The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life is a museum and research collection at the University of California, Berkeley, just outside campus. Its collections bring together art, archives, books and objects that document Jewish life across the global diaspora, making it a focused cultural outing in Berkeley from Oakland.
- Location: 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, just outside the UC Berkeley campus.
- Getting there: Downtown Berkeley BART station is around the block.
- Collections: Jewish art and Jewish life, alongside archives and a library.
- Admission: The museum gives both a suggested donation and a free-admission answer; check its official site before you go.
What the Magnes Collection holds
The Magnes brings together Jewish art and objects related to Jewish life, supported by an archive and library. The former Judah L. Magnes Museum was founded in Berkeley in 1962 by Seymour Fromer and Rebecca Camhi Fromer; the collection was established at UC Berkeley in 2010 after the museum transferred there.
The Jewish Art holdings include painting, sculpture, photography, works on paper, artist books, and digital and mixed-media works. Representational and abstract works are primarily from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with artists including Arthur Szyk and Roman Vishniac.
The Jewish Life collection contains thousands of objects connected to personal and family rituals, synagogue and communal life, and relationships between Jewish communities and their host communities. Textiles, costumes, jewelry, metalwork, architectural fragments, synagogue furnishings, ritual objects, manuscripts, and ritual books reflect communities across Central and South-East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
How do you get to the Magnes Collection?
The museum is at 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, California 94720-6300, just outside the UC Berkeley campus. From Bay Bridge Inn Oakland, you can plan the Oakland portion of your trip around Bay Bridge's two-star rooms, then head to downtown Berkeley.
Downtown Berkeley BART station is around the block, on Shattuck Avenue between Allston Way and Addison Street. Downtown Berkeley is also served by AC Transit routes 6, 7, 18, 51B, 52, 65, 67, 79, 88, 800, 851, and F, as well as Bear Transit routes C, P, and RFS. Routes and service can change, so check the official site before you go.
If you are planning other museum stops in Oakland, the city's museum guide can help you compare the kinds of collections there.
Exhibitions, admission and visitor access
Exhibition schedules and opening hours can change, so check the official site before you go. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $10 per person. The museum also participates in Museums for All, which offers free or reduced admission to families with SNAP or WIC Electronic Benefits Transfer cards.
Opening hours
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday: 11 AM–4 PM
- Thursday: 11 AM–7 PM
- Monday, Friday and Saturday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
The front lobby, galleries, and auditorium are wheelchair accessible, and staff can assist if needed. Large-print booklets of exhibition text are available at the gallery entrance or front desk. The museum permits service animals, defined as individually trained dogs or miniature horses; animals providing only companionship, comfort, or emotional support are not service animals under the ADA.
For event accommodations, you can email magnes@berkeley.edu or call (510) 643-2526. The Magnes asks that accommodation requests be made with as much advance notice as possible.
For getting around Oakland by transit and on foot, the Oakland transit and walking guide covers local travel options.
Adding the museum to a Berkeley outing
The Magnes sits just outside UC Berkeley, so you can pair a museum visit with time around downtown Berkeley and the campus area. If art museums are also on your Oakland itinerary, the Oakland art museum guide covers local options without requiring you to treat the Berkeley collection as part of the same museum scene.
For drivers, the museum identifies Oxford Garage directly across the street, with its entrance at 2161 Kittredge Street between Oxford and Shattuck. Two- and four-hour metered street parking is available in downtown Berkeley, with payment by credit or debit card.
Nearby parking is not guaranteed; some lots near campus may be unavailable or have special-event pricing during major campus events, including Cal athletic events.
FAQs
What is the Magnes Collection?
It is a museum and research collection at UC Berkeley, with holdings organized across the Archives, Library, and Museum. The Museum collections focus on Jewish art and Jewish life.
Where is the Magnes Collection?
It is at 2121 Allston Way in Berkeley, just outside the UC Berkeley campus. Downtown Berkeley BART station is around the block.
Is admission to the Magnes Collection free?
Yes. Admission is free, and the museum suggests a donation of $10 per person. Check the official site before your visit for current details.