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    Channel Islands Maritime Museum

    4.0 (36 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 4:00 PM

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    Out front.
    Lianne K.

    Prior to the museum's relocation, I'd visited in on the other side of the channel in a smaller venue. Following the Passport 2 History book, it was time for checking out the newer location several weekends ago. My understanding is that the building used to be a restaurant, so it's a two story affair with great water views. They have a lot more elbow room now, so they've expanded their collection of nautical paintings on display, as well as the dozens of intricate ship models. One area recognizes the master crafting of Edward Marple. It's actually quite amazing in their particular milieu that they have so many of his models, as he wasn't from the area. It would be interesting to learn more about the museum itself - who decided that there should be a collection of this type in Oxnard, and who led the charge to raise the money to acquire the many unique items they've curated? They don't lack for items to display, which is great for visitors. Am not sure how someone could go through here in just 15 to 20 minutes. Just taking in the details in the models, or letting yourself be drawn into the paintings to appreciate their world on canvas is worth the time to slow down and enjoy the depictions of life on the high seas. We spent at least 45 minutes going through all the exhibits. They also have a nice gift shop area behind the main counter where you check in. Whoever's doing the buying has a good eye for attractive items. One small sour note was that the volunteer who was handling the main desk didn't have any idea where to find the stickers for the Passport 2 History program for us. Then another family wanted to apply their admission to a membership. They were standing under a sign at the counter that said that you can do just that, but the docent said that it wasn't possible. (He hadn't been trained on the procedure.) He didn't seem to have a staff person to call to help him with these questions that arose, leaving several of us with a less than fulfilled set of requests. Another docent on the floor was very helpful in making sure that we noticed a 400 year old Flemish painting in one of the main galleries. The museum is right to be proud of such a treasure! Worth a visit to a treasure trove of seafaring artistry in many forms.

    Dan R.

    This museum is a hidden gem. It is definitely worth a visit even if you're out of town. It's a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. On the first floor we had an amazing tour guide, Klaus. You would think he had a masters degree in history, he knows so many fun facts and all the art work and ties it into the ship models. I'm thoroughly impressed with their selection of art. And it was only $7 dollars for an adult! We will be back. Thanks again!

    Winnie T.

    It is a very small museum right at channel island. It costs $7 (at my time) for entrance. It is just an okey museum. They got a lot of paintings of ships and vessels. And model of ships and vessels for different time. You have to be a die hard ship fans or die hard history fans to enjoy it. My son happens to be a die hard history fans, so we got a real nice "tour" by him. That makes this place more interesting. But I can imagine coming by myself, I can be done with the whole museum in less than 30 minutes. Second floor is very small and only show a few artifact from the ship. They have a special exhibit for women tattoo during my visit (no idea how it relates) I would have to say the Seabees museum not far from this museum is a WAY better choice. A lot more educational and a lot more interesting. Unless you are a die hard ship fans, I will suggest the Seabees museum instead!!!

    A real nautical cannon!!

    A true HIDDEN GEM, the Channel Islands Maritime Museum has one of the most interesting collections of maritime artwork you could ever imagine. From gorgeous paintings dating back to Holland in the 1600's to remarkable handmade replica ships spanning world history, this museum has it all!! Make sure you request Klaus as your guide, as he's a remarkably gifted storyteller with a great sense of humor and deep knowledge of his subject matter.

    Ventura County Maritime Museum
    Jack F.

    We visited the local maritime museum today and really enjoyed ourselves. It's a small museum, maybe 2,000 sq. ft., but it's packed with beautiful works. The enthusiastic volunteer staff guided us through the museum, introduced us to Dutch & English maritime artwork, as well as the numerous handmade models for sale at prices ranging from $20 - $1,000, many being sold for fundraising purposes to support the museum. In addition, there were model makers on-hand to explain the intricacies of model ship building. A great extra - periodically classes are offered teaching kids (and adults) about model ship building, including how to build ships in a bottle for hobby & gifts. The museum visit is free, but they recommend a $3 donation to support the cause - a good deal. Photos: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/7zIUv8_Ionwl8lKHCIiNzg?select=xW3m351iRqNodle6vw5CBw

    Cannon ball effects
    AL I.

    We came here with 4 kids ages 12, 10, 3, and 2. The museum is 2 floors made up of 2 large rooms. You could probably see everything in 15/20 mins unless you're REALLY into ships. The little kids wanted something to touch and play with and there one 1 table with some plastic fish for them. I didn't see a coloring station that a previous reviewer mentioned. For the price I was disappointed. We ended up taking the little kids outside while the older ones finished the tour. Unless you are super interested in boats and your kids are super well mannered with long attention spans ...SKIP THIS MUSEUM.

    Really cool
    Mellisa S.

    Lovely museum with lots of cool ship artifacts and tons of history. Fun for the kids.

