Museums in:

Santa Ana, California

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Beall Center for Art and Technology

Irvine, California

Art

Bowers Kidseum

Santa Ana, California

Children's

Hands-on Cultural Arts

Bowers Museum

Santa Ana, California

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Children's, Culture, History

The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art is one of California's largest and finest museums. Its permanent collection includes more than 130,000 objects from such diverse areas as African, South Pacific, Asian, Native American, Pre-Columbian, and Californian. In addition to its permanent collection, the Museum also presents several special exhibitions each year as well as a variety of events and programs, including films, lectures, concerts, guided tours, talks, and family programs. A few of the high profile special exhibitions include "Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor," "Secret World of the Forbidden City," "Mummies: Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt," "Treasures from the British Museum," "Secrets of the Silk Road," and "Ito Jakuchu: A Man with No Age."

Diego Sepulveda Adobe Estancia of Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa, California

History, Historic House, Historical Society, Military

Our Society has two facilities, the Diego Sepulveda Adobe (California Historical Landmark #227), and our headquarters/museum/research facility at 1870 Anaheim Street in Costa Mesa. A part of our group, the Santa Ana Army Air Base Wing, covers the Santa Ana Army Air Base which was a pre-flight school for pilots, navigators and bombardiers from 1942-1946. We have collections covering both Costa Mesa and the SAAAB, as well as exhibits for both. When corresponding, please use our P.O. Box 1764, CM, 92628 address.

Heritage Museum of Orange County

Santa Ana, California

Children's, General, History, Historic House, Nature Centers

The Centennial Heritage Museum is a natural and cultural history center dedicated to preserving, promoting, and restoring the heritage of Orange County and the surrounding region through quality hands-on educational programs for students and visitors of all ages.

Our primary asset is the 1898 Kellogg House, which is used to provide a hands-on experience in late Victorian lifestyle. We also have a variety of garden areas and a natural area including two small wetlands.

We offer organized programs for school field trips, youth groups, active adults, and children's birthday parties. We also have exciting summer camp programs and a variety of special events throughout the year.

Heritage Park

Fountain Valley, California

Park

Heritage Park in Fountain Valley, CA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Irvine Fine Arts Center

Irvine, California

Art

Irvine Fine Arts Center in Irvine, CA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Irvine Museum

Irvine, California

Art

Dedicated to the preservation and display of California art of the Impressionist Period (1890-1930).

Santa Ana Army Air Base Wing

Costa Mesa, California

History

1336-acre area that was used to train Army cadets interested in flying. The site used to have over 800 buildings. Construction was completed in 18 months. Was used during WWII.

Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society at the Dr. Howe-Waffle House & Medical Museum

Santa Ana, California

Historical Society

Santa Ana Zoo

Santa Ana, California

Zoo

The Zoo is a 20-acre facility displaying 250 animals. The primary focus is on displaying neo-tropical animals and conducting conservation education programs. The Zoo participates in eight species survival breeding programs.

Stanley Ranch Museum

Garden Grove, California

History, Historic House, Historical Society

The Stanley Ranch Museum is dedicated to retaining Garden Grove's history. In 1970, Agnes Stanley donated two acres to the Garden Grove Historical Society. This house, Arthur's barn, tank house and her son Emerson's home were also donated to the Garden Grove Historical Society. The two acre property is now known as the Stanley Ranch Museum and some of Garden Grove's oldest homes and business buildings have been moved to this location.

Tustin Area Historical Society & Museum

Tustin, California

Historical Society

All of the artifacts in the museum relate historically to people and places in the Tustin area.

Crystal Cathedral

Garden Grove, California

Specialized

Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

First American Financial Corporation, Historical Collection

Santa Ana, California

History, Library, Specialized

Collection of more than 13,000 historical photos of Orange County, California.

Heritage Orange County, Inc.

Santa Ana, California

History

Heritage Orange County, Inc. in Santa Ana, CA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Idyllwild County Park Visitor Center

Idyllwild, California

Park

Idyllwild County Park Visitor Center in Idyllwild, CA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Irvine Historical Society & Museum

Irvine, California

History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

The Museum is housed in the oldest building on the ranch, built circa 1877. The building was used as the cooking wing and bunkhouse of the 1868 Ranch Manager's house built by James Irvine I.

Old Courthouse Museum

Santa Ana, California

Historic House

Old Courthouse Museum in Santa Ana, CA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Santa Ana College Art Gallery

Santa Ana, California

Art

Santa Ana College Art Gallery in Santa Ana, CA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Santa Ana Public Library History Room

Santa Ana, California

Library

Santa Ana Public Library History Room in Santa Ana, CA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Shroud Center of Southern California

Fountain Valley, California

Specialized

Shroud Center of Southern California in Fountain Valley, CA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Taco Bell Discovery Science Center

Santa Ana, California

Archaeology, Children's, Science

Discovery Science Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young minds, assisting teachers and increasing public understanding of science, math and technology through interactive exhibits and programs. Discovery Science Center is Orange County’s leading destination for hands-on science fun. Guests can explore more than 100 hands-on exhibits in themed areas: Discovery Stadium, Techno Arts, Air & Space, Perception, Dynamic Earth, Quake Zone, KidStation, Digital Lab and Dino Quest. Visit the Science Center in Summer 2008 for Animal Grossology, Bob the Builder™ – Project: Build It, and Fall 2008 for Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats.

UCI Special Collections

Irvine, California

Specialized

books, manuscripts, 3 subjects: so cal history, critical theory and performing arts

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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

March 10 - March 13, 2026

California Association of Museums 2026 Annual Conference

California Association of Museums

Omni Hotel

Los Angeles, California

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2026 conference, set to take place from March 10–13, 2026 in Los Angeles. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community at CAM 2026: Reframing

Reframing encapsulates the tangible nature of museum work–what we restore, revive, and rebuild–and the intangible nature of museum work–where we reflect, interpret, educate, and shift perspectives. On a larger scale, Reframing gives us the power to redefine who we are, why we’re important, and how we connect with and show up for our community. Reframing is resistance and resilience.

We look forward to reuniting with the California museum community in Los Angeles, March 10–13, 2026 at the Omni Hotel. Stay tuned for more annual conference developments.

April 29 - May 2, 2026

Oregon Museum Association 2026 Conference

Oregon Museums Association

Woodburn, Oregon

OMA will join forces with Oregon Heritage for a spring conference in Woodburn

Save the Date: 2026 Conference

For more information, please call !!!.

February 16 - February 18, 2026

Small Museum Association 42nd Annual Conference 2026

Small Museum Association

The Yorktowne Hotel, York, Pennsylvania

York, Pennsylvania

42nd Annual Conference: Climate Chang

Explore how museums are dealing with the challenges of climate change, from more extreme weather events to changing community needs. Join other small museum professionals and volunteers in discussing the key role small museums can play in educating, engaging, and supporting their communities in the face of changing physical and social climates

About the Conferenc

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues. We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers.

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