List of museums in the California Central Coast

The California Central Coast is an area roughly spanning the area between the Monterey Bay extending through Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County and Ventura County.

This 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.

Museums

Name Image Town/City County Region Type Summary
Agricultural History Project Center & MuseumWatsonvilleSanta CruzMonterey BayAgriculturewebsite, located at the entrance to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, tools, plows, tractors and implements of yesterday’s farming, operated by the Agricultural History Project
Agriculture Museum of Ventura CountySanta PaulaVenturaCentral CoastAgriculturewebsite, history, people, crops, and technologies of agriculture in the county
Albinger Archaeological MuseumVenturaVenturaCentral CoastArchaeologywebsite, information, operated by the city of Ventura
Alvarado GalleryMontereyMontereyMonterey BayArtwebsite, city's art exhibits gallery in the Monterey Conference Center
Aptos History MuseumAptosSanta CruzMonterey BayLocal historywebsite
Art, Design & Architecture MuseumGoletaSanta BarbaraCentral CoastArtPart of the University of California, Santa Barbara
Aviation Museum of Santa PaulaSanta PaulaVenturaCentral CoastAviationwebsite, includes different personal collections of antique, classic and experimental aircraft; automobiles including race cars; motorcycles; an enormous antique radio, juke box and phonograph collection; paintings and photographs; model aircraft and a variety of aviation artifacts
Bigfoot Discovery MuseumFeltonSanta CruzMonterey BayEntertainmentwebsite, myths, legends and sightings of Bigfoot
Boronda History CenterSalinasMontereyMonterey BayHistoric houseOperated by the Monterey County Historical Society, includes the Boronda Adobe
California Oil MuseumSanta PaulaVenturaCentral CoastIndustryLocal history and the history of the oil industry in California
Cabrillo College GalleryAptosSanta CruzMonterey BayArtwebsite, part of Cabrillo College, hosts 12 exhibitions annually
CAF - So Cal Wing Aviation MuseumCamarilloVenturaCentral CoastAviationwebsite, operated by Commemorative Air Force, Southern California Wing at Camarillo Airport
Camarillo RanchCamarilloVenturaCentral CoastHistoric houseQueen Anne style Victorian home furnished to appear as from 1914 to the 1930s
Camp Roberts Historical MuseumCamp RobertsMontereyMonterey BayMilitarywebsite, history of the California National Guard post
Capitola Historical MuseumCapitolaSanta CruzCentral CoastLocal historywebsite
Carmel MissionCarmel-by-the-SeaMontereyMonterey BayHistoryHistoric Roman Catholic mission church with several museums of local and mission history
Carnegie Art MuseumOxnardVenturaCentral CoastArtCollection of primarily 20th century California artists
Carpinteria Valley Museum of HistoryCarpinteriaSanta BarbaraCentral CoastLocal history
Carriage and Western Art Museum of Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastTransportationwebsite, carriages, wagons, saddles
Casa de la GuerraSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastHistoric houseResidence of the fifth commandant of the Presidio of Santa Barbara
Casa del HerreroMontecitoSanta BarbaraCentral CoastHistoric house1920s estate, tours by appointment
Casa DoloresSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastArtPopular arts of Mexico
Center for Photographic ArtCarmelMontereyMonterey BayArtwebsite, photography
Central Coast Veterans Memorial MuseumSan Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastMilitarywebsite
Channel Islands Maritime MuseumOxnardVenturaCentral CoastMaritimewebsite, maritime art, ship models dating back to 1622, local maritime history, art exhibits
Chumash Indian MuseumThousand OaksVenturaCentral CoastNative Americanwebsite
Colton HallMontereyMontereyMonterey BayLocal history
Conejo Valley Art MuseumThousand OaksVenturaCentral CoastArtwebsite
Conservation Corps State MuseumSan Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastMilitaryHistory of the Civilian Conservation Corps in California
Dallidet AdobeSan Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastHistoric housewebsite, 1850s adobe and gardens
Dana AdobeNipomoSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastHistoric house
DigiBarn Computer MuseumBoulder CreekSanta CruzMonterey BayComputerBirth and evolution of personal, interactive computing, open by appointment
Dudley House MuseumVenturaVenturaCentral CoastHistoric house1892 Victorian farm house, operated by San Buenaventura Heritage
Eloise Pickard Smith GallerySanta CruzSanta CruzMonterey BayArtwebsite, part of Cowell College of the University of California, Santa Cruz, focus is art of the Monterey Bay region
Elverhoj Museum of History and ArtSolvangSanta BarbaraCentral CoastMultiplewebsite, local history and art, Danish heritage and Danish-American pioneers
Estrella Warbird MuseumPaso RoblesSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastAviationMilitary aircraft and memorabilia, Woodland Auto Display
