# List of museums in San Diego County, California

This is a list of museums in San Diego County, California, defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.
To use the sortable tables: click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

## Museums

| Name | Town/City | Type | Summary |
| Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum | Vista | Open air | Antique gas and steam engines, blacksmith shop, weaving house, farmhouse exhibits |
| Bancroft Ranch House Museum | Spring Valley | Historic house | Operated by the Spring Valley Historical Society, late 19th-century adobe ranch house |
| Barona Cultural Center & Museum | Lakeside | Native American | website, Native American culture and history of San Diego County |
| Bonita Museum & Cultural Center | Bonita | Local history | website, operated by the Bonita Historical Society, history of the Rancho de la Nación, art and culture |
| Cabrillo National Monument | San Diego | History | Includes a museum and the Old Point Loma lighthouse |
| California Surf Museum | Oceanside | Sports | |
| Carrillo Ranch Historic Park | Carlsbad | Historic house | website, also known as Rancho de Los Kiotes, ranch and home of Leo Carrillo |
| Casa de Estudillo | San Diego | Historic house | Located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 19th century adobe house |
| Casa de Machado y Stewart | San Diego | Historic house | Located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 19th century adobe house |
| Centro Cultural de la Raza | San Diego | Cultural | Located in Balboa Park, Mexican-American and Latino cultural arts center |
| Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center | San Diego | Cultural | Located in Chicano Park in Barrio Logan |
| Chula Vista Heritage Museum | Chula Vista | Local history | Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library |
| Comic-Con Museum | San Diego | | Located in Balboa Park |
| Craftsmanship Museum | Carlsbad | Technology | Finely crafted models, engines, technology |
| Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum | Escondido | Automobile | website, features vintage vehicles and Americana collections, including Barbie dolls, Coca-Cola memorabilia, vintage radios, TVs, bicycles, household appliances |
| Encinitas Historical Society Schoolhouse | Encinitas | School | website, restored 1883 schoolhouse |
| Escondido History Center | Escondido | Open air | website, six building museum in Grape Day Park |
| Fallbrook Art Center | Fallbrook | Art | website |
| Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society Museum | Fallbrook | Natural history | website, minerals and gems from around the world |
| Fallbrook Historical Society | Fallbrook | Local history | website, includes main museum and Pittenger House |
| Fleet Science Center | San Diego | Science | Located in Balboa Park |
| Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum | San Diego | Aviation | Aircraft, memorabilia and history of the United States Marine Corps Aviation |
| Gaskill Brothers' Stone Store Museum | Campo | Local history | website, operated by the Mountain Empire Historical Society, area Native American, pioneer and military history |
| Guy B. Woodward Museum | Ramona | Local history | website, operated by the Ramona Pioneer Historical Society, includes the Verlaque House, shops, antique exhibits and artifacts |
| Gaslamp Museum at the William Heath Davis House | San Diego | Historic house | website, mid 19th-century Victorian period house of William Heath Davis, operated by the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation |
| Heritage County Park | San Diego | Historic house | Park with 7 relocated buildings, Senlis Cottage open as late 19th-century working class cottage, Temple Beth Israel open for tours |
| Heritage of the Americas Museum | Rancho San Diego | Multiple | website, part of Cuyamaca College, prehistoric and historic art, culture, and natural history of the Americas |
| Heritage Park Village Museum | Oceanside | Open air | Historic and replica buildings including a general store, blacksmith shop and livery stables, jail, inn, school and newspaper building |
| J.A. Cooley Automotive Museum | San Diego | Commodity | Antique automobiles, nickelodeons and phonographs, Kodak cameras, clocks, standard gauge electric trains, and 20 other types of collections |
| John DeWitt Museum and Library | Alpine | Historic house | website, operated by the Alpine Historical Society |
| Julian Pioneer Museum | Julian | Local history | website, Native American artifacts, antique furniture, tools, clothing, cooking items, farm implements, photos, pioneer items |
| Junipero Serra Museum | San Diego | History | History of the founding of the city, operated by the San Diego Historical Society in Presidio Park |
| Knox House Museum | El Cajon | Historic house | Part of Cuyamaca College, operated by the El Cajon Historical Society |
| Kruglak Art Gallery | Oceanside | Art | website, contemporary art gallery of MiraCosta College |
| Lakeside Museum | Lakeside | Local history | website, operated by the Lakeside Historical Society |
| Lawrence Welk Museum | Escondido | Biographical | Part of the Lawrence Welk Resort, tribute to bandleader Lawrence Welk |
| Lux Art Institute | Encinitas | Art | website |
| Magee House Museum | Carlsbad | Historic house | website, operated by the Carlsbad Historical Society, Victorian period house, displays of local history, agriculture |
| Maritime Museum of San Diego | San Diego | Maritime | Several museum ships including the Star of India, an 1863 iron bark |
| George W Marston House | San Diego | Historic house | Located in Balboa Park, operated by Save Our Heritage Organisation |
| Mason Street School | San Diego | School | Located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, first public schoolhouse in the county |
| MCRD San Diego Command Museum | San Diego | Military | History of the Marines in the 20th and 21st centuries, the Marines' presence in the Southern California region, and the history of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego |
| McKinney House and Museum | La Mesa | Historic house | Operated by the La Mesa Historical Society, early 20th-century house |
| Mingei International Museum | San Diego | Art | Located in Balboa Park, folk art, craft and design from all eras and cultures of the world |
| Mission San Diego de Alcalá | San Diego | Religious | 1769 Franciscan mission church |
| Mission San Luis Rey de Francia | Oceanside | History | Historic Spanish mission and church, cemetery, lavandaria, and museum. |
| Mormon Battalion Historic Site | San Diego | Military | website, located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, history of the Mormon Battalion |
