Orange County is home to several tourist attractions, from theme parks to its renowned beaches. However, that is not all that Orange County offers. Visiting museums is also one of the best ways to spend your time in the area.
Museums are not only for history nerds, but they also offer activities and exhibits for children and specific special interests. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of museums that you can visit.
2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Tuesday - Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Bower’s Museum, the largest and one of the oldest museums in Orange County, is a non-profit museum that showcases art and artifacts from diverse cultures around the world in eight permanent collection exhibitions and rotating featured exhibitions.
A general admission ticket includes access to all current permanent collection exhibitions. Children under 12, accompanied by a paying parent or legal guardian, enjoy free general admission. For adults, the general admission ticket is $18, while seniors (age 62+) and students (age 12+) will pay $15.
307 Cliff Drive Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Tuesday - Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Founded in 1918, Laguna Art Museum has collected the best of California art for over 100 years. General admission tickets cost $15 dollars in general and $10 for college students, seniors, and military. Youth age 19 and under enjoy free admission to the museum.
167 N. Atchison Street, Orange, CA
Wednesday - Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Photo from Hilbert Museum
The Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University, founded by Mark and Janet Hilbert, opened its doors in 2016 and is the home of one of the world’s largest collections of California narrative art. It is the only museum in the world that is committed to tracing the history of the Golden State from the late 19th century to the present day. The Hilbert Collection showcases over 5,000 pieces, which include oils, watercolors, and drawings of urban and industrial scenes, coastal views, and landscapes of everyday life in California.
Admission to the Hilbert Museum is free, and it is recommended to reserve online through their website. Walk-in guests with no reservations will be assisted if the space permits.
4. UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art
3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Wednesday - Sunday
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Photo from UC Irvine Langson OCMA
The UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art serves as a bridge between UC Irvine and Orange County in showing California’s artistic history through its collections, exhibitions, and programs.
OCMA traces back to 1962, when thirteen women founded the Fine Arts Patrons Pavilion Gallery, which later became the Orange County Museum of Art in 1997. In 2025, the University of California Irvine completed its acquisition of the Orange County Museum of Art to bring together a vision of a public-facing art museum.
Admission is free and no reservation is required.
5. Heritage Museum of Orange County
3101 W Harvard St, Santa Ana, CA 92704
Select Sundays; Open House dates vary
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Photo from Travel Santa Ana
Heritage Museum of Orange County is a nonprofit cultural and natural history and events center in Orange County. The centerpiece of the museum is a historic plaza that covers nearly 12 acres. The plaza features several buildings from the 1890s, with the most well-known historic building being the Queen Anne-style Victorian Kellogg House built in 1898.
Admission is free for children aged 3 years and under, while those aged 4 to 13 years are charged $5. Students, educators, seniors, military, and first responders with ID are charged $10. For adults, admission is charged $15.
6. The Children’s Museum at La Habra, Pretend City
110 East La Habra Boulevard, La Habra, CA 90631
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturdays 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sundays 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Photo from SparkOC
The Children’s Museum at La Habra opened in December 1977 and features seven galleries and fourteen different hands-on exhibits. It also features permanent exhibits that include Nature Walk, Model Train Village, STEAM Lab, Carousel Room, The Caboose, Science Station, Family Art Center, and more.
Admission tickets can be purchased on site or online. Admission prices are $12 for those 2 years and older, $11 for La Habra Residents, and $10 for those in the military with ID and seniors aged 65 years and older.
7. Discovery Cube Orange County
2500 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Monday - Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Photo from Visit Huntington Beach
The Discovery Cube Orange County, opened in 1998, offers hands-on exhibits, educational programs, science camps, and special events for children. The Orange County campus features the Dino Quest, Sea Lab, Artemis Adventures, Rainforest Adventure, Race to Recycle, Organics Waste Lab, Helicopter Yours, Eco Garage, and Discovery Market.
General admission for adults ranges from $26 to $31. Children aged 3 to 14 and seniors aged 62 and above range from $23 to $28.
8. Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd, Yorba Linda, CA 92886
Monday - Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Photo from Visit Buena Park
The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum is located on a nine-acre plot of land where President Nixon was born. Visitors can tour the permanent galleries, the gardens, and Richard Nixon’s birthplace home.
General admission is $29, seniors $25, college students with ID $23, retired/military $23, youth (12-17) $23, and children (5-11) at $19. Children under 5 years old enjoy free admission.
9. Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum
525 Main Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Tuesday-Thursday at 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday - Saturday at 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Photo from Huntington Beach /Jennifer Herron
Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, founded by Natalie Kotsch, celebrates the history of surfing. The museum showcases murals of surfers, surfboard evolution, and surf culture memorabilia. Its main highlight is the displayed World’s Largest Surfboard, measuring 42 feet long, 11 feet wide, and 16 inches thick.
There is no admission fee to enter the museum.
1302 Industrial Drive, Tustin, CA 92780
Tuesday - Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Photo from Marconi Automotive Museum
The Marconi Automotive Museum and Foundation for Kids is an auto museum. The foundation donates a portion of its net proceeds from hosted events and museum visitors to children’s charities and organizations. The museum is home to a collection of over 100 vehicles, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, muscle cars, motorcycles, and more.
General admission costs $20 for adults and $10 for students. Seniors, military, law enforcement, first responders, and teachers are charged at $15. Meanwhile, children aged 13 and under enjoy free admission to the museum.
If you want to know more about museums in Orange County, you can visit the Orange County website. The OC Art Guide, a website for art enthusiasts, is also available to keep track of local art events and workshops.
