List of museums in San Diego County, California

This is a list of museums in San Diego County, California, 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.

Museums
Main article: List of museums in California
Name Image Town/City Type Summary
Antique Gas and Steam Engine MuseumVistaOpen airAntique gas and steam engines, blacksmith shop, weaving house, farmhouse exhibits
Bancroft Ranch House MuseumSpring ValleyHistoric houseOperated by the Spring Valley Historical Society, late 19th-century adobe ranch house
Barona Cultural Center & MuseumLakesideNative Americanwebsite, Native American culture and history of San Diego County
Bonita Museum & Cultural CenterBonitaLocal historywebsite, operated by the Bonita Historical Society, history of the Rancho de la Nación, art and culture
Cabrillo National MonumentSan DiegoHistoryIncludes a museum and the Old Point Loma lighthouse
California Surf MuseumOceansideSports
Leo Carrillo RanchCarlsbadHistoric housewebsite, also known as Rancho de Los Kiotes, ranch and home of Leo Carrillo
Casa de EstudilloSan DiegoHistoric houseLocated in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 19th century adobe house
Casa de Machado y StewartSan DiegoHistoric houseLocated in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 19th century adobe house
Centro Cultural de la RazaSan DiegoCulturalLocated in Balboa Park, Mexican-American and Latino cultural arts center
Chula Vista Heritage MuseumChula VistaLocal historyBranch of the Chula Vista Public Library[1]
Craftsmanship MuseumCarlsbadTechnologyFinely crafted models, engines, technology
Deer Park Winery & Auto MuseumEscondidoAutomobilewebsite, features hundreds of vintage vehicles and Americana collections, including Barbie dolls, Coca-Cola memorabilia, vintage radios, TVs, bicycles, household appliances
Encinitas Historical Society SchoolhouseEncinitasSchoolwebsite, restored 1883 schoolhouse
Escondido History CenterEscondidoOpen airwebsite, six building museum in Grape Day Park
Fallbrook Art CenterFallbrookArtwebsite
Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society MuseumFallbrookNatural historywebsite, minerals and gems from around the world
Fallbrook Historical SocietyFallbrookLocal historywebsite, includes main museum and Pittenger House
Flying Leatherneck Aviation MuseumSan DiegoAviationAircraft, memorabilia and history of the United States Marine Corps Aviation
Gaskill Brothers' Stone Store MuseumCampoLocal historywebsite, operated by the Mountain Empire Historical Society, area Native American, pioneer and military history
Guy B. Woodward MuseumRamonaLocal historywebsite, operated by the Ramona Pioneer Historical Society, includes the Verlaque House, shops, antique exhibits and artifacts
Gaslamp Museum at the William Heath Davis HouseSan DiegoHistoric housewebsite, mid 19th-century Victorian period house of William Heath Davis, operated by the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation
Heritage County ParkSan DiegoHistoric housePark with 7 relocated buildings, Senlis Cottage open as late 19th-century working class cottage, Temple Beth Israel open for tours
Heritage of the Americas MuseumRancho San DiegoMultiplewebsite, part of Cuyamaca College, prehistoric and historic art, culture, and natural history of the Americas
Heritage Park Village MuseumOceansideOpen airHistoric and replica buildings including a general store, blacksmith shop and livery stables, jail, inn, school and newspaper building[2]
J.A. Cooley Automotive MuseumSan DiegoCommodityEarly automobiles, phonographs, clocks, electric trains, and 20 other types of collections[3][4][5]
John DeWitt Museum and LibraryAlpineHistoric housewebsite, operated by the Alpine Historical Society
Julian Pioneer MuseumJulianLocal historywebsite, Native American artifacts, antique furniture, tools, clothing, cooking items, farm implements, photos, pioneer items
Junipero Serra MuseumSan DiegoHistoryHistory of the founding of the city, operated by the San Diego Historical Society in Presidio Park
Knox House MuseumEl CajonHistoric housePart of Cuyamaca College, operated by the El Cajon Historical Society[6]
Kruglak GalleryOceansideArtwebsite, contemporary art gallery of MiraCosta College
Lakeside MuseumLakesideLocal historywebsite, operated by the Lakeside Historical Society
