As part of the agreement that created the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in 1972 , the de Young 's collection of European art was sent to the Legion of Honor . In compensation , the de Young received the right to display the bulk of the organization 's anthropological holdings . These include significant pre-Hispanic works from Teotihuacan and Peru , as well as indigenous tribal art from sub-Saharan Africa . The building was severely damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake . It in turn was demolished and replaced by a new building in 2005 . The only remaining original elements of the old de Young are the vases and sphinxes located near the Pool of Enchantment . The palm trees in front of the building are also original to the site
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
De Young Museum