To use the sortable tables: click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.
| Name |
Image |
Town/City |
Type |
Summary |
| Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum |
|
Vista |
Open air |
Antique gas and steam engines, blacksmith shop, weaving house, farmhouse exhibits |
| Bancroft Ranch House Museum |
|
Spring Valley |
Historic house |
website, operated by the Spring Valley Historical Society |
| Barona Cultural Center & Museum |
|
Lakeside |
Native American |
website, Native American culture and history of San Diego County |
| Bonita Museum & Cultural Center |
|
Bonita |
Local history |
website |
| Cabrillo National Monument |
|
San Diego |
History |
Includes a museum and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse |
| California Surf Museum |
|
Oceanside |
Sports |
|
| Carillo Ranch, LeoLeo Carillo Ranch |
|
Carlsbad |
Historic house |
website, also known as Rancho de Los Kiotes, ranch and home of Leo Carillo |
| Casa de Estudillo |
|
San Diego |
Historic house |
Located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 19th century adobe house |
| Casa de Machado y Stewart |
|
San Diego |
Historic house |
Located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 19th century adobe house |
| Centro Cultural de la Raza |
|
San Diego |
Cultural |
Located in Balboa Park, Mexican-American and Latino cultural arts center |
| Chula Vista Heritage Museum |
|
Chula Vista Local history |
website, part of the Chula Vista Public Library System |
| Cooley Automotive Museum, J.A.J.A. Cooley Automotive Museum |
|
San Diego |
Commodity |
information, information, early automobiles, phonographs, clocks, electric trains, and 20 other types of collections |
| Craftsmanship Museum |
|
Carlsbad |
Technology |
Finely crafted models, engines, technology website |
| DeWitt Museum and Library, JohnJohn DeWitt Museum and Library |
|
Alpine |
Historic house |
website, operated by the Alpine Historical Society |
| Encinitas Historical Society Schoolhouse |
|
Encinitas |
School |
website, restored 1883 schoolhouse |
| Escondido Children's Museum |
|
Escondido |
Children's |
website |
| Escondido History Center |
|
Escondido |
Open air |
website, six building museum in Grape Day Park |
| Fallbrook Art Center |
|
Fallbrook |
Art |
website |
| Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society Museum |
|
Fallbrook |
Natural history |
website, information |
| Fallbrook Historical Society |
|
Fallbrook |
Local history |
website, includes main museum and Pittenger House |
| Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum |
|
San Diego |
Aviation |
Aircraft, memorabilia and history of the United States Marine Corps Aviation |
| Gaskill Brothers' Stone Store Museum |
|
Campo |
Local history |
information |
| Heritage of the Americas Museum |
|
Rancho San Diego |
Multiple |
website, part of Cuyamaca College, prehistoric and historic art, culture, and natural history of the Americas |
| Heritage Park Village and Museum |
|
Oceanside |
Open air |
website, information |
| Imperial Valley College Desert Museum |
|
Ocotillo |
Local history |
website, planned museum of Imperial Valley College, to include botanic gardens of native plants, reconstructed prehistoric homes, exhibits of area history |
| Julian Pioneer Museum |
|
Julian |
Local history |
information, information, information |
| Knox House Museum |
|
El Cajon |
Historic house |
website, part of Cuyamaca College, operated by the El Cajon Historical Society |
| Kruglak Gallery |
|
Oceanside |
Art |
website, part of MiraCosta College |
| Lakeside Museum |
|
Lakeside |
Local history |
website, operated by the Lakeside Historical Society |
| Lee House, HH Lee House |
|
Lemon Grove |
Historic house |
website, 1928 Tudor Revival house, operated by the Lemon Grove Historical Society |
| Lux Art Institute |
|
Encinitas |
Art |
website |
| Magee House Museum |
|
Carlsbad |
Historic house |
website, operated by the Carlsbad Historical Society |
| Maritime Museum of San Diego |
|
San Diego |
Maritime |
Several museum ships including the Star of India, an 1863 iron bark |
| Marston House, George WGeorge W Marston House |
|
San Diego |
Historic house |
Located in Balboa Park, operated by Save Our Heritage Organisation |
| Mason Street School |
|
San Diego |
School |
Located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, first public schoolhouse in the county |
| MCRD San Diego Command Museum |
|
San Diego |
Military |
History of the Marines in the 20th and 21st centuries, the Marines' presence in the Southern California region, and the history of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego |
| McKinney House and Museum |
|
La Mesa |
Historic house |
website, operated by the La Mesa Historical Society, early 20th century house |
| Mingei International Museum |
|
San Diego |
Art |
Located in Balboa Park, folk art, craft and design from all eras and cultures of the world |
| Mission San Diego de Alcalá |
|
San Diego |
Religious |
1769 Franciscan mission church |
| Mission San Luis Rey de Francia |
|
Oceanside |
History |
Historic Spanish mission and church |
| Mormon Battalion Historic Site |
|
San Diego |
Military |
website, located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, history of the Mormon Battalion |
| Motor Transport Museum |
|
Campo |
Transportation |
website, trucks, engines, quarry equipment and other equipment |
| Museum of American Treasures |
|
National City |
Local history |
information |
| Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego |
