Museums

Ranging from the eclectic to the sublime, San Diego's array of museums are filled with wonders that appeal to just about any taste for art, machinery, sports, classic cars, scientific discovery and more. Many of the area's most popular museums are clustered in Balboa park within walking distance of each other, while others are tucked in outlying neighborhoods. The following are highlights of San Diego County museums.

ART MUSEUMS

Mingei International Museum of World Folk Art (Main site)
Balboa Park
1439 E. Prado
San Diego, CA 92101

Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego
700 Prospect St.
La Jolla, CA 92122
858.454.3541
www.mcasd.org, Ms. Claire Caraska
An internationally known collection of contemporary art in all media located at two sites. The La Jolla location reopened in spring of 1996 after extensive renovation.

Museum of Photographic Arts
Balboa Park
1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
619.238.7559
One of the first museums designed exclusively for photographic art; a major expansion starts in 1997.

San Diego Art Institute
2400 Kettner Blvd., #108
San Diego, CA 92101
619.236.0011
Established in 1941, the San Diego Art Institute exhibits first.class paintings, prints, drawings, photography, mixed media and sculpture submitted by member artists. In many cases, the art is for sale.

San Diego Museum of Art
Balboa Park
1450 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
619.232.7931
The largest art museum in San Diego County, the museum contains more than 10,000 art objects.

Timken Museum of Art
1500 El Prado - Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 239-5548 ext. 12, www.gort.ucsd.edu/sj//timken, Mr. Jim Petersen
Devoted to the presentation of the Putnam Foundation's fine collection of European and American paintings, and Russian icons.


SPECIALTY MUSEUMS

Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
2040 N. Santa Fe Ave.
Vista, CA 92083
760.941.1791
Historic gas, steam. and horse-powered equipment used in farming, lumbering, mining and construction are actually in use on this living history site, along with a blacksmith shop, sawmill and farmhouse.

Birch Aquarium at Scripps
2300 Expedition Way
La Jolla, CA 92093
858.534.FISH
Marine life from around the world displayed in more than 30 aquariums, plus interactive displays, an education center and a manmade tide pool.

California Surf Museum
308 N. Pacific St.
Oceanside Pier
Oceanside, CA 92054
760.721.6876
Set in a former biker bar across from the Oceanside Pier, the museum pays tribute to California's surfing history with photos and memorabilia, including the 150 pound redwood boards used in the 1940s, samples of today's lightweight boards, trophies of surfing legends and more.

California Missions: http://missionsbgmm.com , San Diego De Alcala (First California Mission): 619-283-7319

Centro Cultural de la Raza
2004 Park Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101
619.235.6135
A multidisciplinary arts center in Balboa Park focusing on Native North and Central American visual, performing and literary arts presentations.

Children's Museum San Diego
211 Maple Street, San Diego, CA 92103, (619) 233-8792, www.sdchildrensmuseum.org
Ms. Kay Wagner

Chula Vista Nature Center
1000 Gunpowder Point Dr.
Chula Vista, CA 91910
619.409.5900
A wetlands wildlife preserve featuring exhibits, activities and tours.

Deer Park Automotive Museum
29013 Champagne Blvd.
Escondido, CA 92026
760.749.1666
A vintage automobile collection emphasizing the 50s convertible.

Fallbrook Historical Society Museum
260 Rocky Creek Rd.
Fallbrook, CA 92028
619.723.4125 (Volunteer)
Photographs and antiques from Fallbrook's history are displayed in a 100.year.old farmhouse.

Firehouse Museum
1572 Columbia St.
San Diego, CA 92101
619.232.FIRE
This 1915 fire station houses antique firefighting equipment, trucks, uniforms and more.

George White and Anna Gunn Marston House
3525 Seventh Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103
619.298.3142
1905 Craftsman-style house features exhibits emphasizing the decorative arts, and the Arts and Crafts period.

Heritage Park Village
2455 Heritage Park Row
San Diego, CA 92110
619.299.6832
Historic Victorian homes were saved from demolition and moved to this site, and now feature a doll shop, antiques and a bed.and.breakfast.

Heritage Walk Museum
Grape Day Park
321 N. Broadway
Escondido, CA 92033
760.743.8207
Artifacts and photographs from Escondido's early days are displayed inside a historic Santa Fe train depot.

Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave.
Coronado, CA 92118
619.435.6611
A gallery featuring photos and memorabilia depicts the hotel's colorful history. One hour guided tours are available Thursday through Saturday.

