Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Burbank Historical Society

    4.7 (11 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Burbank Historical Society Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Burbank Historical Society

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cris I.

    I had been wanting to visit this museum in my own city of Burbank but it took a long, long time before I was finally able to make it. It's because they are one only open on weekends from 1-4pm when I'm particularly busy with family and/or friends gatherings. Until one Saturday afternoon that I was free so I was finally able to visit. Friendly docents were ready to welcome you as soon as you walk in. Admission is free but donations are welcome. I'm amazed how much artifacts, valuables, novelties, and collections are in here that tells the history of Burbank from 1880's. From then, Burbank raised from being a agricultural area to Lockheed era during the war and to be recognized the entertainment capital of the world. The biggest surprise I saw in this museum was actually the memorabilia of Debbie Reynolds who was Miss Burbank 1948. On display was the gown she wore on her coronation night plus the trophy. This is a two story building which you can freely roam on your own pace. It's easy to navigate as the path to each room was carefully arranged from beginning to end. There are numerous restrooms upstairs or downstairs.

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jo S.
    667
    2399
    15270

    4 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 1
    Love this 16
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 44
    Thanks 1
    Love this 42
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anne H.
    0
    37
    30

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andy W.
    0
    28
    10

    2 years ago

    Cute little free museum in Burbank. Strange, quirky, dusty, perfect for a Saturday. Great place for lovers of cars, history, and Americana.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Steve W.
    514
    211
    246

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Very nice litle museum, run by wonderful people. A must see if you like to know about Burbank history.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Burbank Historical Society

    Review Highlights - Burbank Historical Society

    The biggest surprise I saw in this museum was actually the memorabilia of Debbie Reynolds who was Miss Burbank 1948.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Landmarks & Historical Buildings 1,329 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    World of Illusions

    World of Illusions

    3.9
    (1k reviews)
    5.0 mi

    Needed a last minute outing to keep the kids busy so naturally, I googled my options. This…read morelocation was pretty convenient so off we went. Tickets were pretty easy to purchase online. I thought it was a timed entry but it is not...or it wasn't when we went. I followed the parking sign on the wall which led me to a lot just a little north of the museum. It was $20 to park there. Had I had more time to plan, I may have parked somewhere else as I felt that was a bit steep. I'm assuming metered parking would be hard to find in that location as it is in the heart of Hollywood. I thought it would be similar to the Museum of Illusions in New York, but rather than a museum feel, this was purely just photo ops. You can rent tripods at the front for $10. They also provide free lockers for your bags and stuff- which I would highly recommend. I didn't take up the offer in the beginning but soon realized that was a better option. I would also like to highly recommend and thank Tim! He showed us the ropes of how to take photos and he took some photos for us. He was friendly, professional and patient with my two young kids. He definitely knows his way around an iPhone camera and showed me some tricks I didn't even know. Tim's photos came out a lot better than mine as you need to find the perfect angle for the pictures to have that illusion effect. The tickets I purchased online also allowed us to go to the giant house next door and the upside down house. Tim came to the rescue again and took some amazing photos for us in the upside down house. It was a fun experience for all of us and I would definitely recommend visiting this location. If you see Tim, ask him for some pointers! Thank you, Tim!

    I recently visited the Museum of Illusions and had mixed feelings about the experience. It was fun…read moreoverall, especially if you enjoy taking pictures. There are several photo-friendly illusion setups that make for some cool and creative shots. We bought the bundle deal and also visited the Upside Down House and the Giant House. While those were interesting to see, there still wasn't much to do at either location besides taking pictures. One thing I really appreciated was the front cashier--He was very nice and welcoming, which made the check-in experience pleasant. However, I don't think the visit was quite worth the price. It felt a bit too expensive for what it offers, especially considering the bundle included all three exhibits. The experiences are fun for photos, but they're fairly short and limited in activities. For the amount you pay, it would be nice if there were more interactive things to do or more areas to explore. Overall, it's a good spot if you're really into taking fun illusion photos, but if you're expecting a longer or more activity-filled experience, it may feel a bit overpriced.

    Photos
    World of Illusions
    World of Illusions
    World of Illusions

    See all

    Museum Of Death

    Museum Of Death

    3.9
    (1.2k reviews)
    5.1 mi

    I had such a wonderful time here…read more I had been wanting to come for years! My cousin told me about it, and she lives so far away, and I've had lived here all my life and never knew about it. They had really great accessible features for anyone that is handicap. It's really clean, and it's so cool getting to learn about others and how they passed away, not to mention, understand my own life and put it in perspective. I really appreciate them making my night.

    Please please please listen to ALL the reviews citing poor customer service before you decide to…read morespend your hard earned money here. The staff are soo unbelievably rude, obnoxious, creepy, possibly racist and just straight up distatesful asf. The amount of "jokes" I heard coming the two employees with long hair, pertaining to the victims was disturbing. Those same employees also felt the need to follow me around for some odd reason which made me very uncomfortable to the point I almost walked out. I respectfully approached one and asked was there a downstairs to which he snapped, "yeah we have a downstairs" in a very dismissive and rude tone. Lol alright buddy, not sure who pissed in his Cheerios or stole the meth he obviously smokes from the looks of (it?) him. Try rehab, friend :) There were also some pretty loud and obnoxious guests, who kept making it hard for some of us to concentrate, and while I understand the museum can't exactly control who they get as a guest, I was hoping at least ONE staff member would tell them to keep the noice down. Nope! Instead they followed the quiet girl around and allowed the hyenas to roam thru the museum making crass jokes. It's funny I just realized I've already written three paragraphs before I actually got to talk about the museum contents so I'll make this short. Blood, guts, porn and more blood. While I did learn some things, I was expecting a lot more for $21 fridgin dollars. Most of the stuff in there could've been found on Reddit. Welp I crossed this off my list and regretfully so. Save your time and money.

