Author Talks

With its fantastic library, perfect for writing and research, its diverse schedule of cultural events, and its standing as the epicenter for chess in San Francisco (the first chess club in the U.S.A.!), Mechanics Institute is one of my favorite historical treasures for work and play." - Robert Mailer Anderson, Novelist and Screenwriter
Mechanics' Institute is host to locally and nationally renowned authors and speakers, from National Book Award winner Maxine Hong Kingston to Pulitzer Prize nominated columnist John King. Attendees have the opportunity to engage with presenters through audience Q&As and book signings.

See our upcoming event schedule below.