List of museums in California

This list of museums in California is a list of museums, defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.

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.

Contents

Central Coast and Monterey Bay Area

Main article: List of museums in the California Central Coast

Inland Empire

Main article: List of museums in the Inland Empire (California)

Riverside County and San Bernardino County (includes Ontario)

Los Angeles

Main article: List of museums in Los Angeles, California

Greater Los Angeles County

Main article: List of museums in Greater Los Angeles County

Orange County

Main article: List of museums in Orange County, California

Southern Border Region

Main article: List of museums in the Southern Border Region (California)

includes San Diego and Imperial counties

San Francisco Bay Area

Main article: List of museums in San Francisco Bay Area, California

San Joaquin Valley

Main article: List of museums in the San Joaquin Valley (California)

Shasta Cascade

Main article: List of museums in the Shasta Cascade (California)

Elsewhere

Name Image Town/City County Region Type Summary
Aerospace Museum of California Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Aviation
Alpine County Museum Markleeville Alpine High Sierra Open air website, complex includes the main museum building with local history exhibits, a schoolhouse, Markleeville Log Jail, carriage shed, and historic silver ore stamp mill
Amador County Museum Jackson Amador Gold Country Local history website
Amador Whitney Museum Amador City Amador Gold Country Local history website
American Victorian Museum Nevada City Nevada Gold Country History website, also known as Teddy Bear Castle Museum
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park Lower Lake Lake North Coast Historic house Contains Ranch House, an example of early California living
Anderson Valley Historical Society Museum Boonville Mendocino North Coast Local history website
Angels Camp Museum & Carriage House Angels Camp Calaveras Gold Country Local history website, includes carriages, mining equipment, minerals, household items
Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center Arcata Humboldt North Coast Natural history
Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park St. Helena Napa Napa Valley Mill The historic mill is open on weekends
Battery Point Light Crescent City Del Norte North Coast Lighthouse Lighthouse and museum
Bernhard Museum Complex Auburn Placer Gold Country Open air website, includes the Victorian Bernhard residence with period rooms, wine storage building and wine processing building with wine-making exhibits, and a barn with horse-drawn vehicles and blacksmith area
Blue Lake Museum Blue Lake Humboldt North Coast Local history information
Blue Ox Millworks and Historic Park Eureka Humboldt North Coast Open air website, historic park with working craftsmen's areas and a current-day mill and woodworking operation
Bodie State Historic Park Bodie Mono High Sierra Open air Ghost town mining camp
Bohart Museum of Entomology Davis Yolo Sacramento Valley Natural history website, live and mounted insect displays, also a research museum of the University of California, Davis
Calaveras County Museum San Andreas Calaveras Gold Country Local history website, operated by the Calaveras County Historical Society
California Automobile Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Automobile Formerly the Towe Auto Museum, over 170 classic cars, race cars, muscle cars, hot rods, early models and automotive memorabilia
California Foundry History Museum - Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Industry website
California Hall of Fame Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Hall of fame Part of the The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts
California Museum for History, Women and the Arts Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley History Formerly known as the Golden State Museum, includes the California Hall of Fame, exhibits on important people and aspects of California
California State Capitol Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Capitol
California State Indian Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Native American
California State Military Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Military
California State Mining and Mineral Museum Mariposa Mariposa Gold Country Mining Located at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds
California State Railroad Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Railroad
Carnegie Museum (Roseville, California) Roseville Placer Sacramento Valley Local history website, operated by the Roseville Historical Society, located in a Carnegie library building