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    7 years ago

    What a great local museum. Joe, gave us so much information about the exhibits and the museums history. Good job

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    8 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Not what I was expecting. Large amount of wooded ship models and art. If you're into that then this is your place.

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    10 years ago

    Tom was an amazing tour guide. Absolutely fabulous. They had lots of art to look at. It was worth the price you paid.

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    Ask the Community - Channel Islands Maritime Museum

    Review Highlights - Channel Islands Maritime Museum

    There is a detailed display about Port Hueneme that I found fascinating.

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    Oxnard Historic Farm Park

    Oxnard Historic Farm Park

    4.3
    (6 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    I had my wedding here in February and can I just say that even in the dead of winter with not much…read moregreenery I'm so thankful we chose the farm park. It's so beautiful and rustic and the team working there are so knowledgeable and dedicated to this park. Not to forget they were so easy to work with! I don't live in the state anymore but I will absolutely make it a point to go back when I can and recommend it to everyone I know!

    We've been wanting to visit the Oxnard Historic Farm Park for a while now, since it's part of the…read morePassport 2 History program. The limited hours of 9 to 12 on Saturday mornings hasn't worked for us in conjunction with other plans on the Oxnard Plain. I was glad to see that they were participating in Ventura County Farm Day, and staying open later than usual. We made it one of the definite stops we planned for the Farm Day activities. It was not what I expected. Good surprise! First, it's tucked into a neighborhood with green belts and a park, which gives a more spacious feeling than I was imagining. It's also not near any other farmland. What they do have is a number of vintage buildings, several plots where they're growing crops, some farm machinery, and more. There's a lot to take in visually. On Farm Day there was an added bonus that a gentleman was operating an old printing press, then giving away the bookmarks he made. They were literally "hot off the presses". He had a wry sense of humor, and it was fun visiting with him. We weren't able to pick up a stamp for the Passport 2 History program, as we never found the rep for the property. We were greeted by volunteers for the SEEAG group, the organization promoting Farm Day. Guess we'll have to go back to enjoy the surroundings one Saturday morning. I recommend this venue for families with kids, as there's lots to see, interesting backdrops for photos, and opportunities to talk about where food comes from, besides Ralph's!

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    Oxnard Historic Farm Park
    Oxnard Historic Farm Park
    Oxnard Historic Farm Park

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    US Navy Seabee Museum

    US Navy Seabee Museum

    4.7
    (46 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    We absolutely love this small museum. It was right next to the Ventura county naval base. Plenty of…read moreparking at the back. This museum is free of charge. It talked about the history of the Seabees, the navy engineer in the recent history. It was divided into different part. From WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam war, gulf war, 911 and war on terrorists and so on. A lot of great information and pictures. Perfect for any kids or teens that have a STEM mind. We find that they are fascinating. A must visit if you or your families are interested in STEM and mechanics.

    Free Museum alert! There are not many free museums left plus free parking as well. This Navy museum…read moreis located in Port Hueneme (Oxnard if this helps) in Ventura County. 3201 S. Ventura Road, Building 100, Port Hueneme which is on the base. Opened daily 10a-4pm but closed on Sundays. No reservations needed. Kid friendly location. This museum opened in 1947 which is also the 2nd oldest Navy museum in the US. You can easily spend about 2 hours here because they carry so much actually memorials from the actually event. There are a couple of screening rooms to sit and watch. Vintage heavy machinery like war tanks. Learning about the history with the collections, preserves, and exhibits artifacts related to the history of the United States Navy Engineer Corps. We can learn about Seabees (Navy military) also perform global humanitarian missions such as well-drilling and disaster relief. Established in 1941, they served as the construction force for the Navy during World War II. The Seabees' "Can Do" attitude made them legendary within the Armed Forces, and their character epitomized the resilience of that generation. The "Can Do" attitude still drives today's Seabees. If you are lucky you might even see a few Navy members walking from the base. After your tour you can take the scenic route home on the coast of PCH. Thank you Naval History and Heritage Command for preserving our history. We appreciate all your hard work for US history.

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    US Navy Seabee Museum
    US Navy Seabee Museum
    US Navy Seabee Museum

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    Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing

    Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing

    4.6
    (46 reviews)
    8.8 mi

    I'd argue that the "Commemorative Air Force museum" is a better representative of "Air" exhibits…read morethan the Smithsonian's " "Air and Space" museum. Sure the Smithsonian has some of the most historically significant airplane in aviation history but everything is so far away. All the exhibits here including the airplanes are within reach...one can experience there size and in many cases your able to look, touch, and walk into some (historic ) airplanes. One of personal life thrills is being able to sit inside a real MIG 29 cockpit which I did at this museum. Also in this visit we were within feet of one of the only flying B29 super-fortresses left. Our entire family was in awe of the planes and the stories the (wonderful ) docent regaled us with during our visit. It's not fancy...you are in fact inside a hanger with planes that do fly vs the Smithsonian but no less an opportunity to see historical planes and learn about the history of flight and the US Air Force ! Everyone associated with the museum is wonderful and friendly. We were told that the exhibits do change so visiting at least once a year will provide an opportunity to learn and see something new.