Lawrence Welk MuseumEscondidoBiographicalPart of the Lawrence Welk Resort, tribute to bandleader Lawrence Welk[7][8]
Lux Art InstituteEncinitasArtwebsite
Magee House MuseumCarlsbadHistoric housewebsite, operated by the Carlsbad Historical Society, Victorian period house, displays of local history, agriculture
Maritime Museum of San DiegoSan DiegoMaritimeSeveral museum ships including the Star of India, an 1863 iron bark
George W Marston HouseSan DiegoHistoric houseLocated in Balboa Park, operated by Save Our Heritage Organisation
Mason Street SchoolSan DiegoSchoolLocated in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, first public schoolhouse in the county
MCRD San Diego Command MuseumSan DiegoMilitaryHistory 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 MuseumLa MesaHistoric houseOperated by the La Mesa Historical Society, early 20th-century house[9]
Mingei International MuseumSan DiegoArtLocated in Balboa Park, folk art, craft and design from all eras and cultures of the world
Mission San Diego de AlcaláSan DiegoReligious1769 Franciscan mission church
Mission San Luis Rey de FranciaOceansideHistoryHistoric Spanish mission and church
Mormon Battalion Historic SiteSan DiegoMilitarywebsite, located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, history of the Mormon Battalion
Motor Transport MuseumCampoTransportationwebsite, trucks, engines, quarry equipment and other equipment
Museum of American TreasuresNational CityLocal history[10]
Museum of Contemporary Art San DiegoSan DiegoArtCollection includes more than 4,000 works created after 1950 in all media and genres
Museum of Coronado History and ArtCoronadoMultiplewebsite, island history and art, operated by the Coronado Historical Association
Museum of Creation and Earth HistorySanteeReligious
Museum of Making MusicCarlsbadMusicHistory of American popular music, the manufacture and retail of musical instruments and the history of the music products industry
Museum of Photographic ArtsSan DiegoArtLocated in Balboa Park, photography, film and video
Museum of UsSan DiegoAnthropologyLocated in Balboa Park, pre-Columbian history of the western Americas and Native American art and culture
National City DepotNational CityRailroadOperated by the San Diego Electric Railway Association in a restored 1880s Santa Fe depot[11]
Oceanside Historical MuseumOceansideLocal historywebsite, operated by the Oceanside Historical Society
Oceanside Museum of ArtOceansideArtwebsite, contemporary art from Southern California
Old Town San Diego State Historic ParkSan DiegoOpen airIncludes 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 MuseumCampoRailroadIncludes 1916 railroad depot, historic railroad cars and steam and diesel locomotives on display, railroad equipment
Parsonage MuseumLemon GroveHistoric housewebsite, operated by the Lemon Grove Historical Society, displays include the general store, fruit packing, period rooms[12]
Poway Historical Society MuseumPowayLocal historywebsite, operated by the Poway Historical and Memorial Society
Rancho Buena Vista AdobeVistaHistoric housewebsite, mid 19th-century adobe house, history of Rancho Buena Vista (Felipe)
Rancho Guajome AdobeVistaHistoric houseMid 19th century 20-room adobe house
Rancho Santa Maria de Los PeñasquitosSan DiegoHistoric houseLocated in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, historic 1823 adobe ranch home
Reuben H. Fleet Science CenterSan DiegoScienceLocated in Balboa Park
Roynon Museum of Earth Science & PaleontologyEscondidoSciencewebsite, established in 2000 to educate students, scouts, and the general public in paleontology and earth sciences
San Diego Air & Space MuseumSan DiegoAviationLocated in Balboa Park, aviation and space history
San Diego Archaeological CenterEscondidoArchaeologywebsite, archaeology of the San Diego region from 10,000 years ago to present day
San Diego Art Institute Museum of the Living ArtistSan DiegoArtLocated in Balboa Park
San Diego Automotive MuseumSan DiegoTransportIn Balboa Park
San Diego Children's Discovery MuseumEscondidoChildren'swebsite
San Diego Chinese Historical MuseumSan DiegoEthnicwebsite, Chinese American experience and Chinese history, culture and art