Carolyn Parr Nature Museum Napa Napa Napa Valley Natural history information, located in Westwood Hills Park
Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Art website
Chew Kee Store Museum Fiddletown Amador Gold Country History website, 1855 Chinese herb shop
Chinese American Museum of Northern California Marysville Yuba Sacramento Valley Ethnic - Chinese information, information
Clarke Historical Museum Eureka Humboldt North Coast Local history Formerly the Clarke Memorial Museum, history of Humboldt County with emphasis on the late 19th century, includes furniture, glassware, clothing and Native American wing
C.N. Gorman Museum Davis Yolo Sacramento Valley Art website, contemporary Native American and indigenous art, part of the University of California, Davis, also known as Carl M. Gorman Museum
Columbia State Historic Park Columbia Tuolumne Gold Country Living California Gold Rush town with living history demonstrations
Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County Yuba City Sutter Sacramento Valley Local history
Crocker Art Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Art Early California art, Old Master drawings, Asian art, international ceramics
Dai Loy Museum Locke Sacramento Sacramento Valley History website, former Chinese gambling house
Del Norte County Historical Society Main Museum Crescent City Del Norte North Coast Local history website, includes Native American baskets, Tolowa and Yurok artifacts, musical instruments, old radio, phonographic and photographic equipment, needlework, logging and mining tools and equipment, fashions and furniture
di Rosa Preserve: Art & Nature Napa Napa Napa Valley Art website, art galleries and outdoor sculpture on a nature preserve
Discovery Museum of Eureka Eureka Humboldt North Coast Children's website
Discovery Museum of Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Children's website, Science & Space Center, Challenger Learning Center
Donald F. Salvatori California Pharmacy Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Medical website, pharmacy artifacts, located at the California Pharmacists Association headquarters
Donner Memorial State Park Truckee Nevada Gold Country History Includes the Emigrant Trail Museum with exhibits on local Native Americans, the Donner Party and builders of the transcontinental railroad
Downieville Museum Downieville Sierra Gold Country Local history information
Eastern California Museum Independence Inyo High Sierra Local history website, includes Native American baskets and artifacts, fossils and exhibits of local history
El Dorado County Historical Museum Placerville El Dorado Gold Country Local history website
Elmshaven St. Helena Napa Napa Valley Religious Home of Ellen G. White whose ministry was instrumental in founding the seventh-day Sabbatarian Adventist movement
Empire Mine State Historic Park Grass Valley Nevada Gold Country Mining Attractions include a mining museum, an Edwardian estate house, and a mine with living history demonstrations
Explorit Davis Yolo Sacramento Valley Science website, regional hands-on science center
Ferndale Museum Ferndale Humboldt North Coast Local history website
First Street Gallery Eureka Humboldt North Coast Art website, part of Humboldt State University
Folsom History Museum Folsom Sacramento Sacramento Valley Local history website, operated by the Folsom Historical Society, exhibits about Folsom's native people, the discovery of gold and the formation of mining camps, ethnic groups who contributed to this area, the formation of the town, railroad, prison, powerhouse, and later efforts at gold mining
Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park Folsom Sacramento Sacramento Valley Technology Historic 1890s hydroelectric power plant
Folsom Prison Museum Folsom Sacramento Sacramento Valley Law enforcement
Folsom Railroad Museum Folsom Sacramento Sacramento Valley Railroad website
Ford House Museum Mendocino Mendocino North Coast Local history Visitor and interpretive center for Mendocino Headlands State Park
Foresthill Divide Museum Foresthill Placer Gold Country Mining website, information, includes mining museum, a reconstructed livery stable/blacksmith shop, and the original Foresthill Jail
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park Eureka Humboldt North Coast Fort
Fortuna Depot Museum Fortuna Humboldt North Coast Local history website, history of the Eel River Valley, includes memorabilia from railroad, farm and war eras, including large locks, spark plugs, and barbed wire displays, a doll collection and many types of fishing gear and lures
Fountain & Tallman Museum Placerville El Dorado Gold Country Local history Operated by the El Dorado County Historical Society
