Paxton Gate

Stumbled into the shop by accident, only a few days after finding out my favorite natural history store, The Bone Room in Berkley, had closed its doors. I am SO GLAD I found Paxton Gate.
The staff here is incredibly talented and knowledgable about both the front of store (natural history, taxidermy) and back of store (plants and gardening).
Maddie was extremely helpful us on a wide variety of subjects, and was honest about things she wasn’t sure about and directed to another staff member. After geeking out over insects with me, she went through the nursery with me and described her favorite plants in whimsical detail. It’s honestly a testament to my strength that I didn’t walk right out with all her favorite plants. I ended up buying a beautiful fern, which she helped me to re-​pot while giving me tips on how to care for it.
THANK YOU, MADDIE! I live a few hours away, but I can’t wait to return.

If I had a house, Paxton Gate would be where I go for whimsical interior design and gardening needs! Store has a unique selection of natural décor items from gemstones to taxidermy, animal skin rugs, and shells. Head out back and there are both indoor and outdoor garden areas, with leafy plants, succulents, and even pitcher plants. Walking into this store is like how I’d imagine a real-​life Miss Frizzle decorates her home. Prices are kind of all over the place, with some great deals to be had if you know what you’re looking for. Staff are helpful but generally stay out of your way so you can explore, small baskets are available by the door to hold eclectic items as you go. Keep an eye out for the matted nature prints from local artists, available in the $ 50 – 100 range.

Had a short window of time for Mother’s Day due to my father needing constant supervision. Kindly, we had a «sitter» for the day. So we darted into a quick breakfast and to attend a terrarium class.
There was a kind of misprint regarding the class and it was full. Paxton Gate figured out a way to accommodate us.
Lucky were we because it was a fun class with a great instructor. Class and terrarium goodies were fairly priced.
Thanks Paxton Gate. I only wish I was a techie 15 years younger so I would have more use for your crazy wares. Alas, this 44 year old attorney has little use for a ferret’s ribcage under glass or a preserved butterfly. If I did, I swear I would buy them from you and will still try to come in and buy your plants.
Cant say enough good things about their customer service and very cool terrarium instructor.

I love their stuff and their classes. Their staff is still iffy. Except the instructors all have been awesome

The only place that sells Venus Fly Traps in SF.
This is place is super rad if you’re looking for earthy gifts. Paxton Gate offers a variety of products that include everything from plants to taxidermied animals. The counter is also full of cool little pocket gifts like animal eyeballs, rings, teeth, bones, crystals and much more. The staff is super friendly as well.

One of our favourite stores in the city. They carry an array of great, special items that we, as a family, love… their staff is always helpful and courteous…
The last time we were in the store, hubby and I picked a small trilobite (for our daughter) and a larger one (for me)…perfect for hubby to turn into a nice pendant for us!

This is the sort of store I could roam through for hours. The taxidermy lined walls and dark wood gives it a mysterious feel, like it’s the store of store you’d find in the Harry Potter world. It has crannies filled with incredible, bizarre items.
The nursery in the back is small but well stocked. A lot of items that they carry are related to the occult, but there are books about math and science too.
Basically, this is a great store to go to for gifts and window shopping (although you’ll probably end up buying something).
I absolutely loved the store and will make revisiting it a priority next time I’m in the area!

This was such a fun store to explore! Someone called it eclectic, which took the word right out of my mouth.
My friend really wanted to bring me here to explore and it was such a good decision. I have no idea where you would park minus the street, but it’s SF… There’s not much you can do for the parking struggle. We were walking all around the area and had ubered here from Brendas so I can’t provide much use.
It was really fun to see all the taxidermy stuff in the store. There wasn’t anything at the moment that I was looking to buy + it’s a bit on the pricier side for me, but it was a really fun store to walk in and observe. A very nice atmosphere in a great part of SF!

Amazing treasure in the city. I have found a few places like this in the Bay Area, and though prices are a little high compared to other shops, this one has some lovely and nuique items you can’t find anywhere else.
Lovely art, natural history, plants, bones, etc.
Walked away with not one, but TWO baculums.
I have twice as many as you: P

Neat little shop filled with obscure knick knacks. Of course it is on the pricier side but if you look hard enough you’re sure to find a little gem that calls to you and fits in your budget. Saw many interesting prints and apothecary goods and even some taxidermy/​botanical classes they offer.

