While San Francisco has undergone a massive transformation, shedding much of its hippy dippy weirdness in recent decades, there exists a captivating exception to this cultural shift—Mark McCloud and his extraordinary collection of LSD tablets, blissfully oblivious to the changing times.
Legal or not, Mark McCloud has ingeniously crafted a unique time capsule preserving the spirit of the free love era, and it's all showcased on 20th St. Nestled within the weathered walls of a Victorian Mansion, this unconventional museum defies the typical tech-focused ambiance of the city, offering an immersive experience with 30,000 hits of acid meticulously arranged in artistic displays and a charismatic guide steering the psychedelic ship.
Unlike your typical museum experience, McCloud's LSD Wonderland operates on a clandestine level. There's no flashy sign, no predictable visiting hours, and you won’t find any last minute tickets on Stubhub. Once you've cracked the code and stepped inside, get ready to embark on a journey that transcends both time and reality, plunging you headfirst into the heart of the '60s and '70s counterculture.
The interior of this vintage Victorian serves as a canvas for an explosion of color and creativity. The walls, adorned with meticulously arranged paintings made from thousands of magical blotter acid tabs, offer an immersive experience that challenges conventional perceptions of art. Every corner of McCloud's home is a testament to the era of free love, and the mere act of looking around becomes a psychedelic trip in itself.
And as you explore, every nook and cranny is a gentle reminder that a misplaced lick could catapult you on a journey straight to wacky town. It's a visual feast where even the walls seem to be tripping on the nostalgia of a bygone era. And just when you think it can't get any more surreal, you realize this is the part where you meet and talk to Mark. Cue the entrance music; let the games begin.
A genuinely warm dude armed with an infectious laugh and tales that could outshine a Netflix series, Mark is the kind of guy who's shared a toke or two with the likes of Timothy Leary, Abbie Hoffman, and just about every radical worth mentioning from back in the day. As a one-time producer and a staunch advocate for the positive effects of LSD (ya think?), Mark's museum has managed to dance around serious legal trouble more times than you've checked your social media this week. He readily admits to having a "great, and very busy" lawyer – the unsung hero in this acid-infused saga.
But here's the kicker – Mark is no artsy-fartsy poseur just in it for the "artistic" vibes. No sir, he has walked the walk, claiming to have tripped thousands of times, a realization that is 100% not an outlandish boast after spending some time with him. Mark is a rare bird indeed, and if you plan on keeping up with his rapid-fire stories, you might want to consider an espresso shot beforehand – the narrative shifts quicker than Sonic The Hedgehog
Now, let's dive into the realm of Mark's art—dazzling, fascinating, and more captivating than any cat video on the internet. Sure, the paintings might give off a basic vibe from a distance, but get up close and personal, and you'll be treated to a visual feast. Meticulously placed tablets are expertly welded together, forming intricate designs that make your average paint-on-canvas masterpiece blush in comparison. It's like a psychedelic jigsaw puzzle.
Within this kaleidoscope of creativity, there are some truly special pieces, each numerically labeled by the DA's office. Why? To indicate just how many tabs each masterpiece yields, as if they were measuring the potency of a particularly spicy hot sauce. And these aren't just paintings; they're historical artifacts, each with its own distinct flavor (no pun intended) and style. They're like a time capsule, telling heart-felt tales of their dealer origin and the era in which they were born.
Beyond the artwork, McCloud's LSD Wonderland holds a trove of artifacts that further enrich the experience. From obligatory photos with LSD guru the aforementioned Leary to family portraits from the early 20th century and even Mark's personal acid-making kits, every corner reveals a piece of history.
Now, armed with Mark as your trusty guide, the best course of action is to gawk in awe and unleash a barrage of questions. Will Mark have an answer to every query? Well, those thousands of LSD trips might have expanded his mind, but they can't guarantee he's got the details on every square inch of his mind-bending gallery. It's like a bizarre game show – will you stump the acid maestro? Spin the psychedelic wheel and find out!
Mark MIGHT have an answer. If he can remember it...
You'll also come across some amazing artifacts from his life and times, which include an awesome photo of Mark with Timothy Leary, some family portraits from the early 20th century, his acid making kits, and all kinds of cool artifacts from the era.
As you reluctantly leave this parallel universe and re-enter a San Francisco that might have outgrown such shenanigans, you can't help but marvel at the experience you've just had. What a trip.