Fernald MansionSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastHistoric housewebsite, operated by the Santa Barbara Historical Association, Queen Anne-style Victorian home
Fillmore and Western RailwayFillmoreVenturaSanta Clara River ValleyRailroadHeritage railroad
Fillmore Historical MuseumFillmoreVenturaCentral CoastOpen airwebsite, includes the 1905 Hinckley House, Rancho Sespe Bunk House, and Southern Pacific Railroad Depot
Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle VillageSimi ValleyVenturaCentral CoastArtFolk art "village" of shrines, walkways, sculptures, and buildings from recycled items
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center Guadalupe Santa Barbara Central Coast Local and Natural History website, historic Craftsman bungalow with local and natural history exhibits about the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, art gallery, artifacts from The Ten Commandments (1923 film)
Gull Wings Children's MuseumOxnardVenturaCentral CoastChildren'swebsite
Hans Christian Andersen MuseumSolvangSanta BarbaraCentral CoastBiographicalwebsite, life and works of Hans Christian Andersen
Hearst CastleSan SimeonSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastHistoric housePalatial mansion, home of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst
History Center of San Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastLocal historyChanging exhibits of local history and culture
Jack House and GardensSan Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastHistoric houseVictorian period home
John Steinbeck HouseSalinasMontereyMonterey BayHistoric houseVictorian birthplace of author John Steinbeck, also a restaurant
Karpeles Manuscript Library MuseumSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastLibraryChanging exhibits from its literary and historic documents collections
La Purísima Mission State Historic ParkLompocSanta BarbaraCentral CoastOpen airIncludes restored mission church, shops, living quarters and blacksmith shop
Larkin HouseMontereyMontereyMonterey BayHistoric homeHome of Thomas O. Larkin.
Lompoc MuseumLompocSanta BarbaraCentral CoastLocal historyChumash Indians, archeology and history of the Lompoc Valley and Santa Barbara County
Mission Nuestra Señora de la SoledadSoledadMontereyMonterey BayHistoryRestored late 18th century Spanish mission
Mission San Antonio de PaduaJolonMontereyMonterey BayHistoryHistoric Roman Catholic mission church with museum of history and archeology of early California and Native American cultures
Mission San BuenaventuraVenturaVenturaCentral CoastHistoryHistoric Roman Catholic mission church with museum of Chumash Indian artifacts and mission-era items
Mission San Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastReligiousChanging exhibits of local history and culture
Mission San Miguel ArcángelSan MiguelSan Luis ObispoMonterey BayReligiousHistoric mission church, also contains a museum about the church's history
Mission Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastHistoric church
Mission Santa InésSolvangSanta BarbaraCentral CoastHistoric church
Monterey Bay AquariumMontereyMontereyMonterey BayNatural history
Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life MuseumKing CityMontereyCentral CoastOpen airwebsite, includes the exhibit barn, blacksmith shop, and the History of Irrigation Museum, 1898 Spreckels House, 1887 schoolhouse, 1903 train depot
Monterey County Youth MuseumMontereyMontereyMonterey BayChildren'swebsite
Monterey Museum of ArtMontereyMontereyMonterey BayArtCollections specialize in American Art, particularly Monterey Peninsula and the West Coast, and Asian art
Monterey State Historic ParkMontereyMontereyMonterey BayOpen air10 historic buildings including the Old Customhouse, Larkin House, other historic house museums and a local history museum
Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural HistoryMorro BaySan Luis ObispoCentral CoastNatural history
Mullin Automotive MuseumOxnardVenturaCentral CoastAutomotiveFeatures French automobiles of the 1920s and 1930s, and French Art Deco furniture and decorative arts
Murphy Auto MuseumOxnardVenturaCentral CoastAutomotivewebsite, vintage automobiles and Americana, H/O scale train layouts
Museum of Art & History @ the McPherson CenterSanta CruzSanta CruzMonterey BayMultipleArt, history of Santa Clara County, also known as the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Museum of MontereyMontereyMontereyMonterey BayMaritimeOperated by the Monterey History & Art Association
Museum of Ventura CountyVenturaVenturaCentral CoastMultiplewebsite, Ventura County’s history, art and culture
National Steinbeck CenterSalinasMontereyMonterey BayBiographicalWorks and philosophy of author John Steinbeck, local history, art and cultural exhibits
Ojai Valley MuseumOjaiVenturaCentral CoastMultipleLocated in a former church, exhibits include local history and art, Native American baskets, pioneer tools, photographs, agriculture, oil
