The Cartoon Art Museum, which has been without a home since losing the lease on its South of Market location last year, has found a new home in San Francisco's North Waterfront neighborhood, officials announced Thursday.
The museum has signed a 10-year lease at 781 Beach St. in a historic building in a busy tourist area near Ghirardelli Square, the Maritime Museum, Aquatic Park and the Hyde Street cable car turnaround.
The space, which is currently being prepared to house the museum's nearly 8,000 square feet of galleries, screening areas, workshop, classroom, bookstore, library and collections, will open to the public in the spring of 2017.
The museum, which has around 7,000 pieces in its permanent collection and attracts more than 30,000 visitors annually, will continue to hold offsite events and work with partner organizations throughout the Bay Area during the transition to its new home.
Founded in 1984, the Cartoon Art Museum is the first museum dedicated to cartoon arts in the western United States.
