Best History Museums in California
7 history museums in California
History, natural history, transport and themed museums.
Reviewed by James Morgan. AI-assisted, human-edited. Our editorial standards
History Museums
Battleship USS Iowa Museum
Los Angeles, California
Climb six decks of a historic battleship at the Port of LA to see its bridge, guns, and missiles up close.
History Museums
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
Los Angeles, California
Watch paleontologists pull saber-toothed cats from bubbling asphalt in the middle of LA.
History Museums
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles, California
Come face to face with multiple T. rex skeletons and life-sized dinosaur puppets in LA.
History Museums
Petersen Automotive Museum
Los Angeles, California
From classic cars to Hollywood movie machines, an LA shrine to the automobile.
History Museums
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Santa Barbara, California
Explore a canyon-set natural history museum that runs from dinosaur bones to the night sky.
History Museums
The Walt Disney Family Museum
San Francisco, California
Trace the life of Walt Disney himself, from humble beginnings to Disneyland.
History Museums
USS Midway Museum
San Diego, California
Walk the decks of a storied aircraft carrier packed with real planes in San Diego Bay.