Gatekeeper’s Museum Tahoe City Placer High Sierra Local history website, operated by the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society, includes Marion Steinbach Indian Basket Museum
Gold Country Museum Auburn Placer Gold Country Mining website
Golden Drift Museum Dutch Flat Placer Gold Country Local history website, influence of mining and railroads in the area
Governor's Mansion State Historic Park Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Historic house Former mansion of the governors of California
Grace Hudson Museum and Sun House Ukiah Mendocino North Coast Multiple Art, history, and anthropology museum focusing on on the lifeworks of artist Grace Carpenter Hudson (1865–1937) and her ethnologist husband, Dr. John W. Hudson (1857–1936)
Grass Valley Museum Grass Valley Nevada Gold Country Local history Includes furniture, art, objects d’art, clothing, musical instruments and artifacts of the Victorian era
Griffith Quarry Museum Penryn Placer Gold Country Industry Local granite industry
Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum Groveland Tuolumne Gold Country Local history website
Guest House Museum Fort Bragg Mendocino North Coast Local history information, information
Hangtown's Gold Bug Park & Mine Placerville El Dorado Gold Country Mining website, includes Hattie's Museum with mining exhibits, Gold Bug Mine to tour, Meagher House for natural history education, Hendy Stamp Mill
Hattie Weber Museum of Davis Davis Yolo Sacramento Valley Local history website
Hays Antique Truck Museum Woodland Yolo Sacramento Valley Transportation website, antique trucks, trailers, industrial powerplants, tools, equipment, and trucking memorabilia
Heidrick Ag History Center Woodland Yolo Sacramento Valley Agriculture website, antique agricultural equipment
Home of Lola Montez Grass Valley Nevada Gold Country Local history Houses the town's chamber of commerce, visitor center and local history museum
Honda Food Culture Museum and Communication Education Center Marysville Yuba Sacramento Valley Food information
Hoopa Tribal Museum Hoopa Humboldt North Coast Native American website
Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum Samoa Humboldt North Coast Maritime
Humboldt State University Natural History Museum Arcata Humboldt North Coast Natural history website
ICA Gallery Bishop Inyo High Sierra Art Changing exhibits of area art
Imaginarium of Nevada County Nevada City Nevada Gold Country Science website, science education center with public days once a month
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park Pine Grove Amador High Sierra Native American Includes Chaw'se Regional Indian Museum
James Calvin Sly Museum Pollock Pines El Dorado Gold Country Local history information
Kelley House Museum Mendocino Mendocino North Coast Historic house website, interprets Mendocino's logging and shipping industries
Kennedy Mine Jackson Amador High Sierra Mining Gold mine structures
Kentucky Mine Museum Sierra City Sierra Gold Country Mining information
KidZone Museum Truckee Nevada Gold Country Children's website, formerly the Sierra Nevada Children's Museum
Lake County Historical Courthouse Museum Lakeport Lake North Coast Local history information, information
Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum South Lake Tahoe El Dorado High Sierra Local history information
Laws Railroad Museum and Historic Site Bishop Inyo High Sierra Open air Operated by the Bishop Museum & Historical Society, collection of 19th century buildings with historical exhibits, railroad cars and equipment
Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Historic house Victorian mansion restored to 1872 appearance
Locke Chinese School Locke Sacramento Sacramento Valley School website, former Chinese gambling house
Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum Lower Lake Lake North Coast Local history
Loyalton Museum Loyalton Sierra Gold Country Local history information
Maidu Interpretive Center and Historic Site Roseville Placer Sacramento Valley Multiple website, natural and cultural history, including exhibits on Native Californians and the interdependence of nature and culture
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park Nevada City Nevada Gold Country Mining Includes mining museum and deserted mining town
Mammoth Ski Museum Mammoth Lakes Mono High Sierra Sports website, art, culture and artifacts related to skiing
Manzanar National Historic Site Independence Inyo High Sierra History Site of one of ten camps where over 110,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II
Mariposa Museum & History Center Mariposa Mariposa Gold Country Local history website, cultural history of Mariposa County, including Miwok display, gold mining equipment, miner's cabin, saloon, one-room school
