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    Bowers Museum

    4.2 (455 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    Christopher T.

    Haven't been back here for over 2 decades, but still a very nice small and imitative museum to be at. Very organized, spacious and well set up with plenty old and new exhibits crossing different cultures. The structure & architecture is very beautifully builded. Staff are very friendly and entrance cost is not bad at all.

    Amber M.

    What an awesome museum! I was so impressed with how culturally diverse and historical the pieces were. We journeyed through Ancient China and the Polynesian Islands. There was also an art installation on the first floor called The American Quilt. What beautiful quilts on display there! You must see them. There were a few interactive activities for the kids to interact with the art. You can make your own quilt using blocks. There is a restaurant on the premises called Ada's Table. I wrote a separate review on the restaurant. So I paid $18 for entrance fees and $7 to park. There are discounts for seniors/students. It's free for Santa Ana residents on certain Sundays. I would call the museum to verify. You could easily spend 4 hours there. I believe there is a second floor. I didn't go there. Oh and there are plenty of garden like sitting areas outside the museum.

    Gina R.

    Lovely little museum. Lots of great artifacts and paintings. I've been here twice and enjoyed both times.

    ThomaS T.

    I did not know but this museum used to be a church. They have beautiful ceiling paintings and the wood that helps the acoustics. They have beautiful Asian art pieces as well as Hispanic art pieces. Lovely building and very clean.

    Tania T.

    This museum is excellent for families and young kids. They have an older part of the museum that houses some art pieces and paintings, as well as missionary artifacts. Then they have a whole room dedicated to the featured exhibit (usually at a separate charge from admission). Then there's the newer part of the museum and a small outdoor space that can be rented out for private events! Our toddlers had a great time here, learning from the museum, and they even participated in a scavenger hunt where they had to find and identify seashells throughout the museum. The staff that we engaged with were friendly and kind. The museum is well-lit and well-ventilated. Bonus points for being stroller-friendly! The parking lot is just across the street, $6 all day.

    Michelle L.

    This review is well overdue! I visited the Bowers Museum back in Sept 2025, specifically to see the special China Terracotta warriors exhibit :D ! I didn't want to miss it this time around because the last time the Bowers had a similar special Terracottas exhibit was back in 2008, which my friends from the Bay Area had come to see :) ! I was really captivated and extremely amazed by the extraordinary detail of each Terracotta figure, whether it was a human or an animal :) ! It's phenomenal and mind-blowing that all of the Terracottas are slightly different from eachother. In addition to the amazing displays, there were interesting artifacts and weapons that were showcased so you could have a better feel of how the soldiers protected the emperor in the afterlife. There was a partial room that you could enter that was a simulation of the warriors marching :) ! It felt like I was stepping right into history :D ! I wasn't able to coordinate my visit with the special talk that was going to take place on the Sunday afternoon with the museum curator, who I learned was really passionate about bringing the Terracottas exhibit back to the Bowers :) ! But for any special exhibit there, if you're able to attend a special talk by the museum curator, or by any special guests, I would highly encourage attending :) ! You would certainly learn a lot more than simply visiting the exhibit itself :) ! Some people might feel that this museum is relatively small, and is very "no frills" compared to larger museums, like the Getty Center in West Los Angeles, or the Norton Simon in Pasadena. Although the Bowers is smaller in size compared to those other big name museums, Bowers is a big name in itself within Orange County. I have to admit that I like the fact that it's a lot easier to get to and park at the Bowers compared to other museums. And because of that, it makes for a much less stressful experience so you can really enjoy the artwork and the artifacts :) ! I happened to be visiting from out of town because I was visiting family in Orange County. But I was really grateful that the Bowers offered this during my visit to SoCal so I could catch this amazing traveling exhibit :D ! I know that, depending where it stops, it might not always be feasible to get to certain locations to view and experience something like this :) !

    Nola M.

    Bowers Museum is a jewel in Santa Ana, our county seat. It was built with money and land donated in the late 1920s from the Bowers who were citrus growers to display local art. The history of Orange County is still told through art in the original edifice. They have permanent and visiting exhibits. My favorite exhibit, so far, is the California plein-air paintings. Many are of undeveloped Laguna Beach; a bit of a throwback to a simpler time before it became a tourist destination. Bowers has a collaboration of some sort with ARCE (American Research Center in Egypt). The museum provides financial support and benefits from monthly lectures on a range of ancient Egyptian history and culture by visiting Egyptologists, archaeologists and scholars. The monthly lectures are included in membership. As is parking. Membership is $70 for one person or $80 for two.

    Travis P.

