional fliers, and other ephemera — as well as objects created by its many characters before and after the time of the school. The exhibition draws a throughline from the Bauhaus’s iconic style to the shape of typography today.
Bauhaus Typography at 100, curated by Rob Saunders and Henry Cole Smith, will feature typographic work by Johannes Itten, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, László Moholy-Nagy, Herbert Bayer, and Joost Schmidt, along with important contributions from unsung students like Friedl Dicker.
Open Hours
| Thu–Fri: | 3–8 pm |
| Sat: | 11 am–3 pm |
| Sun–Wed: | closed |
Holiday Hours
| Nov 25–27: | closed |
| Dec 23–25: | closed |
| Dec 30–Jan 1: | closed |
Admission
| Member: | free |
| General: | $10 |
| Student & senior: | $5 |
| Children 12 & under: | free |
Curator Tours of Bauhaus Typography at 100
In-Person
Join us for an intimate chat with one of the curators of Bauhaus Typography at 100. This gallery walk-through is a unique opportunity to gain insight into the materials within and thought processes behind Letterform Archive's inaugural exhibition.
Virtual (Online via Zoom)
Join a small group of individuals from across the globe for an intimate chat with one of the curators of Bauhaus Typography at 100. This virtual walk-through is a unique opportunity to gain insight into the materials within and thought processes behind Letterform Archive's inaugural exhibition.
COVID-19 Safety Measures
Proof of Vaccination
Before entering the Archive, you will need to present valid vaccination documentation and a state-issued photo ID. Proof of vaccination may include your California digital COVID-19 vaccine record, a CLEAR digital vaccine card, your original or a photo of your CDC Vaccination Card, or an official immunization record from outside the US.
Health Screening
If you are feeling under the weather, we ask that you reschedule your visit until you are feeling better. When you arrive at the Archive, you will be given a short health questionnaire. If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, you will be asked to return at a later date.
Face Coverings
All visitors over the age of two and all staff, even if vaccinated, are required to wear a face covering at all times. Face coverings must completely cover your mouth and nostrils and fit snugly against the sides of your face. Bandanas, neck gaiters, and face masks with exhalation valves or vents are not permitted due to the increased risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Timed Entry & Limited Capacity
The Archive’s gallery is open via timed tickets and capacity is limited to ensure the safety of all visitors. Please maintain at least six feet (about two arms’ length) of distance from other visitors at all times.
Tours
Virtual Introduction to the Collection Tour
Online Tour via Zoom
Discover some of the most treasured pieces of Letterform Archive’s collection during this one-hour guided tour of the Online Archive.
Explore a curated selection of books, periodicals, posters, sketches, original art for reproduction, and related ephemera that chronicle the history of written communication. From the invention of writing and medieval manuscripts to modernism, the advent of print to the proliferation of digital type, our collection tells the story of civilization through graphic design.
Each one-hour tour is held in a Zoom meeting (not a webinar). Like our in-person tours, we encourage small groups and deep participation, so each group will be limited to 12 people. Intro Tours are open to the public and are a great way to meet other type and design enthusiasts across the globe.
Weekly Tour Times
| Fridays at 10am PT / 5pm GMT |
| Thursdays at 2pm PT / 9pm GMT |
Admission
| Member: | free |
| Supporter: | $30 |
| General: | $15 |
| Student: | $7 |
Custom Tours for Private Groups
Design Teams and Corporate Groups
Are you part of a design team? Prepare for a new client or just break up that WFH day with an online team outing. Refresh your flow and be inspired by some of most interesting pieces from the Archive's collection!
We can curate a broad overview for inspiration, a laser focus for problem-solving, or any blend that suits your team best. When you book a tour, we match you with a facilitator who can steward your group through your tailored Archive experience.
Pricing:
| Weekdays (11am–5pm PT): | $20/person ($100 minimum) |
| Evenings (after 5pm PT): | $30/person ($150 minimum) |
| Mornings (before 11am PT): | $30/person ($150 minimum) |
| Weekends (10am–6pm PT): | $40/person ($200 minimum) |
Classes and Nonprofits
Bring your class or nonprofit to the Archive for a customzied tour with a selection of books, periodicals, posters, sketches, original art for reproduction, and related ephemera. Virtual class tours include an overview of the scope of our collection as seen in the Online Archive, as well as material chosen to fit your curriculum that will everyone buzzing with inspiration.
Each visit is one hour. Like our in-person visits, we encourage small groups and deep participation, so we prefer to cap our groups at 15. If you have a particularly large class, please consider splitting the class up into two groups.
Pricing:
Thanks to generous donors and the support of our members, classes and nonprofits can experience the Archive free of charge, though we do encourage honoraria.
Research
Research Visits
For students, academic researchers, or professional designers with a specific focus, looking to engage deeply and independently with a few materials on a single topic, designer, format, or discipline.
Researchers are strongly encouraged to attend a tour of the Archive before scheduling research visit.
Research visits must be scheduled at least two business days in advance.
Coming Soon
Letterform Archive’s Reading Room will open in 2022. Join our mailing list to be notified when research visits begin.
Questions
Contact Visitor Services
+1 415 802 7485
visit@letterformarchive.org