Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in San Francisco is to close by the end of 2026, bringing the curtain down on the long-running tourist attraction at Fisherman’s Wharf.
The museum, at 175 Jefferson Street, has been a fixture in the waterfront district for nearly 60 years. Ripley’s president, Jim Pattison Jr, said the exact closing date had not yet been finalised.
The attraction opened on 2 February 1967 and is known for its collection of unusual artefacts, interactive displays and a 2,000-square-foot mirror maze. It currently features more than 400 exhibits.
In a statement, Mr Pattison said the company had made “the difficult decision to close our current San Francisco attraction” after careful consideration. He did not give a specific reason for the closure.
Ripley’s said it would support employees during the transition. A selection of exhibits with links to San Francisco is also expected to be offered for sale, including a Golden Gate Bridge model made on the head of a pin, toothpick versions of the landmark, former baseball star Joe DiMaggio’s crutches and a chicken-wire portrait of singer Janis Joplin.
The company has said it is not necessarily leaving San Francisco permanently. “While we’re saying goodbye to this location, we’re not necessarily saying goodbye to San Francisco,” Mr Pattison said. “With Ripley’s, you never know. We might just be back!”
The closure comes as Fisherman’s Wharf undergoes wider changes, with several established businesses and attractions having disappeared or changed hands in recent years.
