Museums and galleries in San Diego

San Diego’s cultural landscape is centered in Balboa Park, home to major institutions like the San Diego Museum of Art and the Fleet Science Center. The city’s history is preserved through the 19th-century adobe structures of Old Town and the historic Whaley House. Specialized collections include the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s aviation displays and the Mingei International Museum’s global folk art. From contemporary works downtown to the maritime heritage of the USS Recruit, these spaces document the art, science, and regional past of Southern California.

San Diego Museums & Galleries — Map

Racemanryan / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, located in the Old Town neighborhood of San Diego, California, is a state protected historical park…

Bill Abbott / CC BY-SA 2.0

B

San Diego Air & Space Museum

San Diego Air & Space Museum is an aviation and space exploration museum in San Diego, California, United States.

Luke Jones / CC BY-SA 2.0

C

San Diego Natural History Museum

The San Diego Natural History Museum is a museum located in Balboa Park in San Diego, California.

Ctorbann / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Spanish Village Art Center

Visit the large San Diego community of 200 artists and their studios. See, touch and feel the arts or participate in the intriguing…

Thomas / CC BY 2.0

E

San Diego Automotive Museum

The San Diego Automotive Museum in Balboa Park in San Diego, California is a museum containing a collection of cars and motorcycles…

//www.flickr.com/photos/michael-seljos/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

F

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

The Fleet Science Center is a science museum and planetarium in Balboa Park, located in San Diego, California.

G

San Diego Museum of Art

The San Diego Museum of Art is a fine arts museum located at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park in San Diego, California that houses a broad…

Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

San Diego Museum of Man

The Museum of Us is a museum of anthropology located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, and is housed in the historic landmark…

Captmondo / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is a model railroad exhibit in San Diego, California.

Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Timken Museum of Art

The Timken Museum of Art is a fine art museum, established in 1965 and located at 1500 El Prado in Balboa Park in San Diego, California,…

Nehrams2020 / CC BY-SA 3.0

K

Mingei International Museum

The Mingei International Museum is a non-profit public institution that collects, conserves and exhibits folk art, craft and design.

L

Comic-Con Museum

Located in Balboa Park, this museum features rotating exhibits dedicated to comics, film, science fiction, and popular arts.

M

Museum of Photographic Arts

The Museum of Photographic Arts is a museum in San Diego's Balboa Park. First founded in 1974, MOPA opened in 1983.

N

Centro Cultural de la Raza

The Centro Cultural de la Raza is a non-profit organization with the specific mission to create, preserve, promote and educate about…

O

Historical Society Museum

A hidden jewel. The perfect chance to learn about the history of San Diego. The gift shop here has some stunning souvenirs.

P

Museum of Contemporary Art

This downtown space focuses on art produced since 1950, featuring a permanent collection of over 4,000 works and rotating contemporary installations.

Q

James McCoy House

A reconstructed 1869 residence in Old Town, originally built for James McCoy, San Diego’s first sheriff and tax collector.

R

Mason Street Schoolhouse

Built in 1865, this was San Diego’s first public schoolhouse. It remains a one-room wooden structure located within Old Town San Diego State Historical Park.

S

Colorado House

A reconstruction of an 1850s hotel in Old Town that currently houses the Wells Fargo History Museum, featuring an original 1868 stagecoach.

T

La Casa de Machado y Stewart

An 1830s adobe house in Old Town showcasing 19th-century domestic life and traditional period gardens.

U

San Diego History Center

Located in Balboa Park, this center preserves regional history through extensive archives, photographs, and rotating exhibits on the city's development.

V

Old Town Model Railroad Depot

Features a 2,000-square-foot layout of O-scale model trains depicting American scenes from the 1950s.

W

Whaley House Museum

An 1857 Greek Revival residence that served as San Diego’s first courthouse and commercial theater.

X

Coronado Historical Association

Located in a historic 1910 bank building, this museum preserves the history of Coronado Island and the iconic Hotel del Coronado.

Y

USS Recruit

A landlocked, non-commissioned training ship built in 1949 at the former Naval Training Center to provide recruits with realistic naval training.

Z

Veteran's Museum and Memorial Center

Housed in a former Navy chapel in Balboa Park, this museum displays artifacts and memorabilia from all branches of the U.S. military.

WorldBeat Cultural Center

Located in a converted water tank in Balboa Park, this center promotes African and Indigenous cultures through art, music, and dance.

Marston House

A 1905 Arts and Crafts style mansion designed by Irving Gill and William Hebbard, surrounded by five acres of formal gardens.

Visions Art Museum

A contemporary quilt and textile art museum located in Liberty Station, featuring rotating exhibitions of international fiber arts.

Other Lists

San Diego's Absolute Essentials San Diego's Sacred Sites Historic Piers San Diego Parks and Gardens