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park Coloma El Dorado Gold Country Open air Includes Gold Discovery Museum and Visitor Center, 20 historic buildings including mining, house, school, and store exhibits
Mary Aaron Memorial Museum Marysville Yuba Sacramento Valley Local history information
Memorial Union Gallery Davis Yolo Sacramento Valley Art website, contemporary and historical California art, part of the University of California, Davis
Mendocino County Museum Willits Mendocino North Coast Local history website
Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center Lee Vining Mono High Sierra Natural history Geology and wildlife of Mono Lake
Morris Graves Museum of Art Eureka Humboldt North Coast Art Arts and artists of the Pacific Northwest, particularly Morris Graves
Murphys Old Timers Museum Murphys Calaveras Gold Country Local history information
Museum of Lone Pine Film History Lone Pine Inyo High Sierra Media website, movie history of Lone Pine, Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra areas; officially known as the Beverly and Jim Rogers Museum of Lone Pine Film History
Museum of the Forgotten Warriors Marysville Yuba Sacramento Valley Military website, uniforms, helicopters, photographs, medals, military memorabilia
Napa County Historical Society Napa Napa Napa Valley Local history website, the research library's Jess Doud Memorial Room hosts several exhibitions each year
Napa Firefighters Museum Napa Napa Napa Valley Firefighting website
Napa Valley Museum Yountville Napa Napa Valley Multiple website, art, history, natural history of Napa Valley, including local Native American and wine-making history
Nevada City Firehouse Museum Nevada City Nevada Gold Country Local history website, operated by the Nevada County Historical Society
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum Nevada City Nevada Gold Country Railroad Operated by the Nevada County Historical Society
New Melones Visitor Center and Museum Sonora Calaveras Gold Country Local history Historic, natural and cultural history of the area around New Melones Lake
North Star Mine and Powerhouse & Pelton Wheel Museum Grass Valley Nevada Gold Country Mining
Northern Mariposa County History Center Coulterville Mariposa Gold Country Local history website
Northstar Mining Museum Grass Valley Nevada Gold Country Mining website, hundreds of mining artifacts and machinery, operated by the Nevada County Historical Society; also called the Grass Valley Mining Museum or the Northstar Mine Powerhouse & Pelton Wheel Museum
Old Sacramento State Historic Park Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Multiple Includes Old Sacramento Interpretive Center, Wells Fargo History Museum, Sacramento History Museum, Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum, several historic buildings and more
Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley School website
Old Schoolhouse Museum Lee Vining Mono High Sierra Local history website
Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone Cultural Center-Museum Bishop Inyo High Sierra Native American Artifacts and antiquities from the Numa (Paiute) and Newe (Shoshone) Nations
Phillips House Museum Arcata Humboldt North Coast Historic house website, operated by the Historical Sites Society of Arcata
Placer County Museum Auburn Placer Gold Country Local history website, includes courthouse and sheriff's exhibits, Native America art, gold country exhibits
Point Cabrillo Light Ukiah Mendocino North Coast Maritime Lighthouse open for tours
Rae House Museum Galt Sacramento Sacramento Valley Historic house website, operated by the Galt Area Historical Society
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park Jamestown Tuolumne Gold Country Railroad Seasonal steam and diesel-powered train rides, 1920s locomotive roundhouse, machine shop and related exhibits
Red Barn Museum San Andreas Calaveras Gold Country Local history website, operated by the Calaveras County Historical Society, features agriculture, mining, logging, and ranching artifacts, tools and equipment
Reese Bullen Gallery Arcata Humboldt North Coast Art website, houses the permanent art collection of Humboldt State University
Richard L. Nelson Gallery & Fine Art Collection Davis Yolo Sacramento Valley Art website, part of the University of California, Davis
Rocklin History Museum Rocklin Placer Gold Country Local history website
Roseville Telephone Museum Roseville Placer Sacramento Valley Technology website, antique telephones and memorabilia
Roseville Utility Exploration Center Roseville Placer Sacramento Valley Science website, environmental learning center including energy efficiency,