Wonderfully eclectic. So very SF. And I came out with 2 airplants while my friend bought her first carnivorous plant.
Looking for a book on taxidermy? Or actual taxidermy for your interior? Well, look no further. This place has a main floor full of interesting natural, dried, antique items and a sun room and garden in the back with live plants. I was in there for almost an hour and I still can’t quite remember everything because it is packed with inventory. I love how it’s been designed and I want one in LA. Come to LA. If you’re reading this Paxton Gate, come to LA!
Anyway. I just made a himmeli to hold my airplant, thank you for inspiring me to become more crafty.
In the mission, walk up, and grab a cheese/​wine or frozen hot chocolate nearby and wander/​get lost in this small but fascinating store.

Probably one of the coolest shops I’ve ever been in.
I could spend hours in here looking over all the minerals and fossils and interesting and humorously bizarre books.
The staff are incredibly friendly and the shop is very clean and organized for having no many products.
This is a great shop to bring a date-​lots of conversation pieces here (i.e. turtle shells or sprouted lotus seeds)
If witches were real, this is where they’d go to get supplies to make their potions (animals bones, herbs, etc.)
Check this place out, if you don’t find it even mildly intriguing, check your pulse, because you must be dead.

I visit this taxidermy/​terrarium/​crystals/​natural history/​oddities store often for supplies.
I appreciate that there is something for every price range. I meekly admire the expensive items from afar, but it’s the smaller less expensive items that keep me coming back, like an $ 8 mink skull. Tinier items like claws, fossils, and small bones can run even cheaper. I make semi-​regular visits for these, and always leave wishing I had purchased more.
[Dear Paxton Gate, if you’re reading, I’d love to see MORE of these affordable curio-​collection type items! And perhaps a larger collection of crystals. And antique apothecary bottles, and other tiny affordable rusty old antiques, pretty please and thank you!]
Overall, the selection is great and beautifully curated. Paxton Gate is the best taxidermy shop I have found in San Francisco, and always an aesthetically pleasant and inspiring visit.

Could I wear a shirt that was buttoned with human eyeballs? How would my vegan friends feel if I adorned my favourite jacket with a medal made from a taxidermied mouse head? These are questions I never struggled with… until I walked into Paxton Gate.
Gift stores love to claim that they offer «unique» items, but Paxton Gate raises the bar to a whole new level. There are boxes full of assorted animal bones, modestly priced. An extraordinary collection of art works made from taxidermied animals and insects. All the ingredients you need to make your own terraria. And yes, there is a display case full of different kinds of preserved eyes, including human eyes, which is when I found myself fantasizing about replacing all the buttons on one of my shirts with human eyeballs.
At the end of the day, however, I walked out empty-​handed. The pieces that I loved — like the insect dioramas and the amazing steampunk lamps — were non-​trivial investments. And the items my daughter loved — like an actual foxtail — made me uncomfortable, because I don’t really think it’s appropriate for a kid to buy animal parts for fun (maybe I have too many vegan friends). But if our kids were undertaking a science project, or I was ready to buy a significant piece of art, or I was looking for an unusual gift, this would be a great place to shop.
Even if you’re not going to make a purchase, however, this is a fascinating store to visit, and well worth a stop if you’re visiting San Francisco.

Totally stubbled across this store by accident while wandering the streets. So glad I did! This could quite possibly be my favourite store in San Fransisco. I so wish I could buy half the stuff here to bring back to Australia with me.
This store is like a exhibition of taxidermy mixed with exotic plants and terrariums. And this is a winning combination in my books. You will find all sorts of skulls, horns, bones, bizarre creatures, jewellery, and books here. All following the theme of weird and wonderful.
The taxidermy here is quite skilled. Really lovely preservation. It is a hard art form to master; But I was impressed with the quality. I had my eye on some mounted Jackaolpes (rabbits with horns). So unbelievably cool.
If you want something unique to decorate your home, this is the place to shop. I should note, I am jealous of anyone who shops here. If only I could take everything home with me!

