San Diego Model Railroad Museum - Balboa Park
Worlds largest operating model railroad museum. Besides
four enormous scale model railroad layouts, there are many other
exhibits and interactive displays. Includes Toy Train Gallery,
working semaphore, and interactive Lionel layout for children. Great for train fans.
Barona Cultural Center & Museum - Lakeside CA
With more than 3,000 artifacts, listening alcoves, photographic displays,
and archives, the museum’s historic treasures unfold many fascinating and inspiring
stories of the Kumeyaay/Diegueño experience.
Coronado Museum of History and Art
Discover the wonderful local history with a visit to the one-of-a-kind Museum of History and Art.
The Museum's galleries highlight Coronado's settlers, its friendship with the U.S. Navy,
the landmark Hotel del Coronado and special exhibits connected to Coronado's history and art.
Museum of Creation and Earth History - Santee CA
Take a journey through time to discover the meaning of life.
San Diego Hall of Champions - Balboa Park
A must see for all sports fans with over 70,000 sq.ft. of display area on three floors. This
exciting, entertaining and enthralling museum celebrates athletic accomplishments of hometown heroes.
Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
USMC MCAS Miramar
Open: Mon-Sat; Free Admission;
Special: Ask about Open Cockpit Days
The museum is expanding onto a 8-acre plot at the military airfield at Miramar.
Exhibits include over 25 original combat aircraft and helicopters on public display.
The best time to visit is on "Open Cockpit Day" when visitor can explore the interior
of some of these famous planes. Exhibits include:
Museum Website -
- UH-34 Seahorse - green Vietnam-era transport copter
- SNJ Texan - fighter jet
- MiG-15 - early Russian fighter jet
Natural History Museum - Balboa Park
Photos and text provide great education for kids and adults.
Located at east end of Balboa Park. Exhibits on plants, animals and geology of So. Calif.
Museum of San Diego History - Balboa Park
presents . This museum offers permanent and changing exhibitions on the colorful and diverse history of the region.
Public lectures, workshops and educational programs are presented in the museum's 100-seat Thornton Theatre.
Museum of Man - Balboa Park
Explore the mystery, beauty, and excitement of San Diego's only anthropological museum.
One of the nation's best collections of artifacts, folk art, and archaeological finds that tell the heritage of mankind and ancient cultures.
Museum is located in the California Building (1915).
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park recreates life in the Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872.
Five original adobes are part of the complex, which includes shops, restaurants and a museum. La Casa de Estudillo is a mansion built around a garden courtyard.
Several of San Diego's original buildings are located here.
Presidio Park (located closeby) is the site of California's first mission
and military fortress (1769).
San Diego Automotive Museum - Balboa Park
Located at south end of park, this museum is a showcase for
over 80 classic and historically significant vehicles. Exhibits
range from horse carriages to 50's favorites, muscle cars and motorcycles.
Several futuristic inovactive designs also on display.
San Diego Aerospace Museum - Balboa Park
The museum brings to life aviation's rich heritage through dazzling
collection of over 65 U.S. and foreign aircraft and spacecraft.
Exhibits range from the down of powered flight thru both world wars
and into the modern jet age.
San Diego County Sherriff's Museum - Old Town SD
This museum honors the rich traditions and history of the men and women who have served with pride in the
San Diego County Sherriff's Department since 1850.
San Diego Union Museum
This wood-frame structure was prefabricated in Maine and shipped around the Horn in 1851.
It became the first office of the San Diego Union newspaper in 1868.
It contained four pages and, as was common in those days, the first and last pages were mostly literary efforts.
Visitors can view the original printroom with a Washington press and the editor's office.
Serra Museum - Old Town
Includes 120 acres atop Presidio Hill, overlooking Old Town. Active archeological dig continues to make
many noteworthy discoveries. Marks the site of the first California Mission built by Father Serra in 1769. Museum exhibits cover
Indian, Spanish and Mexican historical periods.
Veterans Museum and Memorial Center
2115 Park Boulevard, San Diego, Ca 92101; (619) 239-2300;
Museum Website;
Located at the former San Diego Naval Hospital Chapel at Inspiration Point in Balboa Park,
part of a complex of architecturally significant buildings with rich historical connections to the San Diego region's naval heritage.
Museum group was formed in March 1989 to create, maintain and operate an institution to honor
and perpetuate the memories of all men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
Warbirds West Air Museum - Gillispie Field
The museum hosts operations and Maintenance of Former US and Soviet Military Aircraft to attend Public Display
Airshows, in Southwestern US and conduct formation fly by's during the air shows.
USS Midway CV-41 - Embarcadero
San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum
The USS Midway was the longest-serving carrier in the history of the U.S. Navy. Today she has embarked as a museum, tribute and education center.
This museum features over 28 exhibits and excess to many important areas of this great warship.
Midway is available for a variety of military ceremonies including reenlistments, retirements, change of commands, promotions, pinnings, and commissionings.
San Diego Railroad Museum - Campo CA
Large collection of vintage locomotives and railcars. Public tours
of work shops available. Train rides run twice a day on Sat/Sun (and some holidays)
on a 16-mile loop pulled by a vintage diesel or steam locomotive.
Once or twice a month a special 3-hour excursion runs to Tecate, Mexico.
Adobe Bancroft House
Spring Valley History Museum
9050 Memory Lane, Spring Valley CA;
Landmark Website;
The adobe house and surrounding grounds have a long history, mostly due to the presence of a nearby spring.
This water source attracted people thousands of years ago to use the area.
Museum of Creation Research - Santee CA
10946 Woodside Ave. North, Santee, CA 92071; 619-596-6011;
Museum Website;
Open Mon-Sat : 9AM-4PM;
Musuem of Creation and Earth History - Sponsored by Institute for Creation Research.
While somewhat innovative in the current educational context, this approach to the understanding and teaching of science is essentially the
same as that of the founding fathers of science (Newton, Boyle, etc.), and of our nation and its first schools and colleges.
Olaf Wieghorst Museum - El Cajon CA
131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020; 619-590-3431;
Museum Website;
Painter ... cowboy ... cavalryman ... mounted police officer ... award winning artist.
Olaf Wieghorst, known for his magnificent portrayals of the nineteenth century American West, exhibited a remarkable affinity for the cowboys,
the Native American Indians, and the settlers who helped shape this country's Western landscape.
His work hangs in a number of museums including the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and the Whitney Gallery of Western art in Cody, Wyoming.
Wells Fargo History Museum - Presidio Park
Real gold nuggets. Real stagecoaches. Real history. It's all at the Wells Fargo History Museums.
Here's your chance to travel to the past by exploring all the rare and authentic exhibits.
More Area Museums, Libraries and Galleries
Scripps Institution of Oceanography;
San Diego - La Jolla Underwater Park;
More Area Museums, Libraries and Galleries
Check out these other fine area museum collections:
San Dieguito Heritage Museum -
Includes educational local history exhibits featuring Native Americans, Spanish Ranchos and other early settlers.
Rancho Santa Fe Art Gallery -
Activities include: an outdoor Art Fair, a Children's Art Show, free art lessons, public displays, guest artists, field trips, critiques, and speakers.
Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society -
Walking Tour of Historic Sites - First saturday of the month.
Rancho Santa Fe Art Gallery -
Activities include: an outdoor Art Fair, a Children's Art Show, free art lessons, public displays, guest artists, field trips, critiques, and speakers.
Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society -
Walking Tour - First saturday of the month.
Lakeside Historical Society - Lakeside CA
Poway Historical Society - Old Poway Park
- Operates pioneer museum.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography;
San Diego - La Jolla Underwater Park;
San Diego Museum Tour
