Oakland Museum of California

Delve into Californian history at this interdisciplinary museum, which features enthralling exhibits of landscape paintings, cultural artifacts and natural science under one roof.

Discover the artisanal, cultural and natural legacy of America’s golden state at the Oakland Museum of California. Founded in 1969, this modernist building houses a collection of over 1.9 million paintings, artifacts and specimens that preserve the region’s extraordinary history.

Journey through California’s art and crafting heritage in the Art Collection, which includes 70,000 pieces from the early 1800s to the present day. Sit on comfortable chairs and inspect the intricate detailing of 19th-century landscape paintings. Delve into the personal archives of Dorothea Lange, whose depression-era photographs depict struggles in Californian life.

Admire gorgeous furniture and decorative objects by Arthur and Lucia Mathews, two prominent figures of the early 20th-century American Arts and Crafts movement. Nearby, see complex jewelry and ceramics made by the famed artisan Margaret De Patta.

Venture into the Gallery of California History, whose overarching theme, “Coming to California,” aims to examine the impacts felt by waves of immigrants in the region. Learn about the first people to live here as you browse collections of Native American baskets.

Discover the impacts of Spanish religion and agriculture on the area and peruse displays of Gold Rush era tools. Engage with interactive exhibits in the Creative Hollywood and Forces of Change exhibits to experience California’s prolific film history and learn about the conflicting surfer, hippie and conservative movements that shaped the state as it is today.

Find out about the diverse ecosystems of the natural landscapes surrounding Gallery of California Natural Sciences. See preserved bird, insect and reptile specimens from the rivers of Mount Shasta, the forests of Yosemite and the dunes of Coachella Valley. Many of these landscapes are captured in beautiful photographs in the Bob Walker Collection.

After your tour, relax at the Blue Oak café with a gourmet meal and walk around the Museum Gardens’ koi pond.

Use public buses or trains to get to the Oakland Museum of California, located between downtown and Lake Merritt. Alternatively, pay to park in a nearby garage. The museum is open daily except Mondays and Tuesdays and charges admission.