Southwest USA Museums and Culture

Step into the world of a cartoonist who turned childhood dreams into an iconic legacy. Charles M. Schulz's journey from a Minneapolis kid who fell in love with the comics to the creator of Peanuts is a testament to following your passion—and you can explore it all right here in Santa Rosa, where his most beloved work came to life.

Explore how photography captures the world's most compelling moments—from rare 19th-century daguerreotypes to cutting-edge contemporary work. Perfect for anyone who loves powerful imagery and visual storytelling.

Explore powerful stories and artistic voices of women from around the world through innovative online exhibitions and cultural programs. This groundbreaking museum sparks global conversations and champions gender equity through history, art, and community connection.

Location & Parking<br> The main buildings at LACMA (also known as LACMA East) are located in the Miracle Mile area between Fairfax Avenue and La Brea Avenue, on Wilshire Boulevard, just east of Ogden Drive. LACMA West is two blocks west, at the northeast corner of Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.

Pacific Asia Museum is one of only four institutions in the United States dedicated exclusively to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands. The museum’s mission is to further cultural awareness and understanding through the arts.

Experience California Indian cultures and histories through powerful exhibits and Native-led storytelling. This community-centered museum celebrates contemporary Native voices, artistic traditions, and the vibrant resilience of California's Indigenous peoples.

Explore the deep history of the region through carefully preserved archaeological artifacts and fossils that reveal how ancient cultures and environments shaped this landscape. This museum connects visitors with hands-on learning experiences and research opportunities that illuminate the crucial relationship between water, life, and human settlement in the American West.

Step into music history on the third floor and see Michael Jackson's most iconic stage costumes, including the legendary Thriller suit, displayed alongside clips of his greatest GRAMMY performances. Experience how fashion became an unforgettable part of one of music's most revolutionary careers.

Explore the artistry and innovation behind theater, dance, and performance design through stunning exhibitions and rare archives in this historic Veterans Building landmark. Attend talks and programs that celebrate the visionaries who shaped the performing arts.

Feast your eyes on some of the rarest and most beautiful cars ever created at the San Diego Automotive Museum.

Experience vibrant visual art from San Diego's emerging talent through monthly juried exhibitions and public receptions celebrating innovative work across diverse mediums and styles.

Discover vibrant exhibitions exploring Jewish art, culture, and contemporary ideas at this welcoming San Francisco museum. With dynamic programs designed for visitors of all ages, it's a place to experience meaningful conversations and creative connections through engaging displays and shared cultural experiences.

In October of 1999, a group of puppeteers, producers, business professionals and lovers of puppetry came together to form a steering committee. The goal was to create a non-profit center in Southern California that promotes and preserves puppetry arts. While there are other such centers in in America's heartland of entertainment, there is no place dedicated to honor and celebrate this magical art.

Come face-to-face with wax replicas of history's most famous figures and creatures at this beloved Fisherman's Wharf attraction. Explore everything from presidential portraits to the spooky Chamber of Horrors in an air-conditioned escape perfect for a summer day.

The Mission Houses Museum, a National Historic Landmark, is the primary program of the Hawaiian Mission Children's Society, a non-profit educational institution and genealogical society. The Museum interprets the "missionary period" of Hawaiian history, 1820-1863, which is fundamental to an understanding of contemporary Hawaii.

A small, community-run museum located on the beautiful Hamakua Heritage Coast of the Big Island of Hawai'i. Honoring the colorful history of the Hilo Railroad, which began in 1899 and lasted to 1946, when railroad tracks and facilities were irreparably damaged by a devastating tidal wave. The museum is located in an old railway company home, which is furnished as it would have been in the 1930s.

The goal of the Pacific Tsunami Museum is to promote public tsunami education for the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Region. The museum will also preserve the social and cultural history of Hawaii and promote economic development on the island of Hawaii as well as statewide. The museum will serve as a living memorial to those who lost their lives in past tsunami events.

Step into the restored machinery and artifacts of one of Hawaii's last operating sugar mills to uncover how this transformative industry shaped Maui's landscape, water systems, and diverse communities.

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park's mission is to restore and preserve the World War II submarine USS Bowfin (SS-287), and submarine-related artifacts on our grounds and in the Museum. Bowfin Park's parent organization, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association (PFSMA), is a non-profit group that receives no state or federal funding.

Experience bold contemporary art across two unique venues—a serene residential gallery and a vibrant downtown space. Expect innovative exhibitions and interactive installations that challenge perspectives and celebrate today's creative voices.

Dive into Hawaii's rich heritage through millions of artifacts, royal treasures, and Pacific Island stories at this world-class museum. Wander through exhibits celebrating Native Hawaiian culture, natural history, and the traditions that shaped island communities.