The Japanese Friendship Garden
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
619.232.2780
A botanical garden and teahouse style visitors center showcasing the arts and culture of Japan.

Junipero Serra Museum
2727 Presidio Dr.
San Diego, CA 92103
619.297.3258
A San Diego landmark, now home to a 1929 Mission.style museum, with exhibits emphasizing Spanish Colonial and Mexican periods of San Diego's history.

Lawrence Welk Museum
8860 Lawrence Welk Dr.
Escondido, CA 92026
760.749.3448
Memorabilia tracing the entertainer's life and career, and the history of his long-running television show.

Light Houses: www.rudyalicelighthouse.net
Point Loma Lighthouse, 619-683-6320
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego, CA 92106-3601, http://www.nps.gov/cabr/lighthouse.html

McKinney House
8369 University Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91941
619.466.0197
A restored 1908 home with period furnishings and special displays.

Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center
2510 Juan St.
San Diego, CA 92110
619.298.3317
Historical monument from the 1847 Mormon Battalion Infantry March.

Museum of San Diego History
Balboa Park
1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
619.232.6203
Contains displays relating to local history from 1850 to the present.

Palomar Observatory
Highway of Stars
Palomar Mountain, CA 92060
760.742.2119
Palomar features one of America's largest telescopes, as well as astronomy related exhibits.

Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center
1875 El Prado Way - Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
619.238.1233
www.rhfleet.org
Interactive displays round out offerings in the science center, which also includes a planetarium and Omnimax movie theater.
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

San Diego Aerospace Museum
Balboa Park
2001 Pan American Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
619.234.8291
Vintage aircraft, spacecraft and aviation memorabilia illustrate the history of flight and space exploration.

San Diego Automotive Museum
Balboa Park
2030 Pan American Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
619.231.AUTO
"Horseless carriages" keep good company with other rare vehicles.

San Diego Historical Society
1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 232-6203 ext. 102, www.sandiegohistory.org
Mr. David Watson

Local History Societies and Museums: http://www.sandiegohistory.org/links/societies.htm

San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
404 Third Avenue
San Diego, CA, 92101
619.338.9888

San Diego Hall of Champions
2131 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 234-2544, www.sdhoc.com
Mr. Alan Kidd
Great moments in San Diego sports history are honored here.

San Diego Maritime Museum
1306 N. Harbor Dr.
San Diego, CA 92101
619.234.9153
Highlights include three historic vessels: the Star of India; the steam yacht, Medea; and the ferry, Berkeley.

San Diego Mineral and Gem Society
Balboa Park
1770 Village Pl.
San Diego, CA 92101
619.239.8812
Lapidary arts are the focus, with a wide array of mineral specimens.

San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Balboa Park
1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
619.696.0199
The world's largest operating model railroad exhibit includes four scale model layouts depicting railroads of the Southwest, a toy train gallery and more.

San Diego Museum of Man
1350 El Prado - Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 9210,1(619) 239-2001, www.museumofman.org
Dr. Marilyn Salvador

San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 232-3821 ext. 182
Ms. Sharlene Thompson
www.sdnhm.org
The museum features world renowned collections in botany, entomology, herpetology, marine biology, ornithology, mammalogy and paleontology.

San Diego Railroad Museum Main Facility & Train Rides:

Pacific Southwest Railroad
Web Site: www.sdrm.org

Compo Depot
31123-1/2 Highway 94
Campo, CA, 91906
619-478-9937 (Weekends)

Business Office:
4695 Nebo Drive
La Mesa, CA, 91941-5259
(619-465-PSRM) (465-7776) (Weekdays)

The main museum is located in Campo and features a living railway museum and 16 mile train ride. The La Mesa location features a restored 1894 depot, steam locomotive and railroad memorabilia.

San Marcos Museum
270 W. San Marcos Blvd.
San Marcos, CA
619.744.9025
The museum is home to farm equipment, dairy artifacts, pioneer relics and Native American crafts.

Villa Montezuma/Jesse Shepard House
1925 K St.
San Diego, CA 92102
619.239.2211
The first building in San Diego to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this restored 1887 Victorian has period furnishings and Shepard artifacts.
Centers

William Heath Davis House
410 Island Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
619.233.4692
Tours of the historic Gaslamp Quarter originate at this restored 1851 New England style frame house.