    I was really hoping to see the Terracotta Warriors, but unfortunately I missed that exhibit by a few weeks. The museum itself is still pretty cool, though I wouldn't say it's fully worth the price. It's much smaller than I expected--I was able to go through everything in under an hour. That said, they do have some really interesting exhibits from Asia, which were super impressive. For me, it's definitely a one-and-done visit unless a really special exhibit comes up. Parking: They have plenty of spots, but it's $6.99 for all-day parking.

    Nayiri M.

    I have been to this museum several times now and am always surprised by the wonderful experience. I am not a museum person, but the exhibits they have are always interesting. The China Terracotta Warriors was an incredible experience. You see it on TV but to stand in front of one of the warriors was truly incredible. There was a Video experience room which was interesting as well. There were also tools, decor, irrigation, and weapon exhibits which give you so much insight into these ancient yet advanced civilizations. There was also an interactive 'design your warrior' area where you could assign paint colors to parts of the uniform. This is just one example of an exhibit. But the museum always does a great job of blending thoughtful placards and interactive experiences. Great job!

    Sylvie C.

    Really underwhelming experience during my visit to see the terracotta warriors at Bowers Museum. Parking spaces are tight and limited. It's also not free or close to the entrance. The inside the museum is not well air conditioned and overran by screaming children and absent minded parents. I found it inescapable and they were insufferable. Imagine a kid running right into your leg and shrieking at you while reading the descriptions of an artifact. Not just once, but several times in different rooms I have entered to view the exhibition just to get away. And the exhibit itself for the actual terracotta warriors were pathetic. There were maybe about a half a dozen of them on cased display and that was it! And once you exited the warrior area exhibit, you can't re-enter! For a $60 entrance fee plus paid parking, I expected much more and better viewing experience than this. So totally not worth the money spent or effort made to visit. I really wish I had visited during the weekday or something when it wasn't perhaps going to be so crowded. You have been warned!

    My family with Debbie Brittenham, the Docent at Bowers

    The American Quilt in Bowers is an exhibition of the highest quality and deep learning The tour led by Debbie Brittenham was so educative and inspiring! Debbie is a volunteer with a great personal attitude to the subject and dedication to the art. Victor Samarov

    Nancy L.

    I came here as a chaperone for my son's 5th grade field trip to see the terracotta warriors exhibit. I was very impressed by our docent Kelly who was very patient with crazy 10 yo kids and she was very thorough explaining the history of these terra-cotta warriors. Our students also got to make their own clay terracotta warriors as part of the field trip. This museum is very neat and definitely worth a visit!

    Even more beautiful in person
    Linda C.

    As soon as I saw that the Terracotta Warriors were on exhibit at the Bowers Museum, I had to come that same day and wow, it did not disappoint. Seeing these incredible figures in person is truly unbelievable. Of course, I still hope to visit Xi'an someday to see the full excavation site, but having a handful of warriors here in Santa Ana is such a rare and special opportunity. My brain can hardly wrap around the fact that these were created by human hands over two thousand years ago..jaw dropping artistry and history. Like what am I even doing with my life? I can barely walk without tripping over my own two feet over here. The exhibit itself is beautifully curated, and the experience doesn't stop there. The colorful Nepalese art lining the entrance hall is stunning, and I also loved exploring the Polynesia exhibit, which is filled with fascinating artifacts. It's such a treat to see so many cultures and histories under one roof. Highly recommend catching the Terracotta Warriors exhibit before it ends! And don't miss the AI photo booth on your way out, it's a fun way to snap some "Terracotta-style" photos of yourself.

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    Ask the Community - Bowers Museum

    My question to you is if I work for children's services in LA County and the father of my client would like to have a supervised visit at your museum. Would I need to pay to enter the museum or would I have to enter for free?

    Caretakers do not have to pay admission to accompany those they care for, however, this does not include normal adult supervision. Please contact tours@bowers.org to better understand the nature of your specific request. Thank you!

    Can you just go pay your admission and explore on your own or is everything by tour and events?

    You are welcome to explore at your own pace and on your own once you purchase an admission ticket, no need for a tour or event.

    Does Bowers have wheelchairs available?

    There is wheel access , however I didn't notice and wheel chairs for rent/use.

    How do Santa Ana residents receive free admission?

    Santa Ana residents receive free admission on Sundays with proof of residency through an ID, driver's license, or utility bill.

    Are the terracotta warers still at the museum and for how long?

    They are not but check our upcoming exhibitions page for future exhibitions and you might just get a nice surprise very soon!

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    Review Highlights - Bowers Museum

    We bought the tickets online and made a reservation for lunch afterwards at Tangata, the museum's restaurant.