Explore military history within a restored coastal fortress, featuring vintage helicopters, tanks, and interactive exhibits that bring Hawaii's defense story to life from ancient times through modern conflicts.

Explore Pacific Aviation Museum on historic Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, where you'll experience decades of aviation history through restored aircraft and immersive exhibits. Book tickets online or at partner locations in Waikiki for easy access to this must-see cultural landmark.

Step inside a historic aircraft hangar to explore vintage cockpits, real spacecraft, and interactive exhibits that celebrate aviation history and human achievement. Perfect for families seeking hands-on fun and inspiration from the engineering marvels that shaped flight.

The Forney Transportation Museum is a one-of-a-kind collection of over 500 exhibits relating to historical transportation. It began with antique cars, but soon expanded to include vehicles of all kinds. Some of these are familiar, while others spark the imagination.

Step inside this beautifully restored Victorian mansion and experience the extraordinary life of Margaret Tobin Brown, the Titanic survivor who became a legendary Denver philanthropist. Tour period rooms, artifacts, and exhibits that bring early 1900s high society to life.

The mission of the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys is to provide educational and cultural services to the greater Rocky Mountain region through the preservation, exhibition, collection and interpretation of the visual arts using miniatures, dolls and toys.

Explore over four million artifacts spanning dinosaurs, ancient cultures, insects, and wildlife at this free, world-class museum. Open daily with engaging exhibits and programs for all ages.

Step inside Denver's firefighting heritage and explore the stories of the brave men and women who've served the city. Interactive exhibits, historic artifacts, and engaging displays celebrate the evolution of fire safety and the Fire Department's vital role in our community.

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain region’s leading resource for informal science education.<br /> A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help Museum visitors experience the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe.

Explore vintage locomotives and rail cars set along Clear Creek in Golden, then step into an authentically restored 1880s station to browse photographs, artifacts, and documents that bring Colorado's railroad history to life.

Step into Colorado's past through fascinating collections, engaging exhibitions, and hands-on programs that bring the state's rich history to life for visitors of all ages.

Kirkland Museum has a nationally important display of 20th-century decorative arts, with more than 3,300 works on view of Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Glasgow Style, Wiener Werkstätte, De Stijl, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Modern and Pop Art.

The Children's Museum of Denver is all about children and their grownups learning through play. Everything is hands-on, educational and made especially for kids. With 11 interactive exhibits, year-round events, and daily programming, there is always something fun and exciting to do.

The long-term goal of the MSB Division of Fishes is to maintain, in perpetuity, the collection of fishes and supporting documents by using sound curatorial techniques and archiving the collections in optimal storage conditions. We strive to ensure that these collections will be available to future generations of ichthyologists and members of the scientific community.

The mission of the museum is to educate the people of New Mexico and visitors from around the world in the history, science, and technology of space. The museum stresses the significant role that the state of New Mexico has played in the development of the U.S. Space Program through collecting, preserving, and interpreting significant artifacts relevant to the history of space.

Located in the historic Reno City Hall, this interactive museum sparks curiosity and wonder for the whole family. Hands-on exhibits invite children and adults alike to explore, create, and learn together—perfect for beating the heat while feeding young minds. It's the kind of place where playtime and discovery go hand in hand.

Step into Sparks' compelling past through interactive exhibits showcasing mining heritage, railroad culture, and vintage casino treasures. The museum's extensive archive of digitized photographs and on-site research library invite you to uncover personal and local stories.

The mission of the National Automotive Museum is to collect and preserve the automobile for future generations, with an emphasis on items collected by William "Bill" Fisk Harrah, to tell the story of the impact of the automobile on American society, and to perpetuate the legacy of Mr. Hannah as a renowned collector.

At Arizona State Museum you experience the vibrant indigenous cultures of Arizona and northern Mexico through exhibitions, educational programs, a research library, and a museum store. The museum’s scholars and extensive collections are among the most significant resources in the world for the study of Southwest peoples.

Pima Air & Space Museum, where history takes flight, is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, and the largest non-government funded aviation museum. You'll see more than 275 aircraft and spacecraft including many of the most historically significant and technically advanced craft ever produced, both from the United States and throughout the world.

Unearth real fossils and gems in the hands-on Dig Pit, then explore 570 million years of Earth's history through interactive exhibits and expert paleontologist demonstrations. Take home your discoveries and browse one of America's largest dinosaur gift shops.

Explore over 400 magnificent species of insects, mammals, and birds from around the world in beautifully curated displays. Learn how conservation and wildlife management protect our planet's incredible biodiversity.

Experience the living Sonoran Desert up close: wander nearly two miles of scenic trails through 21 acres where you'll encounter mountain lions, Gila monsters, and hundreds of other animals amid 1,200 plant species in their natural habitat.