    Photos
    Lobby/gift shop
    Lobby/gift shop
    Museum Of Death
    Museum Of Death

    See all

    Rubel Castle

    Rubel Castle

    4.8
    (59 reviews)
    26.5 mi

    I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience here at Rubel Castle. Our host, guide,…read moreand local "Rubelligent" volunteer, Ms. Kathleen had all the intel about this historical property. She was so knowledgeable and helped set the stage for us to slip into a forgotten era and get a glimpse of how imagination met inventiveness with a DIY charm. ~ A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR YOU ~ It's not pronounced Rubel as Barney from Flintstones. Rather, it's like Target is to Targét when we are trying to be fancy. So that's Rubel as in "Roo-bell." Unlike modern-day construction, Rubel Castle wasn't built overnight. It was made of collected recyclables and construction rubble that spanned many decades and took several friends and volunteers to build it. For Michael, however, the lifetime inspiration was first sparked at the age of 9. His love for canons was where it started and the rest is history you can hear about on the tour. But don't just show up like we did randomly one day. To book, visit RubelTours.org and make a reservation. ~ OUR TOUR EXPERIENCE ~ It's as if Michael Rubel, the creator and mastermind of this enchanted dominion had intended it to be--magical. Built in the castle period of wood and tin, every corner captured our interests, from antique cars to the 1890's Seth Thomas Tower Clock with a unique backstory (and only six in existence today). There were old vending machines, tools, trinkets, and machinery that time had long forgotten. Did I mention there was a drawbridge? Yes, and a dungeon too. I was just waiting for a dragon to come swoop down on us next. Walk in the footsteps of famous visitors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. It's a feast for the eyes no matter where you glance. I particularly enjoyed the bottle house that Michael built in 1968 as his "home" as a kid. That independent spirit was quite charming to see. ~ WATERCOLOR NATURESCAPE ~ We were fortunate to have our gracious host lead us on a tour and organize a special art crafting experience outdoors. It was absolutely lovely beneath the trees and between rusted vintage cars from the turn of the century. We each got a small canvas to paint our flowers in watercolor. (This particular experience takes place in the Spring and Fall, weather permitting.) We heard the squirrels rattling in the leaves and birds chirped and sang in the trees above. We discovered that peacocks apparently originated from this property, compliments of Michael Rubel. And did I mention that on the far side of the property, a custom garden was in full bloom? BOOK A TOUR Help support the Glendora Historical Society and keep this magnificently unique city-castle maintained. It's worth it.

    A castle in Glendora? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you--Rubel Castle is real, it's magnificent,…read moreand it's gloriously eccentric. Thanks to the sheer persistence (and probably delightful stubbornness) of Michael Rubel, we now have this quirky, towering State Treasure sitting right in the middle of Glendora like a fairy tale that accidentally took a detour through a hardware store. This place is beautifully done, and part of its charm is that it's a full-on hodgepodge of relics, antiques, crystal trinkets, and "wait... what is that doing here?" moments tucked into every nook and cranny. You'll marvel, you'll laugh, you'll squint in confusion--honestly, it's everything you'd want in a castle built with love, imagination, and a dash of madness. And let's talk about the makeshift cemetery. Quirky? YES. Fun? Absolutely. Slightly spooky? Only if your imagination is over-caffeinated. But it fits the vibe perfectly--like the castle whispered, "You know what I'm missing? A tiny cemetery." The tours are fantastic, the guides are passionate, and the whole experience feels like you're stepping into a living scrapbook of California history and charming chaos. Overall: Amazing, amazing place. Book your tour. They only do tours every first Sunday of the month, so set your alarms, mark your calendars, tie a string around your finger--just don't miss it. Rubel Castle is truly a California State Treasure, and an absolute must-see for anyone who appreciates creativity, history, and a little eccentric sparkle.

    Photos
    Rubel Castle
    Rubel Castle
    Roots!

    See all

    Roots!
    Travel Town Museum

    Travel Town Museum

    4.4
    (441 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Travel Town is a free attraction in Griffith Park that makes for a nice 1-2 hour excursion and fun…read morephoto opportunities. It's a nice park with historic trains to explore and a small train ride, very fun for kids! The ride goes around the whole park twice and costs $4 per person. We saw a 1-year-old birthday party set up with tables and a tent. We saw families having picnics with kids and dogs. It was not crowded on a Saturday around 3pm. There was no wait for the train ride, and it was easy to go up into the historic train cars that allow access. They have dining cars and private party areas available for rent for relatively low fees ($75 for picnic areas, $150 for dining cars, each accommodating ~30 people). There is a pretty elaborate train model setup to watch, and a play area, but kids need to bring their own train toys to play there. There is also a gift shop with souvenirs, train toys (which kids can then play with in the play area), candy and ice cream. The restrooms are park restrooms, so they're relatively clean but definitely not luxury. It's cool for the adults that enjoy looking at the historic trains, and it's fun for kids to run around, play and explore! It's pretty amazing for a free museum.

    I loved this place. No pressure. Just walk around and have fun and learn things. Families having a…read morepicnic and enjoying life. Awesome old trains that you can look at. A great museum of trains. A nice store to buy memorabilia. And finally, a super fun, tiny train that takes you around the entire park..... and just when you think it's done.... it takes you around again!!! YES. It makes you feel like a child again!!!! These are the types of places that are so important to keep around. Wonderful!

    Photos
    Inside a train car.
    Inside a train car.
    For Reservations
    For Reservations
    Outside the Museum Store

    See all

    Outside the Museum Store

    Burbank Historical Society - landmarks - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...