    My hubby's job had a New Year's casino night party here last night. The space was very large! It…read moreheld 700 people! Approximately 15,000 square feet of hangar space! It was a very different, but cool thing to see airplanes inside of the venue. We took a picture of one of the airplanes outside and one of the airplanes inside the venue. I took a couple of videos showing how spacious it was. They have a stage for a band, DJ, or performers. From what I read on their website, they have a list of caterers they work with. I don't know which one they had yesterday, but the food was delicious! They also had several cashless bars inside the venue to order drinks from. The only things that I didn't like were that they don't have restrooms inside, so the company rented "fancy porta potties". Another thing was the parking situation. They don't have a lot of parking space so we had to take an Uber to get there and back, but overall, it was nice and great for big events.

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    This B29 was getting some engine work done before flying home!   It's a massive plane !
    This B29 was getting some engine work done before flying home! It's a massive plane !
    B29 Super fortress in all its awesomeness. Our docent noted that "the Millenium falcons" cockpit took inspiration from the B29.
    B29 Super fortress in all its awesomeness. Our docent noted that "the Millenium falcons" cockpit took inspiration from the B29.
    China doll

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    China doll
    Heritage Square Oxnard

    Heritage Square Oxnard

    4.2
    (33 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    I've been on a kick this year to see more historic parks and landmarks in SoCal. Shout out to…read moreYelper All-Star Derek W. of Lakewood, CA for inspiring me with his awesome photos and experiences! The challenge I'm finding is parks being open through the week, when we (ahem) "more mature folks" like to enjoy less crowds. So when I saw Heritage Square in Oxnard was open, with possible docent tours, on a TUESDAY, I jumped on the opportunity to partake of some local history. We headed for the Square and saw some parking but, being a first timer, I decided to drive around the entire square and see the layout from the street. I decided to park on W Seventh St, to the north and take advantage of shade, and the close proximity to Heritage Coffee and Gifts(separate review), which I knew we would wander into before departing the area. Turns out W Seventh is the perfect place to start. We entered and immediately were taken with the beautiful architecture, landscaping, care and attention to detail this special area exudes. It was all pretty magical and I wasn't sure where to start. Luckily, it wasn't more than a few steps in that we spotted the water tower and visitor's center/gift shop/central hub. We stepped inside and were greeted warmly. I explained that I saw they had docent lead tours and we could sign up online, but I wasn't sure what time we would arrive, so I didn't make a reservation. Was it still possible to get a tour, or was there a self-guided walking tour info sheet? We were asked to wait a moment while the manager and lead docent was found to see if they were available. Gary was available and we began our tour. What a WONDERFUL storyteller! Weaving the families and their history with Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and bringing them to life in front of their very lovingly restored homes! He took us inside of some of the buildings, where operational businesses agree to have the public tours pop in for a moment of show and tell. Details about the original designs, room layouts, furnishings and use were all so amazing to see, touch and learn about. The tour lasted about 45 minutes. We paid $10/pp and it was well worth it! Just to hear the history of the on-site church alone was worth it! But to venture inside, see the details in the hand-made stained glass and the conversion of the oil lanterns to electric. To hear how it has changed denominations over the years and to view the photos inside, documenting the preparation of the Square, the moving process for the homes and the restoration was so intriguing. This is such a beautiful and unique area. I love that these beautiful homes were repurposed and are thriving with businesses! At the end of the tour, Gary encouraged us to check out the annual Holly Trolley Tours, Christmas Tree Lane Event and Gingerbread House Exhibit and tours. All sounded absolutely delightful!. I immediately signed up for their newsletter and I'm REALLY looking forward to returning durning the holiday season and posting more pics of festively dressed docents and delightful decorations. Cheers! "CC"

    The tours are such a great way to learn more about Oxnard. Ms. Connie Korenstein and all the…read moredocents who volunteer are gems and so good at what they do. Make a visit soon and plan your trip by visiting their website to get tour schedules and info. Review the expectations before your visit and ensure the littles are able to follow instruction to not climb and explore on the historic grounds.

    Photos
    Heritage Square Oxnard
    Heritage Square Oxnard
    Heritage Square Oxnard

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    Casa del Herrero

    Casa del Herrero

    4.6
    (29 reviews)
    29.9 mi

    I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is…read moreholding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon.

    Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original…read moreoccupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it.

    Photos
    I'm very proud of this color match
    I'm very proud of this color match
    Casa del Herrero
    Crush It Wine educators, Allie and Julie.

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    Crush It Wine educators, Allie and Julie.

    Channel Islands Maritime Museum - museums - Updated June 2026

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