| Motor Transport Museum | Campo | Transportation | website, trucks, engines, quarry equipment and other equipment |
| Museum of American Treasures | National City | Local history | |
| Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego | San Diego | Art | Collection includes more than 4,000 works created after 1950 in all media and genres |
| Museum of Coronado History and Art | Coronado | Multiple | website, island history and art, operated by the Coronado Historical Association |
| Museum of Creation and Earth History | Santee | Religious | |
| Museum of Making Music | Carlsbad | Music | History of American popular music, the manufacture and retail of musical instruments and the history of the music products industry |
| Museum of Photographic Arts | San Diego | Art | Located in Balboa Park, photography, film and video |
| Museum of Us | San Diego | Anthropology | Located in Balboa Park, pre-Columbian history of the western Americas and Native American art and culture |
| National City Depot | National City | Railroad | Operated by the San Diego Electric Railway Association in a restored 1880s Santa Fe depot |
| Oceanside Historical Museum | Oceanside | Local history | website, operated by the Oceanside Historical Society |
| Oceanside Museum of Art | Oceanside | Art | website, contemporary art from Southern California |
| Old Town San Diego State Historic Park | San Diego | Open air | Includes five original adobes and museums with exhibits including law enforcement, carriages and horse-drawn vehicles, a newspaper print shop, schoolhouse, general store, blacksmith shop |
| Pacific Southwest Railway Museum | Campo | Railroad | Includes 1916 railroad depot, historic railroad cars and steam and diesel locomotives on display, railroad equipment |
| Parsonage Museum | Lemon Grove | Historic house | website, operated by the Lemon Grove Historical Society, displays include the general store, fruit packing, period rooms |
| Poway Historical Society Museum | Poway | Local history | website, operated by the Poway Historical and Memorial Society |
| Rancho Buena Vista Adobe | Vista | Historic house | website, mid 19th-century adobe house, history of Rancho Buena Vista (Felipe) |
| Rancho Guajome Adobe | Vista | Historic house | Mid 19th century 20-room adobe house |
| Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos | San Diego | Historic house | Located in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, historic 1823 adobe ranch home |
| Roynon Museum of Earth Science & Paleontology | Escondido | Science and natural history | website, established in 2000 to educate students, scouts, and the general public in paleontology and earth sciences |
| San Diego Air & Space Museum | San Diego | Aviation | Located in Balboa Park, aviation and space history |
| San Diego Archaeological Center | Escondido | Archaeology | website, archaeology of the San Diego region from 10,000 years ago to present day |
| San Diego Art Institute Museum of the Living Artist | San Diego | Art | Located in Balboa Park |
| San Diego Automotive Museum | San Diego | Transport | In Balboa Park |
| San Diego Children's Discovery Museum | Escondido | Children's | website |
| San Diego Chinese Historical Museum | San Diego | Ethnic | website, Chinese American experience and Chinese history, culture and art |
| San Diego Firehouse Museum | San Diego | Firefighting | website, firefighting memorabilia dating back 100 years, located in Little Italy |
| San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum | San Diego | Sports | Located in Balboa Park |
| San Diego History Center | San Diego | Local history | website, located in Balboa Park, operated by the San Diego Historical Society |
| San Diego Model Railroad Museum | San Diego | Railway | Indoor model railroad exhibits, located in Balboa Park |
| San Diego Museum of Art | San Diego | Art | Located in Balboa Park |
| San Diego Natural History Museum | San Diego | Natural history | Located in Balboa Park |
| San Diego Sheriff's Museum and Educational Center | San Diego | Law enforcement | website |
| San Dieguito Heritage Museum | Encinitas | Local history | Covers the history of the San Dieguto area |
| San Marcos Historical Museum | San Marcos | Local history | website, operated by the San Marcos Historical Society |
| San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park | Escondido | History | History of the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual, the bloodiest battle in California during the Mexican–American War |
| Santa Ysabel Asistencia | Santa Ysabel | History | 19th century Spanish mission and church |
| Santee Historical Society Museum | Santee | Local history | Located in a historic former dairy barn |
| Stein Family Farm | National City | Historic house | website, also known as the National City Living History Farm Preserve |
| Stuart Collection | San Diego | Art | Part of University of California, San Diego |
| Timken Museum of Art | San Diego | Art | Located in Balboa Park, includes collection of European old master paintings, sculptures, and tapestries, American art and Russian icons |
| The New Children's Museum | San Diego | Children's Museum | Located in downtown San Diego, includes permanent and temporary interactive art installations for children and families. |
| University of California, San Diego Art Galleries | San Diego | Art | University Art Gallery, Visual Arts Gallery, Gallery@Calit2 |
| USS Midway Museum | San Diego | Aviation | Aircraft carrier and restored aircraft |
| Valley Center History Museum | Valley Center | Local history | Operated by the Valley Center Historical Society |
| Veterans Museum and Memorial Center | San Diego | Military | Located in historic Balboa Park, San Diego and U.S. military history of the Armed Forces |
| Vista Historical Society Museum | Vista | Local history | website |
| Wells Fargo History Museum | San Diego | History | Located in Colorado House in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 1850s stage stop and telegraph office |
| Whaley House | San Diego | Historic house | Mid 19th century period house |
| WNDR Museum San Diego | San Diego | Art | Multi-sensory interactive art expirence |
| Women's Museum of California | San Diego | Women's | website, formerly the Women's History Museum |
| WWII/Korea LVT Museum | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton | Military | Exhibits on Landing Vehicles Tracked (LVT)s from World War II and the Korean War |

## Defunct museums

* Villa Montezuma, San Diego, Friends site, closed in 2006, late 19th-century Queen Anne mansion in Sherman Heights