There are tons of things to do in Orange County but if your exploration list ever seems to be running short, consider stopping by one of the 40 museums in the area.
Sure LA is known for it’s art and culture but you might be surprised by just how many exciting things there are to see right here in Orange County. From gorgeous historical homes and grounds to art and science, Orange County museums come in all different shapes and sizes. And some of them are totally free!
Here’s a list of museums in Orange County including address, phone number and cost. We’ve broken it down by children’s, art, special interest, surf, and local history museums. Browse, take note of your favorites and start planning your next excursion…
Children’s Museums
1. Discovery Cube Orange County
2500 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 542-2823
Cost: $16.95 for adults, $12.95 for kids (3-14), Free 2 and under
Designed to allow kids to learn using their hands, the Discovery Cube (formerly known as the Discovery Science Center) features tons of interactive exhibits to teach kids about science. You’ve probably seen the iconic 10-story cube and maybe the giant walk through dinosaur display outside. Currently, the Discover Cube has exhibits on Lego Travel Adventure, National Geographic Earth Explorers, the Science of Hockey and more.
2. Children’s Museum in La Habra
301 Euclid Street, La Habra, CA 90631
(562) 905-9793
Cost: $8 for kids and adults, Free 2 and under
The Children’s Museum at La Habra is all about showing how important play is to learning. Through birthday parties, filed trips and more children can learn about the world around them. The Destination Space exhibit is now open and coming this spring is California: Full of Life.
3. Pretend City Children’s Museum
29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 428-3900
Cost: $12.50 for kids and adults
Pretend City is just what it sounds – a miniature pretend city for kids to learn and play in. They can go to the grocery store, create something cool at the art studio, cruise down to the water, work on the farm or be a police officer. This place is perfect for toddlers and young children 8 and under who love get active!
Art
4. Orange County Center for Contemporary Art
117 North Sycamore Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 667-1517
Cost: Free
If you’re looking for a fun and funky art gallery to browse through, the Orange County Center For Contemporary Art is the place to go. Tucked away in Santa Ana’s Artist Village, you can visit Thursday – Sunday or during the monthly Art Walk every first Saturday of the month.
5. Orange County Museum of Art
850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 759-1122
Cost: $10 for adults, Free every Friday
Reopening February 15th with a brand new exhibit, the Orange County Museum of Art focuses on modern and contemporary art. The museum enjoys world-wide recognition for its award-winning education programs and ground-breaking exhibitions, many of which travel nationally and internationally.
6. Irvine Museum
18881 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 476-0294
Cost: Free
Filled with American Impressionism inspired by California and its classic landscape, the Irvine Museum is a tribute to our gorgeous state. Funded by Joan Irvine Smith, the museum is free to visit and features the current exhibit California: This Golden Land of Promise.
7. Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 494-8971
Cost: $7 general admission
Exclusively featuring California art, the Laguna Art Museum’s collection ranges across all periods and styles, nineteenth century to present day. From quirky to classic this museum has it all!
8. Muckenthaler Cultural Center
1201 West Malvern Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92833
(714) 738-6595
Cost: Free
The Muckenthaler House, known to locals as simply “The Muck”, is a Spanish Colonial Revival style home in Fullerton. The mansion was donated by long time resident Harold Walter to be converted into a cultural center for the public. The museum hosts traveling exhibits, classes, and several events throughout the year. It also has beautiful grounds and gardens making it a popular venue for weddings.
Mixed Interest
9. Bowers Museum
2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706
(714) 567-3600
Cost: $13 for adults ($15 on weekends), $10 for students ($12 on weekends), and Free for kids under 12
This mission style museum offers exhibitions, lectures, art classes, travel programs, children’s art and music education programs, and other community events. The museum’s philosophy is to help people learn about other cultures through their arts, and offer a greater understanding of themselves and an appreciation of the world.
10. Fullerton Arboretum
1900 Associated Road, Fullerton, CA 92831
(657) 278-3407
Cost: Free ($5 general admission for the Heritage House tour)
A beautiful place for a stroll, the sprawling 26-acre green space features 4,000+ types of plants, walking trails and a museum. Get a tour of the Heritage House on the weekend or just stop by to check out the exotically beautiful plants.
11. Fullerton Museum Center
301 North Pomona Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832
(714) 738-6545
Cost: $4 general admission, $3 for students, $1 for kids and Free for kids 5 and under
Presenting a mix of and educational programs in the areas of history, science, art and humanities, the Fullerton Museum Center is a local gem. Stop by the check out the Six Strings as Canvas: Art Guitars from the Fender Custom Shop and in February see Heroes & Villains, The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross.
12. Muzeo
241 South Anaheim Boulevard, Anaheim, CA 92805
(714) 956-8936
Cost: $10 for adults, $6 for kids
Southern California’s newest museum and a model for new urban centers, this contemporary museum is located in the heart of Anaheim and hosts three traveling exhibitions per year. The 25,000 square foot MUZEO complex encompasses Anaheim’s original Carnegie Library and the new state-of-the art gallery space surrounded by two connecting courtyards, loft apartments and street-level shopping.