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    Hilbert Museum of California Art

    Hilbert Museum of California Art

    (207 reviews)

    The Hilbert Museum of California Art is the best museum in Orange County that you've never heard…read moreof. Even me, walking around recommending the place now, can barely remember its name. But still, since coming here for the first time only a couple of weeks ago I've recommended it multiple times. And now? Multiple + 1. Though you'll be asked, at entry, if you've made reservations, don't be daunted. Reservations are unnecessary and museum admittance is free of charge. Though the Hilbert had been on my radar earlier, I'd forgotten about it until noticing, at the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts, that several artists had pieces acquired by the Hilbert, spurring me to visit. Housed in two separate buildings connected by a central plaza framed with an astounding Millard Sheets mosaic, the building you enter for check-in has a frequently changing (3 times annually) display. On this visit they featured the California Art Club's 115th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition. Outstanding in every respect, I couldn't help but notice how many artists were there touring the show and how many of the pieces were already sold. Yes, the works in this particular exhibit were for sale, much of it quite reasonably priced considering the astounding talent on display. The second building features exhibits from the Hilbert's permanent collection and there was nary a dud in this space either. In that this is a museum of California art, the collection includes a lot of Disney-adjacent artists but also, so much more. I particularly enjoyed the way they kept each of these exhibits relatively bite-sized, to enable a broad showing of their remarkable collection. Knowing that the Hilbert is free, excellent, and always mixing things up pretty much guarantees a return visit on every future trip to Southern California. If you like museums and are anywhere nearby this is a museum definitely worth making time for.

    This was hands down one of the best out of nowhere experiences I had in a long time and it…read morecompletely blew my mind. Not just was it one of the coolest free things to do with a lot of content to be seen. I so glad I stopped in.

    Discovery Cube Orange County - Our first time here, I recommend you purchase tickets ahead of time, and expect a huge crowd  :(  :(  :(  the g-kids had fun tho :) :) :)

    Discovery Cube Orange County

    (1.1k reviews)

    I visited the discovery cube in Orange County qnd it was definitely a fun experience even as Ana…read moreduly. I also found out that this visit can be free during the first weekend of the month, for Bank of America account holders. Upon entering the museum, there was a display of build your own racing cars where a lot of kids were racing their creations. It was definitely a fun site to see. As you venture throughout the museum towards the back area, you walk into the dinosaur exhibit area. This is where they talk about fossils and various dinosaurs and there's also an explorer kit that you pay extra to try and find items and clues. Upstairs, you can have a better view of the space missile rocket that's on display and it's quite fascinating to read about rockets. Towards the back right of the museum currently there is a Scooby Doo Halloween exhibit so it was also fun to experience that area. Lastly, the most famous area is still the indoor Minh water area where you can see where is fish and stingrays. Overall a great experience for kids and adults. One less star as you have to pay $10 to park in their parking lot. I remember many years ago I used to be free, but I guess since it's more popular, you have to pay for parking now.

    I've spent my whole life driving by the cube off the 5 freeway and yesterday I finally got to visit…read moreit with my daughter! We were invited by friends who had comp tickets, we were so grateful! The museum is really big so make sure to plan almost a full day there. We brought our own lunch for us to save some money. But there is a café where you can buy lunch, snacks, drinks, etc. if you didn't bring anything. There's a lot of exhibits on both floors. My daughter really liked the ocean exhibit the dinosaurs, and the grocery store! The parking is $10. Make sure to come early. The main lot was full by the time we got there at around 11 AM. But I think there's an overflow lot for other cars. If you live in the area, it makes sense to buy a membership if you're gonna go two or three times throughout the year. It pays for itself the more you go!

    Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

    Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

    (493 reviews)

    The Richard Nixon Presidential Museum is a must visit. If you were alive during his career of…read morelearning about who he was, every American must visit. From his early years as a youth, his military years, to his career as a Senator, Vice President, then President of America, it is all here. When people talk of this man, Watergate is always in the forefront of the conversation. And what happened then was a dark time for America, but that is not the full story of President Nixon. He did so much good during his service to our country, and it is all highlighted here. Every person should visit this museum. President Nixon started the EPA, the Clean Air Act, OSHA, Title IX, he was instrumental in the woman's rights movement and brought the Vietnam war to an end. He was the first U.S. President to visit both China and the USSR in attempts to bridge relations with these countries. And these are only a few of his accomplishments which are still shaping our country and our lives today. He loved his wife Pat greatly, and their relationship is one of the best parts of this tour. But what's more, the museum is actually on the very land his family owned. The house he was born and grew up in is still here on the property and the docents will take you on a guided tour thru it. Both his wife and he are laid to rest here too. Quite a place.

