Founded in 1987, the original location of Haines Gallery was destroyed in the 1989 earthquake at which time the gallery relocated to its current home at 49 Geary Street in downtown San Francisco. This dynamic space was custom built from the telecommunications offices of the original 1908 Western Union Company.

Haines Gallery has become well recognized for its diverse exhibition program, its timely and thought-provoking off-site projects and commissions, and its dedication to identifying and fostering new local talent alongside internationally established artists. This predisposition has resulted in a lengthy history of groundbreaking exhibitions including the first major West Coast exhibitions for Shirin Neshat, Liza Lou, Andy Goldsworthy, Joel Sternfeld and the Young British Artists. To date the gallery has presented over 259 solo and group exhibitions by artists from America, Europe and Asia.