Next Stop: Moving San Francisco – New Exhibition at San Francisco City Hall Showcases Historical Images from the SFMTA Photo Archive Highlighting San Francisco’s Iconic Public Transportation System

SAN FRANCISCO, December 18, 2025 — The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) Art in City Hall program, in partnership with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) Photo Archive, are proud to present Moving San Francisco: Views from the SFMTA Photo Archive 1903 - Now, an exhibition that celebrates the history of Muni and the evolution of our city with a collection of images from the SFMTA Photo Archive.  

Moving San Francisco will be on display on the Ground Floor and North Light Court at City Hall starting January 15 through June 18, 2026. The exhibition features photographs taken between 1903 and 2025 and focuses on the City’s iconic public transportation system. Through this lens, it tells the story of San Francisco and the people who live and work here.  

A public reception to celebrate the opening of the exhibition will be held on the Ground Floor of City Hall on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 5 – 7 p.m.  

“Muni has carried generations of San Franciscans across our city for over a century, and it remains essential to the everyday lives of our residents, visitors, and workers,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “Today, ridership is back on the rise and as we celebrate Muni’s legacy through this exhibition, my top priority is to ensure that we protect Muni and ensure it remains strong, reliable, and accessible for future generations.”

“Photography has always been one of our most powerful tools for understanding and capturing who we are as a city. Every photograph in Moving San Francisco is a reminder that our City is a living, breathing, and evolving place that has been shaped by generations of Muni operators who help keeping us on the move towards a brighter future,” said Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs. “The Arts Commission is proud to collaborate with the SFMTA to present this exhibition as part of our longstanding Art at City Hall program. We’re honored to share this extraordinary archive of historic images with the public and celebrate Muni’s vibrant history.” 

The SFMTA Photography Department traces its origins back over 120 years through a series of photographers working for public transit agencies in San Francisco. Made up of more than 200,000 images, it is one of the largest collections of photos focused on transportation in the City.  

“We're excited to showcase Muni’s history and the role it’s played in shaping our city,” said Julie Kirschbaum. SFMTA Director of Transportation. “For over 100 years, it’s been the steady presence that's carried us through the eras that define San Francisco. We’re proud to preserve this important history and grateful to the Arts Commission for helping us bring it to life for the public.” 

Moving San Francisco pulls just a fraction of these photos to transport you from familiar scenes to a city unimaginable today. From the close of the Victorian Era into the 21st Century, see the people, places, and things that move in our city. Cable cars transition to buses and Muni Metro trains, neighborhoods sprout from sand dunes and San Franciscans make their way from point A to point B. Throughout the exhibition are favorite Muni memories and favorite routes shared by San Franciscans; a love letter to the iconic transit system.  

“We are thrilled to collaborate with SFMTA and their Photography Archive on this exhibition,” states Jackie Im, SFAC Acting Director of Galleries and Public Programs. “Moving San Francisco is a unique look at the evolution of San Francisco, capturing the many ways this city has changed and the many people who keep the city moving. As someone who was born and raised in San Francisco, it was a joy to travel back in time seeing the buses and streetcars of my youth, as well as images of the city from the turn of the 20th century that are unrecognizable and photos of the city today.” 

The exhibition features images from photographers working for the City’s transit agencies past and present including: Horace Chaffee, Lionel DaSilva, George Fanning, Carmen Magana, John Henry Mentz, Jeremy Menzies, Heather Moran, Marshall Moxom, Bill Owyang, Ken Snodgrass, Alex Sutton, Lester Teal.

EXHIBITION DETAILS 

Moving San Francisco: Views from the SFMTA Photo Archive 1903 - Now 
January 15 – June 18, 2026 
San Francisco City Hall 
Ground Floor and North Light Court 
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102 
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public

Opening Reception Details
Thursday, January 15, 2026 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  
San Francisco City Hall, Ground Floor 
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102 
No reservation required. Free and open to the public

Public Programming Details
A series of public events will be held throughout the run of the exhibition. Visit SFAC Galleries webpage for details.     

Moving SF Lunchtime Tours 
2nd Wednesdays @ 12:00 p.m. 
San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, CA 94102 
Meet in the North Light Court   

Starting in February 2026, join us in City Hall to hear from a wide range of transit experts—historians, operators, riders, enthusiasts--on works in the exhibition. Schedule published soon. 

The Basement presents Petulia 
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.  
Four Star Theater, 2200 Clement St., SF, CA 94121 

The Basement (Luca Antonuccio and Mitsu Okubo) present Petulia, a 1968 psychedelic tour of San Francisco directed by Richard Lester (A Hard Day's Night, Superman III) and starring Julie Christie as Petulia and George C. Scott as Archie. Featuring an iconic scene of Petulia on the 39 Coit and with a tuba. Presented on VHS.  

A Book is a Journey: Zine Making Workshop with MUNI Raised Me 
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 1:00-4:00 p.m. 
SFAC Main Gallery, 401 Van Ness Ave, SF, CA 94102 

Join MUNI Raised Me artist Meymey Lee for a zine making workshop where participants explore how a bus ride, a book, and an adventure, can all feel like the same thing. Materials provided. 

Transit Trivia with Muni Diaries   
Saturday, May 16, 2026 
Time/Location: TBD please check the website for details 

Put your Muni knowledge to the test with Muni Diaries! Whether you're a lifelong rider or a new fan, come connect with fellow transit riders and celebrate our shared love of Muni. 

The Future of Public Transit 
Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 5:30-7:00 p.m. 
San Francisco Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102 

Hear from a special panel of speakers and public transit experts on how we keep San Francisco and the Bay Area moving. Panelists to be announced. 

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About the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency 
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is a department of the City and County of San Francisco responsible for the management of all ground transportation in the city. The SFMTA has oversight over the Municipal Railway (Muni) public transit, as well as bicycling, paratransit, parking, traffic, walking, and taxis. The SFMTA Photo Department & Archive creates and maintains a visual record of our City’s transportation network through photographic documentation and historic preservation. See more at SFMTA.com/Photo. 

About the San Francisco Arts Commission
The San Francisco Arts Commission is the City agency that champions the arts as essential to daily life by investing in a vibrant arts community, enlivening the urban environment and shaping innovative cultural policy. Our programs include: Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Investments, Public Art, SFAC Galleries, and Art Vendor Licensing. To learn more, visit sfartscommission.org.