Museums California
Children's

Browse Museums

Angels Camp Museum
Angels Camp, California

Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Natural History, Science, Specialized

This beautiful little foothill town was founded in 1848 and two years later Placer gold was discovered. Located in Calaveras County, and the home of Mark Twain's famous Jumping Frog Jubilee, Angels Camp is nestled peacefully in the Sierra Foothills between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, just three hours from the bay area.

Bay Area Discovery Museum
Sausalito, California

Children's, General, History, Nature Centers, Park, Science

At the Bay Area Discovery Museum, play cultivates creativity. The construction cones in Lookout Cove turn out to make perfect wizard hats. And who would have predicted that children would use the hidden reaches of the willow-maze as a garage for the gravel-pit dump trucks, or that they would ride those trucks down the incline of the Golden Gate Bridge? At the Museum, it is not unusual to see children playing within an exhibition in ways never imagined by the exhibit designers.

Bowers Kidseum
Santa Ana, California

Children's

Hands-on Cultural Arts

Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia
Burlingame, California

Art, Children's, Culture, General, History, Library, Specialized

Austrian candy executive Eduard Haas invented Pez candy in 1927. The original little candy bricks were peppermint. In fact, the word Pez is an abbreviation of the German word for peppermint.(PfeffErminZ) Pez candy was originally sold in small tins. The first Pez dispenser appeared around 1950.

California Agriculture Museum
Woodland, California

Children's, Culture, General, History, Library, Science, Specialized

The museum showcases tractors, harvesters and historical equipment in a 70,000 square foot gallery.

Carolyn Parr Nature Museum
Napa, California

Archaeology, Children's, Library, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park, Science

Displays of native animals and their natural habitats in Napa Valley; native plant, wildlife habitat garden; nature walks in Westwood Hills Park (picnic area); natural resource library available for reference on site, and children's library and games.

Children's Discovery Museum
San Jose, California

Children's

Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, 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.

Children's Museum at La Habra
La Habra, California

Children's, Culture, Historic House, Science

The Children's Museum at La Habra is an interactive discovery center which enriches the lives of children, their families and teachers by providing participatory exhibits and programs. These educational adventures are designed to be fun and engaging.

Children's Museum of the Sierras
Oakhurst, California

Children's

The Children's Museum of the Sierra is a hands-on museum designed for children ages 2-12, their families and educators. We provide stimulating and interactive exhibits in science, natural history, community and the arts presented in an imaginative and playfrul way to encourage and challenge growing minds.

Children's Peace Exhibit
Temecula, California

Children's, Culture, Specialized

The Children’s Peace Exhibit is a rotating exhibit which changes several times a year. The purpose of the exhibit is to educate others as to the plight of children worldwide and ways in which each one of us can make a difference. It has interactive stations as well as fantastic artwork. Some exhibits are from other museums around the country displaying a refugee camp, the Holocaust, child soldiers and other child rights challenges rarely seen or talked about.

Aquarium of the Bay
San Francisco, California

Children's, General, Natural History, Nature Centers, Science, Specialized

Aquarium of the Bay is San Francisco Bay’s Aquarium. We are passionate about providing fun and unforgettable encounters with our natural world in ways that ignite both wonder and conservation. We do this from our 50,000 square foot building at the heart of San Francisco's history and culture. We are nestled in the shadow of Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill on Fisherman’s Wharf at PIER 39, along the City’s “Walkable Waterfront.”

Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barns
Benicia, California

Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library, Specialized

All of the buildings on the complex are built of native California sandstone quarried right off the site. Their massive, austere style set a precedent at the Arsenal that was followed for most of the buildings constructed in the 1850's. The Arsenal is one of only three locations where native California sandstone was used for US military installations. The other two are Ft. Sill in Oklahoma and Ft. Tejon near Gorman, CA.

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."

Cachuma Lake Nature Center
Santa Barbara, California

Anthropology, Botanical Garden, Children's, Culture, Historic House, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park

Cachuma Lake Nature Center in Santa Barbara, 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.

Carlsbad Children's Museum
Carlsbad, California

Children's

THIS MUSEUM IS NOW CLOSED SINCE 2006.

Cherokee Museum
Oroville, California

Children's, Culture, History, Historic House, Library, Natural History

PLEASE NOTE: The museum property suffered damage from the Paradise fire and is working hard to repair. Please call before visiting.

Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert
Rancho Mirage, California

Children's

Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert in Rancho Mirage, 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.

Children's Museum of Stockton
Stockton, California

Children's

The museum id set up like a mini city for children. It is all hands-on and interactive.

Children's Museum/Museo de los Ninos
San Diego, California

Children's

The Museum is a cultural and educational institution with a bi-national approach the makes a difference in the lives of our audience with Learning Through the Arts as their focus. The Museum features Exhibitions, Studio Projects and The Museum School.

Chula Vista Nature Center
Chula Vista, California

Aquarium, Art, Botanical Garden, Children's, Natural History, Nature Centers, Zoo

The Chula Vista Nature Center is a living, breathing, flapping, buzzing and splashing home to the unique animals and plants of Southern California. This Zoo & Aquarium is a convenient six miles south of downtown San Diego. Kids love meeting the live owls & hawks while exploring the aquarium exhibits, making nature crafts, and more. The Nature Center sits on the 316-acre Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. Guests can explore the Nature Center on their own or experience organized programs ranging from Critter Day Camps to Overnight Adventures. It’s the perfect place Celebrate your next birthday. Parents love the positive, educational, fun, kid-friendly staff, perfect size indoor and outdoor setting for the party, and happy kids.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

February 2 - 6, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

Sunday, February 2 - Thursday, February 6, 2025

Westgate Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Hosted by: Public Lands Alliance

The Public Lands Alliance Convention and Trade Show brings together nonprofits, land management agencies and companies to learn, network and engage on public lands issues. The 2025 Convention and Trade Show will take place Sunday, February 2 - Thursday, February 6, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV

Connect with peers, explore the latest in public lands products, and return inspired with new strategies and resources for success in conservation and visitor engagement

Our annual Convention and Trade Show (PLA) is the premier gathering for leaders in the public lands sector to network, gain essential tools, and explore products that enhance the visitor experience and support conservation, preservation, and enrichment efforts.

For more information, please call 301-946-9475.

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

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

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email programs@calmuseums.org.

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

Tuesday, March 11 - Friday, March 14, 2025

Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hosted by: Tennessee Association of Museums

Tennessee museums are full of hope. But how are they turning hope into reality

With the Semiquincentennial quickly approaching in 2026, the state's museum community if approaching a turning point, and is now a great time to take stock and develop a vision for the future

The Tennessee Association of Museums' 64th Annual Conference in Knoxville will challenge the state's museums to think ahead and share their hopes, the best practices and strategies for turning those hoes into realities, and the rewards that come from aspirational thinking

The 2025 TAM Annual Conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN.

For more information, please call 615-495-3354 or email hawkins@aaslh.org.

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