Browse Museums

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
Lancaster, California

Archaeology, Botanical Garden, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park, Science

Each spring, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive with the seasonal surprises of the Mojave Desert Grassland habitat. The duration and intensity of colors and scents vary from year to year. The wildflower season generally lasts from as early as mid-February through May, with a variety of wildflowers creating a mosaic of color that changes daily.

Carolyn Parr Nature Museum
Napa, California

Archaeology, Children's, Library, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park, Science

Displays of native animals and their natural habitats in Napa Valley; native plant, wildlife habitat garden; nature walks in Westwood Hills Park (picnic area); natural resource library available for reference on site, and children's library and games.

Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County
Chowchilla, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Natural History, Science, Specialized

A popular destination for thousands of visitors, including over 5,000 grade school students each year. We have a nice exhibit to browse, a working lab and a mock dig pit for kids. One of the largest Middle Pleistocene fossil deposits in California was discovered across the road at the Fairmead Landfill. Over 15,000 fossils have been collected and many have been identified including the Columbian mammoth, camel, horse, saber-tooth cat, scimitar cat, dire wolf and giant ground sloth as well as reptiles, amphibians and fish.

Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum
Groveland, California

Archaeology, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Park

2010 marks the end of the first decade of the 21st century, and a milestone for the Southern Tuolumne County Historical Society (STCHS). It was 10 years ago that STCHS completed the construction of the Museum & Library building. We have maintained the building and operated the museum ever since.

Imperial Valley Desert Museum
Ocotillo, California

Archaeology, Art, Children's, Culture, General, History, Natural History, Science

The Imperial Valley Desert Museum is a new facility in the heart of the Yuha Desert housing Native American and historic artifacts collected from within the Imperial Valley. Opening a new museum in the twenty-first century, we do not want to be seen as an exhibit within four walls, but we want to engage and interact outside of the limitations of the "box", our new building, both metaphorically and physically.

Kern Valley Museum
Kernville, California

Archaeology, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Science

The Kern Valley Museum communicates the history of the Kern River Valley by acquiring/displaying artifacts and by producing written and oral records by people with first hand knowledge of local history.

Modoc County Historical Museum
Alturas, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Culture, General, History, Historical Society, Library, Military, Natural History

Located in Alturas, it contains several exhibits pertaining to the culture and history of Modoc County in California. Exhibits range from prehistoric cultures to modern residents of the surrounding region. Natural history including mammoth bone, and a taxidermist collection of several local species. A gun collection of over 200 firearms all used and collected by local people.

Pacific Asia Museum
Pasadena, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Botanical Garden, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library, Specialized

Established in 1971, Pacific Asia Museum is one of only four museums in the United States exclusively dedicated to the arts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. The museum houses 5,000 years of artistic expression from across Asia and the Pacific in a California historic landmark building. Visitors will enjoy a mix of contemporary and historic exhibitions and a wide variety of enriching public programs all year round.

Pomo Visitors Center
Ukiah, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Culture, History, Natural History

Rand Desert Museum
Randsburg, California

Archaeology, Art, Culture, General, History, Historical Society, Library

The Rand Desert Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the cultural and architectural history of the Rand Mining District and adjacent histoic sites in the Upper Mojave Desert Region of California. Information about the communites of Randsburg, Johannesburg, Red Moutain ( Osdick ), Atolia, Garlock, Saltdale, and Cantil may be found at the museum. In addition we have information and displays about Burro Schmidts Tunnel and other mines in the area.

Bowers Museum
Santa Ana, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Children's, Culture, History

The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art is one of California's largest and finest museums. Its permanent collection includes more than 130,000 objects from such diverse areas as African, South Pacific, Asian, Native American, Pre-Columbian, and Californian. In addition to its permanent collection, the Museum also presents several special exhibitions each year as well as a variety of events and programs, including films, lectures, concerts, guided tours, talks, and family programs. A few of the high profile special exhibitions include "Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor," "Secret World of the Forbidden City," "Mummies: Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt," "Treasures from the British Museum," "Secrets of the Silk Road," and "Ito Jakuchu: A Man with No Age."

Exploratorium
San Francisco, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Children's, Culture, History, Natural History, Science, Specialized, University

We're now open in a spectacular new location at Pier 15 on the Embarcadero at Green St. in San Francisco. There are 150 new exhibits for a total of 600, indoors and out, including many beloved classics; a Bay Observatory; a bigger focus on tinkering and social science; and more. Come explore!

Fresno Historical Society
Fresno, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Cemetery, Culture, General, History, Historical Society, Library, Military

The Fresno Historical Society Archives welcomes the use of its collections. The mission of an Archives includes two equally important components. In addition to providing access to primary source material for study and research, an Archives is a repository that is charged with the preservation of primary source materials of all kinds.

Healdsburg Museum
Healdsburg, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, History, Historical Society

The Heraldsburg Museum houses an impressive range of artifacts and documents related to northern Sonoma County history. Some examples are Pomo Indians basketry, nineteenth century weapons, tools, archival library with 8000 photos and annual toy exhibit.

Kern River Valley Historical Society
Kernville, California

Archaeology, Culture, General, History, Historical Society

The Kern Valley Museum houses artifacts from prehistory to the present. We have a large geological and fossil exhibit, mining and ranching artifacts, history of the Edison hydroelectric plants, building of the Isabella Dam and exhibits of the movie making history of the area. There are thousands of photographs of the early settlers, miners, cowboys and Indians. Our wonderful back porch and yard are home for a 1925 Graham Truck, covered wagon and the Stagecoach John Wayne rode on while filming scenes of “Stagecoach” in our Valley. We also have a giant stamp mill used to render gold bearing ore to powder, a working assay office, blacksmith shop and a restored and furnished 150 year old cabin just to list a few of the items that draw over 12,000 visitors annually.

Mexican Museum
San Francisco, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Culture, General, History, Library, Nature Centers, Park, Specialized

Fort Mason Center offers a variety of cultural activities as well as being in close proximity to the Marina Green, Crissy Field and the Golden Gate Bridge. Stop by and visit the museum while touring the Marina District and other nearby tourist destinations!

Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center
Lee Vining, California

Archaeology, Culture, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park

The Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitors Center features interactive educational exhibits on ancient and unique Mono Lake, the famous "At Mono Lake" photography exhibit, an art gallery and the award-winning film, "Of Ice and Fire: A Portrait of the Mono Basin"

Pioneer History Museum
Oroville, California

Archaeology, Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House

The collection concentrates on items illustrating the pioneers’ life up to the late 1920s It includes such diverse items such as; Antique pianos, the original Oregon City School organ, a grand old clock from Bidwell Bar, gambler’s items, dolls (including a doll from the Donner Party), a miner's vest tailored to hold different size nuggets, and even a handmade gold needle.

Ralph Leroy Milliken Museum
Los Banos, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Culture, General, History

Mural, Indian artifacts, history

San Bernardino County Victor Valley Museum
Apple Valley, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Children's, Culture, History, Historical Society, Natural History, Nature Centers, Science

The Victor Valley Museum is a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum and maintains and develops unique cultural and natural science collections related to the High Desert.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Oregon Museum Association 2024 Conference

September 8, 2024 - September 10, 2025

North Bend, Oregon

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

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