Best History Museums in California
7 history museums in California
History, natural history, transport and themed museums.
Editorial oversight by James Morgan. AI-assisted, human-edited. Our editorial standards
History Museums in California: what to expect
California has 7 history museums we would happily take our own kids to. Battleship USS Iowa Museum is the one most families start with. Climb six decks of a historic battleship at the Port of LA to see its bridge, guns, and missiles up close. La Brea Tar Pits and Museum is the other name that comes up again and again. Watch paleontologists pull saber-toothed cats from bubbling asphalt in the middle of LA. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County rounds out the pick of the bunch. Come face to face with multiple T. Also worth your time: Petersen Automotive Museum, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, The Walt Disney Family Museum and USS Midway Museum.
Tickets at The Walt Disney Family Museum start from $30 per person. The rest of the list does not publish a set price, so confirm admission on the official site.
The history museums on this page are spread across Los Angeles (4), Santa Barbara (1), San Francisco (1) and San Diego (1), so it is easy to pair two into one trip.
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.