San Diego Firehouse MuseumSan DiegoFirefightingwebsite, firefighting memorabilia dating back 100 years, located in Little Italy
San Diego Hall of Champions Sports MuseumSan DiegoSportsLocated in Balboa Park
San Diego History CenterSan DiegoLocal historywebsite, located in Balboa Park, operated by the San Diego Historical Society
San Diego Model Railroad MuseumSan DiegoRailwayIndoor model railroad exhibits, located in Balboa Park
San Diego Museum of ArtSan DiegoArtLocated in Balboa Park
San Diego Natural History MuseumSan DiegoNatural historyLocated in Balboa Park
San Diego Sheriff's Museum and Educational CenterSan DiegoLaw enforcementwebsite
San Dieguito Heritage MuseumEncinitasLocal historyCovers the history of the San Dieguto area
San Marcos Historical MuseumSan MarcosLocal historywebsite, operated by the San Marcos Historical Society
San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic ParkEscondidoHistoryHistory of the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual, the bloodiest battle in California during the Mexican–American War
Santa Ysabel AsistenciaSanta YsabelHistory19th century Spanish mission and church
Santee Historical Society MuseumSanteeLocal historyLocated in a historic former dairy barn
Stein Family FarmNational CityHistoric housewebsite, also known as the National City Living History Farm Preserve
Stuart CollectionSan DiegoArtPart of University of California, San Diego
Timken Museum of ArtSan DiegoArtLocated in Balboa Park, includes collection of European old master paintings, sculptures, and tapestries, American art and Russian icons
The New Children's MuseumSan DiegoChildren's MuseumLocated in Downtown San Diego, includes permanent and temporary interactive art installations for children and families.
University of California, San Diego Art GalleriesSan DiegoArtUniversity Art Gallery, Visual Arts Gallery, Gallery@Calit2[13]
USS Midway MuseumSan DiegoAviationAircraft carrier and restored aircraft
Valley Center History MuseumValley CenterLocal historyOperated by the Valley Center Historical Society
Veterans Museum and Memorial CenterSan DiegoMilitaryLocated in historic Balboa Park, San Diego and U.S. military history of the Armed Forces
Vista Historical Society MuseumVistaLocal historywebsite
Wells Fargo History MuseumSan DiegoHistoryLocated in Colorado House in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 1850s stage stop and telegraph office
Whaley HouseSan DiegoHistoric houseMid 19th century period house
Women's Museum of CaliforniaSan DiegoWomen'swebsite, formerly the Women's History Museum
WWII/Korea LVT MuseumMarine Corps Base Camp PendletonMilitaryExhibits on Landing Vehicles Tracked (LVT)s from World War II and the Korean War

Defunct museums
  • Villa Montezuma, San Diego, Friends site, closed in 2006, late 19th-century Queen Anne mansion in Sherman Heights

See also

References
  1. "Preserving Chula Vista's History". Friends of the Chula Vista Library. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  2. "Heritage Park Village Museum". Visit Oceanside. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  3. "Facebook site". JA Cooley Museum. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  4. "J. A. Cooley Museum". Yelp. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  5. "J. A. Cooley Museum". MG World. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  6. "Knox House Museum". El Cajon Historical Society. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  7. "Lawrence Welk Museum". Roadside America. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  8. "Lawrence Welk Museum, Escondido, California". Jeffrey Sward. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  9. "Official site". La Mesa Historical Society. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  10. "List of San Diego County Organizations". California History & Culture Conservancy. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  11. "National City Depot". San Diego Electric Railway Association. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  12. "Parsonage Museum". City of Lemon Grove. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  13. "Galleries". UC San Diego Department of Visual Arts. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
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