Gosh, I love this store so much! It has so much random science stuff it’s awesome!
I’ve gotten some great plants, pots (both ceramic & biodegradable) here of excellent quality!
The people who work here are really cool & knowledge about their products.
Such fun and random stuff! Everything from succulents to crystals & beakers to animal skulls
Even if you’re not interested in buying it’s such a feast for your eyes!

AWESOME!!! I’m a fan 10X over. What a cool shop! Some might be grossed out by the taxidermy, but where else can you find tiny taxidermied mice in costumes?!? I mean really… As someone with an interest in the natural sciences, this place was cool on so many levels. There is a little something for everyone and there is a nice garden selection at the back of the store. I’ll absolutely be back the next time I’m in town, and who knows, you might just find a gift here for that person you know «that has everything already.» I can assure you Paxton Gate has at least something «that person that has everything» doesn’t have.

I love Paxton Gate, shopping here feels like I am on an exploration, there is so much to see and discover here where else can you buy a bat skeleton or mounted and framed bugs? It is like a really tight packed and eclectic natural history museum.
We have a much smaller Paxton Gate back home in Portland but this one has so much more, fossils, skeletons, taxidermy specimens some in costumes, rocks, beakers and other lab supplies, old naturalist drawings, plants and terrarium supplies, even jewelery the list goes on.
The space is good size with a gardening area out back and is filled with items you can’t find anywhere else. Since I first found it it is a must to visit anytime I am in town. The only down side to it is it is jam packed with things and it draws a crowd especially on the weekends and it is slow going to move through.

This shop is loaded with fossils and shells and minerals and a beautiful succulent air garden selection in the back. It’s an unexpected treasure on Valencia… then again, Valencia is just loaded with eye candy.
I only had eyes for the minerals once I saw the front case. My hubs is super into these things and it kills as a gift. Fresh back from a show they had an incredible selection to choose from, which is pretty much all anyone who loves or wants to gift one of these beauties could ask for. They’re reasonably priced and they enjoy the shared enthusiasm. They are also knowledgable on what each one is called as well as stock that might not be on display.
Many thanks for all the assistance!

What a creative place to discover the oddities you never thought you loved. Carnivorous plants, roaring Lion heads, finger chopping Beatles, random furriness, Orchids and so much more! The shop is split in half with the rear housing plants, shrubs, flowers and potting supplies. Usually there is a knowledgable gardener that will answer your questions. Terrariums are the rage now, so you can bet that Paxton Gate has alllll the supplies you need to build the epic rrerium. They even offer classes!
The front of the shop houses the fun stuff — taxidermy galore! Bugs, heads, shells, stones, apothecary tools and even a small book section. I could spend hours in here. in fact I did! The staff are beyond friendly and very knowledgable about their wares. One of the staff gave me advice on how to care for my new carnivorous plant.
Definitely an amusing shop to explore when in the Mission and if you live here. well lucky you!

Sonderbarer Laden … Passt in keine Kategorie. Naturwissenschaft gemischt mit Komik und Spirituellem? — Auf alle Fälle gibt es hier viele tote Tiere bzw. Tierteile. Es ist sehr interessant, durchaus aufschlussreich, kleine Ratespiele inklusive (zu welchem Tier gehört das wohl?), manchmal künstlerisch wertvoll, einige Male «zum Wegschauen». Definitiv eigenartig. Aber das ist ja nix Schlechtes!

Encore un cabinet de curiosités zarbi sur Valencia, temple du second degré qui fait bien la paire avec le Pirate Supply Store juste à côté. Mauvais goût très sûr, entre les squelettes d’animaux en bocal habillés comme des poupées, l’assortiment de plantes carnivores ou les chauves-​souris empaillées…
À voir !

Coolest store ever! You could spend hours here looking at all the interesting rocks, shells, succulents, flying squirrels, silkie chickens, jackalopes, posed mice, and other curiosities in this store. There are so many intriguing things to see and buy, even though the store itself is not very big. Be sure to check out the stack of drawers near the cash register where there are smokey quartz and fossils. Also look for the taxidermy eyeballs, tiny snake bones, and fossilized poops. In the very back of the store they have a ton of little succulents and air plants you can use to spruce up your room.