|
San Diego |
Art |
Collection includes more than 4,000 works created after 1950 in all media and genres |
| Museum of Coronado History and Art |
|
Coronado |
Multiple |
website, art and history, operated by the Coronado Historical Association |
| Museum of Creation and Earth History |
|
Santee |
Religious |
|
| Museum of Making Music |
|
Carlsbad |
Music |
History of American popular music, the manufacture and retail of musical instruments and the history of the music products industry |
| Museum of Photographic Arts |
|
San Diego |
Art |
Located in Balboa Park, photography, film and video |
| Museum of San Diego History |
|
San Diego |
Local history |
website, located in Balboa Park, operated by the San Diego Historical Society |
| National City Heritage Square |
|
National City |
Multiple |
website, includes National City Railcar Museum, National City Depot Museum about railroads, and a historic church, row houses and music hall |
| Oceanside Historical Museum |
|
Oceanside |
Local history |
website, operated by the Oceanside Historical Society |
| Oceanside Museum of Art |
|
Oceanside |
Art |
website, contemporary art from Southern California |
| Old Town San Diego State Historic Park |
|
San Diego |
Open air |
Includes five original adobes and museums with exhibits including law enforcement, carriages and horse-drawn vehicles, a newspaper print shop, schoolhouse, general store, blacksmith shop |
| Pacific Southwest Railway Museum |
|
Campo |
Railroad |
|
| Parsonage Museum |
|
Lemon Grove |
Local history |
website, operated by the Lemon Grove Historical Society |
| Poway Historical Society Museum |
|
Poway |
Local history |
website |
| Rancho Buena Vista |
|
Vista |
Historic house |
website |
| Rancho Guajome Adobe |
|
Vista |
Historic house |
Mid 19th century 20 room adobe house |
| Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos |
|
San Diego |
Historic house |
Located in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, historic 1823 adobe ranch home |
| Reuben H. Fleet Science Center |
|
San Diego |
Science |
Located in Balboa Park |
| San Diego Air & Space Museum |
|
San Diego |
Aviation |
Located in Balboa Park, aviation and space history |
| San Diego Archaeological Center |
|
Escondido |
Archaeology |
website |
| San Diego Art Institute Museum of the Living Artist |
|
San Diego |
Art |
Located in Balboa Park |
| San Diego Automotive Museum |
|
San Diego |
Transport |
In Balboa Park |
| San Diego Chinese Historical Museum |
|
San Diego |
Ethnic |
website |
| San Diego County Sheriff's Museum |
|
San Diego |
Law enforcement |
website |
| San Diego Firehouse Museum |
|
San Diego |
Firefighting |
website, firefighting memorabilia dating back 100 years |
| San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum |
|
San Diego |
Sports |
Located in Balboa Park |
| San Dieguito Heritage Museum |
|
Encinitas |
Local history |
|
| San Diego Model Railroad Museum |
|
San Diego |
Railway |
Indoor model railroad exhibits, located in Balboa Park |
| San Diego Museum of Art |
|
San Diego |
Art |
Located in Balboa Park |
| San Diego Museum of Man |
|
San Diego |
Anthropology |
Located in Balboa Park, pre-Columbian history of the western Americas and Native American art and culture |
| San Diego Natural History Museum |
|
San Diego |
Natural history |
Located in Balboa Park |
| San Marcos Historical Museum |
|
San Marcos |
Local history |
information |
| San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park |
|
Escondido |
History |
History of the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual, the bloodiest battle in California during the Mexican-American War |
| Santa Ysabel Asistencia |
|
Santa Ysabel |
History |
19th century Spanish mission and church |
| Serra Museum |
|
San Diego |
History |
website, operated by the San Diego Historical Society; also known as Junipero Serra Museum |
| Stein Family Farm |
|
National City |
Historic house |
website, also known as the National City Living History Farm Preserve |
| Stuart Collection |
|
San Diego |
Art |
Part of University of California, San Diego |
| Timken Museum of Art |
|
San Diego |
Art |
Located in Balboa Park, includes collection of European old master paintings, sculptures, and tapestries, American art and Russian icons |
| USS Midway Museum |
|
San Diego |
Aviation |
Aircraft carrier and restored aircraft |
| Valley Center History Museum |
|
Valley Center |
Local history |
website |
| Veterans Museum and Memorial Center |
|
San Diego |
Military |
Located in historic Balboa Park, San Diego and U.S. military history of the Armed Forces |
| Villa Montezuma |
|
San Diego |
Historic house |
website, operated by the San Diego Historical Society |
| Vista Historical Society & Museum |
|
Vista |
Local history |
website |
| Welk Museum, LawrenceLawrence Welk Museum |
|
Escondido |
Biographical |
information, information |
| Wells Fargo History Museum |
|
San Diego |
History |
website |
| Whaley House |
|
San Diego |
Historic house |
Mid 19th century period house |
| William Heath Davis House Museum |
|
San Diego |
Historic house |
website, information |
| Women's Museum of California |
|
San Diego |
Women's |
website, formerly the Women's History Museum |
| Woodward Museum, Guy B.Guy B. Woodward Museum |
|
Ramona |
Open air |
website, operated by the Ramona Pioneer Historical Society |
| WWII/Korea LVT Museum |
|
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton |
Military |
Exhibits on Landing Vehicles Tracked (LVT)s from World War II and the Korean War |