Special Interest
13. ExplorOcean
600 E. Bay Avenue Newport Beach, CA 92661
(949) 675-8915
Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for kids 4-12, Free under 3
ExplorOcean is a great affordable activity for your day in Newport Beach around Balboa Island. Get hands-on at the touch tank with starfish, kelp crabs and other creators, plus check out their collection of model ships.
14. Ocean Institute
24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 496-2274
Cost: $6.50 for adutls, $4.50 for children, Free under 2
Offering ocean science and maritime history programs for K-12 students, the Ocean Institute is open to the public on weekends 10am-3pm so visitors can see marine animals and ocean-themed exhibits.
15. Lyon Air Museum
19300 Ike Jones Road, Santa Ana, CA 92707
(714) 210-4585
Cost: $12 general admission, $6 for kids 5-17, Free under 5
Located on the west side of John Wayne Airport in Orange County, the Lyon Air Museum exhibit is comprised of authentic aircraft, rare vehicles and related memorabilia, with an emphasis on the defining event of the 20th century – World War II. A must visit for history buffs!
16. Marconi Automotive Museum
1302 Industrial Drive, Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 258-3001
Cost: Minimum $5 donation
This museum presents the perfect day for car lovers of all kinds. This impressive 30 million dollar collection features automobiles from around the world including some very rare Ferrari’s – you won’t be disappointed.
17. Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard, Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(714) 993-5075
Cost: $11.95 for adults, $4.75 kids 7-11, Free under 6
Tour the house President Nixon grew up in (built by his father), wander through the small but gorgeous rose garden, hop inside Nixon’s helicopter, and then head into the main museum to learn more history about our president. There’s a lot more than Watergate to President Nixon, and we think you’ll be impressed.
18. Ralph B. Clark Regional Park Interpretive Center
8800 Rosecrans Avenue, Buena Park, CA 90621
(714) 973-3170
Past the softball complex and the lake, hidden in more than 100 acres of sprawling park you’ll find the Ralph B. Clark Regional Park Interpretive Center with an extensive fossil collection. It displays marine fossils dating from about 1 million years ago, to more recent mammals that walked the earth tens of thousands of years ago, all recovered inside Clark Park, and from the development of the Coyote Hills area in northern Orange County.
19. Santa Ana Fire Department Museum
120 W. Walnut, Santa Ana, CA
(714) 647-5774
Cost: Call for visiting information
Take a peek at vintage fire engines, equipment and memorabilia at the Santa Ana Fire Department Museum. The museum operates out an active-duty County Fire Station and is a unique walk though the past and present.
20. Heritage Hill Historical Park
25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA
(949) 923-2230
Cost: Free for groups of 7 or less
Heritage Hill Historical Parking includes 4 fully restored historic buildings in the park dedicated to interpreting the early history of the Saddleback Valley and El Toro area. Take a “Walk-in” tour of the Serrano Adobe and the other historic buildings.
21.Shroud Center of Southern California
8840 Warner Avenue, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 375-5723
Cost: Call for visiting information
The Shroud Center provides accurate information on the Shroud of Turin and promotes further scientific research of this religious cloth – a piece of linen believed to be a burial cloth from Jesus bearing his image. It houses an exhibit that includes life-size, back-lit color and black & white transparencies of the Shroud made from the 1978 photographs.
22. Stanley Ranch Museum
12174 Euclid Street, Garden Grove, CA 92840
(714) 530-8871
Cost: $5 suggested donation for adults, $1 for children
Stanley Ranch Museum is two acres of land owned by the Garden Grove Historical Society where some of the city’s oldest homes and business buildings now reside. Buildings at Stanley Ranch include the original Garden Grove fire station, the Stanley ranch house, water tank and general store, several Queen Ann cottages, barber shop and a 1932 garage used by Walt Disney.
Surf Museums
23. Surfing Heritage and Culture Center
110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 388-0313
Cost: $5 general admission, $4 for students, seniors and military, Free for kids under 12
Take a trip back in time and check out one of the largest collections of original surfboards in Southern California. The museum focuses on the complete spectrum of surfing’s history and development featuring significant vintage boards, photography and more. The museum’s newest exhibit “What Box? Thinking Outside traditional Lines of Surfboard Design” opens this February.
24. International Surfing Museum
411 Olive Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 960-3483
Cost: Free
Celebrating the sport and culture that put Surf City on the map, the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach is a cozy little place just off Main Street filled with surfing memorabilia. It’s free to visit and full of local history.
Local History
These local museums are all dedicated to the preservation of a very specific area’s history. Big or very small, these local museums are keeping local flavor alive.