renewable technology, water conservation and recycling
Sacramento Children's Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Children's website, planned museum opening summer 2011
Sacramento History Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento History Local history website, includes California Gold Rush, agriculture, community, gold panning. Home of the Underground Tours of Old Sacramento
Sacramento Valley Museum Williams Colusa Sacramento Valley Local history Includes carriages, mining equipment, minerals, household items
Samoa Cookhouse Museum Eureka Humboldt North Coast Industry website, area logging activities, part of the Samoa Cookhouse historic restaurant
Scotia Logging Museum Scotia Humboldt North Coast Industry website, museum about the logging company town owned by Pacific Lumber Company
Scotty's Castle Inyo High Sierra Historic house Also known as Death Valley Ranch, 1930s period mansion, located in northern Death Valley National Park
Sharpsteen Museum Calistoga Napa Napa Valley Local history website, history of the upper Napa Valley
Shenandoah Valley Museum Plymouth Amador Gold Country Local history information
Ship Ashore Gift Shop & Museum Smith River Del Norte North Coast Multiple website, information, maritime and historic artifacts, shells, minerals, pirates
Shoshone Museum Shoshone Inyo High Sierra Local history website
Sierra College Natural History Museum Rocklin Placer Gold Country Natural history website, part of Sierra College
Sierra Nevada Logging Museum Arnold Calaveras Gold Country Industry History of logging in the Sierra Nevada area
Sierra Sacramento Valley Museum of Medical History Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Medical website, collections in the fields of surgery, clinical diagnosis, infectious disease, pharmacy, radiology, Chinese medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and medical quackery
Silverado Museum St. Helena Napa Napa Valley Biographical website, devoted to Robert Louis Stevenson
Stansbury House Chico Butte Sacramento Valley Historic house information, information
Stone Lagoon Schoolhouse Museum Trinidad Humboldt North Coast School information
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley Military Includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum
Tahoe Maritime Museum Homewood Placer High Sierra Maritime Includes maritime craft in service at Lake Tahoe, history of boating at Lake Tahoe, outboard motor collection, aquaplanes, water skis, fishing exhibits
Tallac Historic Site South Lake Tahoe El Dorado High Sierra Open air website, former rustic resort, includes Baldwin Museum, a former estate with exhibits on the significance of the estate families and the Washoe Tribe, the Pope Estate, the Valhalla Estate and several outbuildings
Trees of Mystery Klamath Del Norte North Coast Native American Roadside attraction that includes the End of the Trail Museum, which features Native American art, crafts and tools
Triangle Tattoo & Museum Fort Bragg Mendocino North Coast Art website, display of tattoo artifacts from around the world
Trinidad Museum Trinidad Humboldt North Coast Local history information
Truckee Jail Museum Truckee Nevada Gold Country Jail website, operated by the Truckee - Donner Historical Society, exhibits of local history
Tuolumne City Memorial Museum Tuolumne Tuolumne Gold Country Local history website, exhibits on pioneers, household and kitchen items, clothing, gold mining, lumber company and model train layout
Tuolumne County Museum & History Center Sonora Tuolumne Gold Country Local history website, housed in an old jail, operated by the Tuolumne County Historical Society
UC Davis Design Museum Davis Yolo Sacramento Valley Design website, includes architecture, costume, graphic design, textiles, new media and popular culture, part of the University of California, Davis
Underground Gold Miners Museum Alleghany Sierra Gold Country Mining website, open seasonally and by appointment
United States Bicycling Hall of Fame Davis Yolo Sacramento Valley Sports Formerly located in New Jersey, bicycl
Vikingsholm South Lake Tahoe El Dorado High Sierra Historic house 38-room mansion with Nordic influences
Wells Fargo History Museum Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Valley History website, two locations in Sacramento
West Sacramento Historical Society Museum West Sacramento Yolo Sacramento Valley Local history website
Willow Creek - China Flat Museum Willow Creek Humboldt North Coast Local history website, local and Native American history, special bigfoot collection
Wooden Sculpture Garden of Romano Gabriel Eureka Humboldt North Coast Art website, folk art sculpture garden, operated by the Eureka Heritage Society
Yolo County Historical Museum Woodland Yolo Sacramento Valley Historic house Also known as Gibson House, period rooms from the 1850s to the 1930s, also exhibits of local history
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Fish Camp Mariposa High Sierra Railroad Heritage railroad and historic log cabin
Yosemite Museum Yosemite National Park Mariposa Gold Country Native American Heritage and culture of the Ahwaneechee people who lived in the valley

Online museums

Defunct museums

See also

Resources

References

  1. ^ Atascadero Chamber of Commerce
  2. ^ Museum for Children
  3. ^ Tribute by Jeffrey Sward
  4. ^ Photos
  5. ^ Planetware listing
  6. ^ Roadside American Report 2005
  7. ^ "A sadly noted departure", LA Times, April 21, 2008
  8. ^ Closing notice at Mountaininfo.com
  9. ^ "Piru: The Garden of Eden that might have been", The Signal, update to 1998 article
  10. ^ http://www.mingei.org/about/history.php Mingei history

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