Old Monterey JailMontereyMontereyMonterey BayJailwebsite, city jail used from 1854 to 1956
Olivas AdobeVenturaVenturaCentral CoastHistoric houseMid 19th century adobe
Oxnard Historic Farm Park & MuseumOxnardVenturaCentral CoastHistoric housewebsite, museum in planning, Ventura County Landmark No. 165: Gottfried Maulhardt/Albert Pfeiler Farm Site
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural HistoryPacific GroveMontereyMonterey BayNatural historyLocal plants, animals, geology, and native human populations
Pajaro Valley Historical AssociationWatsonvilleSanta CruzMonterey BayLocal historyIncludes Bockius-Orr House and the Volck Museum, a carriage house with local history exhibits
Parks-Janeway Carriage HouseSanta YnezSanta BarbaraCentral CoastLocal historywebsite, over 35 horse-drawn vehicles, operated by the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society Museum
Paso Robles Children's Museum at the Volunteer FirehousePaso RoblesSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastChildren'swebsite, also heritage of the Paso Robles Volunteer Firefighters
Paso Robles Historical Society MuseumPaso RoblesSan Luis ObispoCentral Coastlocal historywebsite, housed in the old Carnegie Library in the Downtown City Park
Paso Robles Pioneer MuseumPaso RoblesSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastLocal historywebsite, includes replica jail, historic schoolhouse, farming and mining equipment, cowboy display, carriages
Picard Trade Bead Museum and African Art GalleryCarmelMontereyMonterey BayDecorative artwebsite, history and aesthetic display of beads traded in Africa throughout the centuries
Piedras Blancas LighthouseSan SimeonSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastMaritimeGuided lighthouse tours
Pleasant Valley Historical Society MuseumCamarilloVenturaCentral CoastLocal historywebsite, local history museum and botanical garden
Point Hueneme LighthousePort HuenemeVenturaCentral CoastMaritimeLighthouse tours
Point Pinos LighthousePacific GroveMontereyMonterey BayMaritime
Port Hueneme Historical Society MuseumPort HuenemeVenturaCentral CoastLocal historywebsite
Point San Luis LighthouseAvila BeachSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastMaritimeGuided lighthouse tours
Point Sur LighthouseBig SurMontereyMonterey BayMaritimeLocated in Point Sur Lightstation State Historic Park
Presidio of Monterey MuseumMontereyMontereyMonterey BayMilitarywebsite, development of the Presidio as a training base and Monterey's military history
Presidio of Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastOpen airAlso known as El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
Rancho CamulosPiruVenturaCentral CoastOpen air40-acre (160,000 m2) National Historic Landmark with 15 structures, situated within an 1,800-acre (7.3 km2) working ranch
Rancho de Guadalupe Historical Society MuseumGuadalupeSanta BarbaraCentral CoastLocal historywebsite
Reagan Ranch Center Exhibit GalleriesSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastHistorywebsite, Reagan Ranch artifacts, accomplishments of President Ronald Reagan's presidency
Rancho la Patera & Stow HouseGoletaSanta BarbaraCentral CoastHistoric houseOperated by the Goleta Valley Historical Society
Rios-Caledonia AdobeSan MiguelSan Luis ObispoHistoric houseFriends of the Adobes, Inc. www.rios-caledoniaadobe.org
Ronald Reagan Presidential LibrarySimi ValleyVenturaCentral CoastOpen airLibrary, final resting place and museum about President Ronald Reagan
San Juan Bautista State Historic ParkSan Juan BautistaSan BenitoCentral CoastOpen airIncludes the Jose Castro House, the Mission San Juan Bautista, a jail, blacksmith shop and early American settler’s cabin
San Lorenzo Valley MuseumBoulder CreekSanta CruzMonterey BayLocal historywebsite, operated by the San Lorenzo Valley Historical Society
San Luis Obispo Children's MuseumSan Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastChildren'swebsite
San Luis Obispo Museum of ArtSan Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastArtwebsite, emphasizes artwork by contemporary, living California artists
San Luis Obispo Railroad MuseumSan Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastRailroadRailroad history of California and the Central Coast, historic railroad equipment and artifacts
Santa Barbara Historical MuseumSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastLocal history
Santa Barbara Maritime MuseumSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastMaritimewebsite, boat models, surfing, survival at sea, commercial fishing and diving, Channel Islands
Santa Barbara Museum of ArtSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastArtAmerican European, Asian art, antiquities, modern and contemporary art, prints, drawings and photographs
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural HistorySanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastNatural historyIncludes dioramas of birds, mammals, and southern California habitats, halls of marine life, geology and Chumash Indian life, art gallery dedicated to antique natural history prints