25. Heritage Museum of Orange County
3101 West Harvard Street, Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 540-0404
Cost: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and children
12 acres in all, the centerpiece of the Heritage Museum is the historical plaza featuring several buildings form the 1890s set amide extensive floral gardens and citrus groves. The Kellogg House on the grounds has been a popular field trip destination for decades.
26. Mission San Juan Capistrano
26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-1300
Cost: $9 for adults, $6 for kids 4-11, Free under 3
Mission San Juan Capistrano, “The Birthplace of Orange County” is a historic landmark and museum filled with exciting things to see. Take the swallows walk and talk tour to learn about the cliff dwelling birds, stroll through the chapel, meander around the gardens or choose an audio tour for either adults or children.
27. Old Orange County Courthouse
211 West Santa Ana Boulevard, Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 973-6605
Cost: Free
The oldest courthouse in Southern California, the structure is a true beauty with more than a few stories and quirks. Located in Downtown Santa Ana, the building has been restored to look much as it did at the turn of the last century.
28. Arden Modjeska Historic Home & Garden
29042 Modjeska Canyon Road, CA
(949) 923-2230
Cost: $5 for docent led tour (call for appointment)
Tucked away amidst a live oak grove on the banks of Santiago Creek in Modjeska Canyon lies the century-old home of world renowned actress Madame Helena Modjeska. Named for the grounds’ resemblance to the Forest of Arden in the Shakespearean play, “As You Like It,” Arden is designated a National Historic Landmark.
29. Balboa Island Museum
331 Marine Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92662
(949) 675-3952
Cost: Free
Housed in a charming vintage cottage on the island’s main street, the Balboa Island Museum and Historical Society showcases memorabilia including photos of the island’s history. The museum’s mission is to preserve the island’s history and provide a place for residents and visitors to gather and share their memories.
30. Brea Museum and Heritage Center
495 South Brea Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821
(714) 256-2283
Cost: Free
The Brea Museum is operated by the city’s historical society and houses exhibits which tell the story of Brea from it’s founded to today as well as a research archive, reference library, artifacts, photos and manuscripts.
31. Susanna Bixby Bryant Museum and Botanic Garden
5700 Susanna Bryant Drive, Yorba Linda, CA
(714) 694-0235
Cost: $2 for adults, $1 for kids 5-12
Love vintage décor? Then check out the 2,500 square feet of vintage furnishings from the late 1800s to 1930. The local Yorba Linda museum also includes a gorgeous botanical garden and 5 museum rooms covering the history of the garden, ranching, citrus, water wars and more local history.
32. Costa Mesa Historical Society Museum
1870 Anaheim Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 631-5918
Cost: Free
Located near the downtown library, the Costa Mesa Historical Society Museum and Headquarters is all about preserving and promoting the city’s history. The museum has a number of permanent exhibits and several current interest exhibits that change more frequently.
33. Tustin Area Museum
395 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 731-5701
Cost: Free
Filled with a wide variety of vintage goods from the local area like fire department equipment, type writers, doll houses and more, the Tustin Area Museum is always looking for new pieces to expand it’s collection. While you’re nearby you can take the walking tour of Old Town Tustin as well.
34. Westminster Museum
8612 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster, CA 92683
(714) 891-2597
Cost: Visit the website to schedule a tour
Located in Blakely Historical Park, this open air museum includes the McCoy-Hayre House, Warne Family Farmhouse and Pump House, Warne family barn and Midway City Women’s Club Building.
And historical homes in Orange County…
35. Bradford House
136 East Palm Circle, Placentia, CA 92870
(714) 993-2470
Cost: $3 suggested donation
Home of the founding father of Placentia, A.S. Bradford, this modified Queen Ann Victorian-style home is still a beauty.
36. Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle House and Medical Museum
120 West Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 547-9645
Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for students
This home once belonged to two prominent Orange County physicians, Alvin and Willella Howe. Take a look around the two and half stories and 12 rooms – one of the finest Queen Anne Victorians to survive in Orange County.
37. Irvine Historical Museum
5 San Joaquin, Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 786-4112
Cost: $5 general admission
Located in the San Joaquin Ranch House, the museum was commissioned by James Irvine in 1868 and considered the oldest standing structure within the original boundaries of Irvine Ranch.
38. Mother Colony House
414 North West Street, Anaheim, CA 92805
(714) 765-6453
Cost: Free
Classified as an American Territorial style cottage, it is built of redwood and consists of three small rooms. It is one of the first buildings constructed in Anaheim dating back to 1857.
39. Murphy-Smith Bungalow
278 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 497-6834
Cost: Free
This adorable bungalow preserved right in downtown Laguna Beach is now the home of Laguna Beach Historical Society.
40. Newland House
19820 Beach Boulevard, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 962-5777
Cost: $2 for adults, $1 for kids
The Newland House Museum is the oldest residence built in the City of Huntington Beach. The original Newland Ranch extended a total of 500+ acres including lima beans, sugar beets, celery and later chili peppers.
Leave a comment and tell us about your favorite museum in Orange County.
