San Diego Tourist Guide

San Diego Museums

The San Diego Firehouse Museum
Our holdings include fire fighting equipment from the 1800's through the equipment of today. Come and experience the evolution of fire fighting technology from hand-drawn hose carts to today's modern engines.

Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation
U.S. Marine Aviation history, free, open to public Tue.-Sun. 9am-3:30pm, walking aircraft tours, gift shop. I-15 Miramar exit.

Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation
The mission of Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation is to tell the stories of the visionaries - artists, if you will, who saw the beauty in a barren land and worked to shape the masterpiece that has become San Diego, California.

Maritime Museum of San Diego
The Maritime Museum of San Diego enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining and operating historic vessels. The museum has one of the world’s finest collections of historic ships, including the world’s oldest active ship the Star of India.

MCRD Museum Historical Society
The MCRD Command Museum boasts one of the most extensive and comprehensive displays of Marine Corps historical items in the Nation.

Mingei International Museum
dedicated to furthering understanding of art of people from all cultures of the world. These essential arts, expressing many individuals and cultures, share a direct simplicity and joy in making, by hand, useful articles that are satisfying to the human spirit.

Mission Basilica San Diego De Alcala
The first of a chain of 21 missions along the California coast. Museum and gardens open daily, 9am-4:45pm.

Mission San Luis Rey
Walking through the Sunken Gardens or along the arched colonnade, you will be transported to the past, imagining the everyday life of the Franciscan Friars and Indians who inhabited the Mission more than two centuries ago.

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Two locations with an international reputation for its permanent collection, highly acclaimed, varied schedule of thought-provoking exhibitions, lectures, performances.

Museum of Contemporary Art, Downtown
Highly acclaimed and varied schedule of bold, thought provoking exhibitions, lectures and performances. Special programs and tours.

Museum of Making Music
The Museum of Making Music presents visitors with an interactive journey through a century of musical instrument innovations that helped shape American Popular Music from the 1890s to the present day

Museum of Photographic Arts
The newly expanded museum features photography and film programs, ranging from classic to contemporary art.

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
With exhibits to touch, virtual reality to experience, IMAX films to watch and fun to be had, The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is an educational, entertaining experience for visitors of all ages.

San Diego Air & Space Museum
More than 80 air and space crafts are on display. Tours of the restoration area available on request for an additional fee.

San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum
Experience Midway Magic aboard the historic USS Midway aircraft carrier! Open daily 10am-5pm (ticket booth closes 4pm), downtown waterfront.

San Diego Archaeological Center
The San Diego Archaeological Center is dedicated to the care, management and use ('curation') of archaeological artifacts. The Center museum is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00AM to 4:00PM, and Saturday 10:00AM to 2:00PM. Admission is free.

San Diego Automotive Museum
Museum displaying more than 80 exciting and unusual cars and motorcycles. Special exhibitions, museum store and more.

San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum
San Diego Interactive Sports Museum and event venue. Exhibits and memorabilia celebrating San Diego sports history.

San Diego Model Railroad Museum
At 27,000 sq. ft., the museum is the largest indoor model railroad display in the world. The individual HO and N scale layouts are among largest of their type.

San Diego Museum of Art
Located in the heart of Balboa Park, our galleries offer opportunities for learning, introspection, and connection with cultures from around the world.

San Diego Museum of Man
San Diego's only anthropological museum. One of the nation's great collections of artifacts, folk art, and archaeological finds is located here. These treasures help to unfold stories of the past — of hunters creating the first spears and arrows, potters molding fragile ceramic vessels, weavers patterning vibrantly colored textiles, and artisans blending forms and symbols.

San Diego Natural History Museum
A flagship museum in Balboa Park focusing on the natural wonders of Baja and Southern California. Excellent venue for private special events

San Diego Sheriff's Museum
For over 150 years, even before the first day that California was admitted into statehood of the United States of America, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department has been keeping the peace. Our museum honors the rich traditions and history of the men and women who have served with pride.

Serra Museum
Located in Presidio Park above Old Town State Historic Park, the Junipero Serra Museum showcases artifacts from the Kumeyaay Native American, Spanish and Mexican periods through 1848, including housewares, period clothing, furniture, tools, a cannon and cannonballs.

Timken Museum of Art
Located in San Diego's beautiful Balboa Park, the Timken Museum of Art houses the world-class Putnam Foundation Collection of European old masters American art, and Russian icons.

Veterans Museum and Memorial Center
The Veterans Memorial Center, Inc. was formed in March 1989 to create, maintain and operate an institution to honor and perpetuate the memories of all men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

Villa Montezuma/Jesse Shepard House
The splendor and glory of San Diego's early boom years await you at the Villa Montezuma. Built in 1887 for internationally-celebrated author and musician Jesse Shepard, this Victorian house offers an exotic exterior, ornate interior and art glass windows.

Whaley House Museum
Located in historic Old Town San Diego, the "birthplace of California," the Whaley House stands today as a classic example of mid-nineteenth century Greek Revival architecture.

San Diego, California