Orange County Museums - The Best of Southern California

There's more to enjoy on a trip to cosmopolitan Costa Mesa than nearby beaches.  Lots more.  So brush off the sand, hang those swimming suits up to dry, and put on your California casual clothes. Just minutes away from Costa Mesa some eye-opening and mind-expanding experiences await you.

Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is one of Southern California’s finest museums and Orange County’s largest. One of few in the United States devoted to promoting human understanding through art.

Information: 714-567-3600
Visit: www.bowers.org

The Orange County Museum of Art is the premier visual arts organization in Orange County.  Located in Newport Beach, the museum’s collection comprises nearly 5,000 objects, with a concentration on the art of California from the early 20th century to the present.

Information: 949-759-1122
Email: info@ocma.net

The Laguna Art Museum is an heir to the Laguna Beach Art Association, the oldest cultural institution in Orange County. Through collections, publications and research on the art of California, Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach promotes an understanding of the role of California artists in the development of the visual arts nationally and internationally. 

Information: 949-494-8971
Visit: lagunaartmuseum.org

The Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove has been hailed as one of “the most spectacular religious edifices in the world.” It is home to the annual Glory of Christmas and Glory of Easter pageants. Tours are available.

Information: 714-971-4013
Visit: www.crystalcathedral.org

The J. Paul Getty Museum, commonly known as the Getty Museum, is located on the west side of Los Angeles and features a collection of artworks that are meaningful and attractive to a broad audience. Interpretation of the collection is achieved by educational programs, special exhibits, publications and knowledgeable docents. 

Information: 310-440-7300
Visit: www.getty.edu

The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is located aboard the 190-foot “Pride of Newport” Riverboat and features, galleries photographs, paintings and memorabilia reflecting the significance of the harbor and maritime events in the Pacific.

Information: 949-673-7863
Visit: www.nhnm.org

The International Surfing Museum preserves an important aspect of nearby Huntington Beach’s image as “Surf City, USA.”  Home of the U.S. Surfing Championships and the celebrated Bud Surf Tour, Huntington Beach is rated the “most heavily surfed beach on the West Coast” by Surfer’s Almanac. So it is only natural for this surfing landmark to also play host to this international monument to surfing.

Information: 714-960-3483
Visit: www.surfingmuseum.org

The Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda has the farmhouse where America’s 37th President was born and raised. View the burial site of the President and Mrs. Nixon and the permanent exhibits which includes many letters, photographs and personal effects from the Nixon Family.

Information: 714-993-5075
Visit: www.nixonfoundation.org

Reagan Library Ronald Reagan Presidential library and Museum The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum haas informed and inspired more than one million visitors since opening in 1991. Perched on a mountaintip with sweeping views of mountains, valleys, and the Pacific Ocean, this 100-acre site, 45 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, offers memorable experiences for people of all ages.

Information: 800-410-8354

Diego Sepulveda Adobe

A colorful segment of history of lying within and immediately adjoining the boundaries of the present City of Costa Mesa is preserved within the dark walls of this small adobe and the site upon which it stands. The story of the Costa Mesa Estancia goes back to a dim and distant past. Only recently the skeleton of a mastodon was uncovered here. And this entire tableland has long been recognized as a rich field for fossil and archaeological exploration.

The Costa Mesa Historical Society museum and library is open to the public every Thursday and Friday between 10:00am and 3:00pm, and at other times by appointment.  For more information, visit www.costamesahistory.org or call 949-631-5918.