The Leland Stanford Jr . Museum opened in 1894 , one of the few museums founded by a private family with a general art collection . By 1905 , the museum was known for its collection of Asian art . The 1906 San Francisco earthquake leveled two wings of the building , destroying the Roman , Egyptian and Asian galleries . Three-quarters of the building were damaged beyond repair . The earthquake , coupled with the death of co-founder Jane Stanford , affected the museum 's budget . The museum did not have its own endowment outside of the University , and faculty and administration were focused on academic concerns after the earthquake . The building fell into disrepair and curatorial duties eventually stopped
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts