Built to honor California soldiers who died in World War I and modeled after the neoclassical Légion d’Honneur in Paris, this museum focuses on ancient and European art from the past 4,000 years. Within its collections are more than 800 European paintings from the 14th to the early 20th centuries, about 250 of which are on display, focusing on the continent’s masters, from Fra Angelico to Claude Monet. At the center of all, an airy outdoor plaza with Rodin’s “The Thinker” holding court. Note: The museum is a short walk from vista points with gorgeous views of the Golden Gate entrance to San Francisco Bay.<