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea CenterSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastNatural historyOperated by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, marine education center
Santa Barbara Surfing MuseumSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastSportsSurfboards, ukuleles, important figures
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic ParkSanta CruzSanta CruzMonterey BayOpen airIncludes replica late 18th century Spanish mission church, adobe
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural HistorySanta CruzSanta CruzMonterey BayNatural historyWildlife, habitats, fossils, geology and Native peoples of the Santa Cruz Region, marine life
Santa Cruz Surfing MuseumSanta CruzSanta CruzMonterey BaySportsSurfing history and culture
Santa Maria Valley Discovery MuseumSanta MariaSanta BarbaraCentral CoastChildren'swebsite
Santa Maria Valley Historical Society MuseumSanta MariaSanta BarbaraCentral CoastLocal history[1]
Santa Paula Art MuseumSanta PaulaVenturaCentral CoastArtwebsite, collection focus is work by local artists
Santa Susana DepotSimi ValleyVenturaCentral CoastRailroadFormer Southern Pacific Railroad depot
Santa Ynez Valley Historical MuseumSanta YnezSanta BarbaraCentral CoastLocal historywebsite, also includes Parks-Janeway Carriage House with over 35 horse-drawn vehicles
Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture CenterNewbury ParkVenturaCentral CoastNative Americanwebsite
Sesnon Art GallerySanta CruzSanta CruzMonterey BayArtwebsite, part of Porter College of the University of California, Santa Cruz
Seymour Marine Discovery CenterSanta CruzSanta CruzMonterey BayNatural historyPart of the Long Marine Laboratory, features marine exhibit halls, aquarium, touch tanks, tours to marine mammal research overlook
Skateboard MuseumSimi ValleyVenturaCentral CoastSportsSkatepark and museum
Solvang Vintage Motorcycle MuseumSolvangSanta BarbaraCentral CoastTransportation
South Coast Railroad MuseumGoletaSanta BarbaraCentral CoastRailroad
South County Historical SocietyArroyo GrandeSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastOpen airwebsite, complex includes Heritage House Museum, Paulding History House, Santa Manuela Schoolhouse, IOOF Hall with changing local history exhibits, and The "Barn" with antique vehicles and agriculture equipment
Stagecoach Inn MuseumNewbury ParkVenturaCentral CoastOpen airOperated by the Conejo Valley Historical Society, includes replicas of the Stagecoach Inn with local natural history exhibits, carriage house with vehicles, 1874 pioneer home, blacksmith shop, Spanish-Mexican adobe and a Chumash Ap (tule dwelling)
Steinbeck's Spirit of Monterey Wax MuseumMontereyMontereyMonterey BayWaxMonterey historic figures[2]
Strathearn Historical Park and MuseumSimi ValleyVenturaCentral CoastOpen airIncludes the Simi Adobe-Strathearn House, children's playhouse, 1902 Catholic church, library, barber shop, pitting shed and barns with farm tools and equipment
Susan Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum & LibrarySanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastDollwebsite
Templeton Historical MuseumTempletonSan Luis ObispoCentral CoastLocal historywebsite
Tor House and Hawk TowerCarmel-by-the-SeaMontereyMonterey BayHistoric houseHome of poet Robinson Jeffers
Trussell-Winchester AdobeSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastHistoric housewebsite, operated by the Santa Barbara Historical Association, 1845 adobe
U.S. Navy Seabee MuseumPort HuenemeVenturaCentral CoastMilitarywebsite, history of the Seabees and the Civil Engineer Corps located at Naval Base Ventura County
Vandenberg Air Force Base Space and Missile Heritage CenterVandenberg Air Force BaseSanta BarbaraCentral CoastAerospaceEvolution of missile and spacelift activity at Vandenberg
Western Foundation of Vertebrate ZoologyCamarilloVenturaCentral CoastNatural historyResearch museum with guided tours of its collection of bird, nest and egg specimens once a month
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of ArtSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraCentral CoastArtwebsite, part of the Adams Center for the Visual Arts at Westmont College
Wildling Museum of Art and NatureSolvangSanta BarbaraCentral CoastArtwebsite, art and photography of America’s wilderness and wildlife
Whalers CabinCarmel-by-the-SeaMontereyMonterey BayMultipleDisplays include history of Point Lobos, area fisherman and immigrants, adjacent Whaling Station Museum with whaling artifacts

Defunct museums

References

  1. ↑ "Santa Maria Valley Historical Society". Trip Advisor. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "Steinbeck's Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum". Museums USA. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Perry-Downer House". Historic Monterey. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
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