Museums in Santa Cruz & Monterey loading... sort by distance
School groups and families from Santa Cruz County and all over the US spend hours exploring our educational exhibits, historical archives, and the agriculture research in the Codiga Center & Museum. When you visit, be sure to stop by our charming gif... more
Our collection includes exhibits of local history, tied in with local Bigfoot sightings, Popular Culture as it relates to the public view of Bigfoot, and actual evidence in the form of plaster foot and hand prints along with detailed exhibit on the P... more
Carmel Heritage Society - First Murphy House image
The First Murphy House was constructed in 1902 by 17-year-old Michael J. Murphy for his family. It was the first of many cottages designed and built by him, and throughout his career he had a significant influence on the character and architecture of... more
Carmel Mission Basilica image
This historic Mission has been renovated to its previous glory as both a Catholic Mission and now a thriving parish and school. The Basilica reflects the beautiful adobe architechture and houses many antique religious effigies and altars. The tomb... more
Colton Hall Museum image
Built to serve as a public school and town meeting hall, Colton Hall now offers visitors a re-creation of the meeting room where California's first Constitution was drafted in October 1849 and exhibits on early Monterey. Colton Hal... more
Hartnell College Planetarium has been enchanting audiences with the wonders of astronomy and space science since its original construction in 1962. At the beginning of 2017 the planetarium moved into a new building with a new dome and new projection... more
Harvey-Baker House image
The First Mayor's House, also known as the Harvey-Baker House, was one of the first buildings constructed in the new town of Salinas City. The House was home to the Harvey-Baker family for over 100 years before being restored to the 1870s era and est... more
The University of California Observatories (UCO) is a Multi-Campus Research Unit of the University of California, with headquarters at the UC Santa Cruz campus. UCO operates on behalf of the astronomers at all ten UC campuses and is comprised of exte... more
Also known as Point Santa Cruz, this area forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the last open headlands in any California urban area. Surfers, tourists, birds - including the rare black swift - and wintering monarch butterflies ar... more
Monterey Museum of Art-Pacific Street 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940 831.372.5477 [email protected] This inviting, three-story landmark is located across from historic Colton Hall in the heart of Old Monterey. The Museum features eight... more
The Museum of Monterey at Stanton Center share the stories of the people and places that have and will continue to shape Monterey. The goal is to be less about objects and more about the conversations the museum holds with the community. Where onc... more
National Steinbeck Center / Museum image
In the tradition of John Steinbeck, the National Steinbeck Center draws its inspiration from the diverse people and the land of the Salinas Valley. Through the exploration of Steinbeck's work and themes, we provide and support educational experiences... more
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History image
The Pacific Grove Museum is your living personal field guide to the California Central Coast. Explore the birds and wildlife, plants, geology and cultural richness that make this region unique in the world. more
Presidio of Monterey Museum image
The Presidio of Monterey Museum exhibits lead visitors through Monterey's various stages of military development – from the indigenous period which highlights the area's native populations; through the Spanish and Mexican pe... more
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) image
This is our community. This is your museum. The Santa Cruz Museum of Art &a History at the McPherson Center (the "MAH") hosts large-scale community events on the First and Third Fridays of the month in the evening, as well as ongoing exhibitions,... more
The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has been bringing the delights and wonders of the natural world to Santa Cruz residents and visitors for 100 years.  From its early beginnings at the Santa Cruz public library, the Museum collections and... more
Visit a working marine laboratory. Exhibit halls, aquarium, touch tanks, tours to marine mammal research overlook, Ocean Discovery Shop, and unsurpassed vistas of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Hold a sea star - marvel at the world's lar... more
The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum image
The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is housed in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse at Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive. Overlooking internationally renowned surfing hotspot Steamer Lane, this little gem of a museum has photographs, surfboards, and ot... more
Tor House and Hawk Tower were built by Carmel poet Robinson Jeffers as a home and refuge for himself and his family, using granite boulders gathered from the shore of Carmel Bay. He sited the house on a point of land that meets the sea like the "prow... more