Arts & Entertainment
Museum Day: Get Free Tickets For These California Museums
Here's how to snag a free ticket to one of the California museums participating in "Museum Day."
Summer may be coming to an end but the free events and activities don’t have to. Tickets are now available for “Museum Day,” a one-day event in September where museums and cultural institutions across the country, including in California, offer free admission.
This year, “Museum Day” is on Saturday, Sept. 21.
“Museum Day” is an annual event put together by Smithsonian Magazine and includes participating museums in all 50 states.
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In California, visit museums of art, art history, bookbinding, maritime history, surf history and museums that focus on indigenous people of the state. Visit pristine Victorian homes, painstakingly restored to their original glory, and learn about he rich history of the Golden State. Many museums are free, every day, and others suggest a donation upon entry.
According to the Smithsonian, participants can download one ticket per email address that provides free general admission for two people.
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To snag a ticket for the September event, just choose your museum from the participating 87 museums in California:
San Francisco , CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
Vista, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Atascadero Printery Foundation
Atascadero, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Autry Museum of the American West
Los Angeles, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Bakersfield, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Barona Cultural Center & Museum
Lakeside, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Sausalito, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (EST)
GET A TICKET
Bonita Museum and Cultural Center
Bonita, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science
Bakersfield, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Los Angeles, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (EST)
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
San Francisco, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
GET A TICKET
Oceanside, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Cambria, CA
Hours: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Camp Roberts Historical Museum
Camp Roberts, CA
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach , CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Avalon, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (PST)
Cayucos, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Oxnard, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Atascadero, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (EST)
GET A TICKET
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
GET A TICKET
Chinese Historical Society of America
San Francisco, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Thousand Oaks, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Dr. Willella Howe Waffle House and Medical Museum
Santa Ana, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Escondido, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Elverhoj Museum of History & Art
Solvang, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Fillmore, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
San Diego, CA
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Los Angeles , CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Hanford, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Santa Ana, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Heritage of the Americas Museum
El Cajon, CA
Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
San Carlos, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
GET A TICKET
History Center of San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Japanese American National Museum
Los Angeles, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
GET A TICKET
Los Angeles, CA
Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (PST)
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles
Berkeley , CA
Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
San Pedro, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Santa Rosa, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana
San Jose, CA
Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Roseville, CA
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Riverside, CA
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum
Carlsbad, CA
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Riverside, CA
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Moffett Field Historical Society Museum
Mountain View, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Eureka, CA
Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego -- Downtown location
San Diego, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
San Francisco, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (EST)
GET A TICKET
Long Beach, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
GET A TICKET
Carlsbad, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Santa Rosa, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center
Anaheim, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Salinas , CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Los Gatos, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (EST)
GET A TICKET
Santa Ana, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Pacific Grove, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
San Dimas, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Porterville, CA
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Riverside, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (EST)
GET A TICKET
Cathedral City, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Sacramento, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (EST)
GET A TICKET
San Diego Archaeological Center
Escondido, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
San Diego, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
GET A TICKET
San Joaquin County Historical Museum
Lodi, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Pacifica, CA
Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Santa Barbara, CA
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PST)
Santa Barbara, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
The International Printing Museum
Carson, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
The Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
San Jose, CA
Hours: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
San Diego, CA
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Santa Ana , CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
San Jose, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Culver City, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Visalia, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Pasadena, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum
Alameda, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
GET A TICKET
Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology
Chico, CA
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (EST)
Free Everyday
GET A TICKET
Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
Vallejo, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Wildling Museum of Art and Nature
Solvang, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
Porterville, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PST)
GET A TICKET
di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art
Napa, CA
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (EST)
GET A TICKET
You can also visit the Smithsonian Magazine website directly for tickets.
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