    The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum is a beautiful place for its normal purpose, but…read morebecame spectacular for a special wedding.The entrance is well secured and features the Presidential Seal embedded in the floor tiles and a few quotes from President Clinton and Senator Dole. The grounds are well maintained and was the perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding, greatly assisted by SoCal weather. The ballroom features beautiful chandeliers and paintings of other Presidents and luminaries. 4.5 stars

    Lyon Air Museum - The Lyon Air Museum at the John Wayne International Airport in Santa Ana,California is a must see!

    Lyon Air Museum

    (243 reviews)

    Love that this museum is just sitting right next to the Santa Ana Airport like it's no big deal…read more The plane and car collection is awesome, and there's a whole spread of other historical artifacts scattered around that'll eat up most of your afternoon. What's cool is you can actually see inside some of the big planes, which really shows you what these crews were working with. Spoiler: hot, not much legroom and even less comfort. To add to the experience, there are docents/walking Wikipedias, roaming around ready to help. They're kind, friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, and their stories are the kind that stick with you for days. I became a member partly because of them. My favorite part of the museum is being able to sit and watch takeoffs and landings from SNA the whole time you're there. I could genuinely camp out all day. Just wish the runway was bigger so we'd get some bigger planes like at LAX. Anyway, so this museum started in 2009 showing Major General William Lyon's personal collection. Every aircraft here is still kept airworthy, not just propped up for looks, which is crazy. That detail alone makes it feel less like a museum and more like a very well organized hangar of time machines. But the real main event is the monthly car and plane meetups. They roll open the massive hangar doors so you can walk straight out onto the tarmac, and suddenly you're watching planes take off from super up close. It's unreal. Members get in an hour early too, so you skip the crowds entirely. A lot of people don't know this place exists though, which is wild given how good it is. Glad we stumbled onto it. Go check it out!

    Came to Lyon Air Museum to check out the collection of historic planes and cars. Admission was $15…read moreper adult with kids 5 and under free. The museum itself is fairly small since the exhibits are primarily limited to the indoor display area (at least during our visit). There's a pretty interesting collection of aircraft, vintage cars, and other historical items to walk around and look at. It's a nice place to spend an hour or so, especially if you have kids who are interested in planes and cars. There's also a small interactive area where visitors can actually climb into some of the vehicles which was a fun addition. The planes weren't available to enter when we visited, but we were able to get inside about four different cars. This was probably one of the more enjoyable parts for the kids since they could actually sit inside rather than just look at the exhibits. I do wish we would have been able to go outside to watch some of the planes taking off from John Wayne Airport. You can catch glimpses of some planes through the large garage-style doors, but being able to view them outdoors would have definitely made the experience more enjoyable. I'd highly recommend visiting during the cooler months especially if you're sensitive to heat. There is no air conditioning in the main display room. During our visit the space felt pretty dry, warm, and stuffy after walking around for a while. There is a small theater room with air conditioning where you can sit and watch videos and learn more about history. We enjoyed this area and thought it was a nice addition to the museum. Overall, it's a smaller museum so I wouldn't plan on spending several hours here, but it's a neat stop if you're interested in aviation or military history.

    Arboretum and Botanical Garden - Fulleron Arboretum

    Arboretum and Botanical Garden

    (546 reviews)

    What a wonderful little getaway at CSU Fullerton! This was my first visit and wanted to check it…read moreout before school is back in session. Parking is in front near the entrance, weekdays it's $4 /hr but free on the weekends. Admission is just a $5 suggested donation to support the arboretum. I arrived within the first half hour after opening to try and beat the heat. Even though it was still warm, there were plenty of shaded areas to stay cool along with benches that were great for relaxing. There was also a breeze so that helped. Thought about spending an hour there but glad I paid for two hours of parking because I ended up staying for 1 & 1/2 hours. One of my favorite moments were simply sitting on a bench listening to all the birds. Hopefully you can hear them on the video. This is a peaceful place to unwind and definitely encourage you to visit.

    Stunning, relaxing, and well-kept views. It's a great spot to get close with nature and enjoy an…read moreoutdoor stroll. BTW: visiting the garden is FREE! And so was parking when we came. I came on a really hot day, so I only saw about half of the place, but it was such a nice time by the ponds, creeks, and little lake. Beautiful wildlife to admire, too -- turtles, ducks, fish, and tons of dragonflies and other lovely creatures peacefully about. We spent a lot of time admiring a group of docile ducks and enjoying the shade by the water. They also have an online plant shop for those interested in gardening (with a great ongoing deal). Planning on purchasing from there and picking up so I have an excuse to stop by again. Loved my time here. Expect to enjoy yours too!

    Bowers Museum - museums - Updated September 2026

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