Now I know there was a failed museum in Napa that focused on wine and food called COPIA. However, I wasn't aware that there's been a local art museum next to Chandon in Yountville since 1972 until Jamie read about the special tiki bar exhibition running until the end of this month, "Tiki Dreams: From Far Away Fantasy to Pop Culture Phenomenon". Definitely up our alley. Well, given our recent run on patronizing tiki bars here and abroad, we just had to go. We went up on a recent Saturday, and the museum was crowded with tiki aficionados. It turned out Bank of America was sponsoring an admission-free day, so we took advantage and became engulfed in what felt like a claustrophobic space that was equal parts arts & crafts fair and vintage memorabilia. There was definite entertainment value if you miss this mid-century phenomenon. There were other exhibition rooms, but we weren't made aware of them by the staff. Perusing the website, I noticed some interesting past exhibitions like "The Great California Road Trip 1962", something that appeals to my baby boomer sensibilities. Next to Chandon and close to other attractions, this might be worthy of a return visit. RELATED - Exploring north of San Francisco? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2tIHlkV read more

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Visited the Napa Valley Museum during the Tiki Dreams, Mini Masterpieces, and the Great California Road Trip exhibits. I went for the Tiki Dreams exhibit in particular. The largest exhibit is in the main building on the ground floor with the admissions desk and gift shop. The tiki exhibit itself was quaint and small. Mugs, old menus, photos and history of tiki bars, one set of Witco chairs and table, plus a hand built bar by local artist Woody Miller. Interesting to see but ultimately a quick walk through maybe intended more for those looking for nostalgia. They were selling tiki merchandise and mugs at inflated prices at the gift shop. Mugs that were $150 at the original events are being marked up and sold for $230. Almost all of the gift shop merch was overpriced. The other two exhibits downstairs were small and it smelled of sulfur or sewage since they are located below the bathrooms.. Really off putting. We looked through mini masterpieces and Great California Road Trip exhibits in at most 15 minutes and left. Entry to the museum is $15 per person... We went during Bank Of America's Museum on Us which takes place every first full weekend of the month. Bring your Bank of America credit or debit card and entry is free. Luckily one of us got in for free with this promo. read more

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I'm back in Napa again. Today, is going to be about Wine Country history. This is right next to the Veterans Home of California. I saw this all the time going to Chandon. The theme is Julia Child: A Recipe for Life. I'm at the Napa Valley Museum of Art & Culture, part of the Napa Valley Museum Yountville NVMY. It builds on the earlier Exhibit of France is a Feast. It includes Photos by the Schlesinger Library and Harvard Radcliffe Institute. This is about Culinary Arts. There were a lot of rare, neat, and cool artifacts that were spread throughout the building. My favorite part was they brought out and had a real professional and operable Recording camera, similar to one used on set. And I didn't expect there was going to be a window view of the high-end Kitchen from the PRESS Restaurant right next to here, that's incredible. I enjoyed it, and it was nice to meet some people out there that happen to be in the building. read more

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Had such a nice time at this museum to see the Tiki exhibit. They did such a great job showing so much art, history, artifacts, mugs, clothes, etc. The museum is clean and bright and not crowded. I would definitely come back for any exhibit that interested me in the future. read more

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Sweet, sentimental, uncomplicated Napa Valley Museum (NVM). This is my third visit here and thought it deserving of a review. The museum presents different Exhibits during the calendar year. Current exhibit is "Walt Disney's Trains", which ends Mar. 31, 19. Yes, it is a family friendly Museum. Exhibit highlights Mr. Disney's love of trains. He worked on a train as a lad, along with his brother, Roy. Together, as vendors selling magazines, peanuts & cigs. His smart uniform with a peaked hat along with a railroad pin on his lapel; made him feel like he was the envy of all the young children boarding!! My first NVM visit was for "The Art of Chocolate". Confection art & displays were produced and made by local chocolatiers. Chocolate and wine were available for purchase. The event was well attended. Another previous visit was for "France Is Feast: the photographic journey of Paul and Julia Child." Exhibit was full of pictures & love letters of the two during time spent in France. It was wonderful to see the young lovers in black & white stills! Just like everything else in Yountville, NVM is pricey. The entrance fee is $20 if you'd like to wear a headset to narrate your tour. Become a member for discounts & invites to openings. The Napa Valley History Museum is downstairs, ... currently closed for renovation. The sign on the door doesn't give any date of re-opening. read more

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Went for the Tiki Exhibit - some beautiful carvings. Very cool to see old photos & menus from places now gone. Nice selection of items in the gift shop. We wanted to see the Road Trip exhibit in the downstairs gallery but, the smell of raw sewage drove us out within 2 minutes. That area should be closed until a plumber arrives. read more

We went to the Napa Valley Museum after Linda Falls hike w/ Napa Land Trust & the Sharpsteen Museum in Calistoga. The Napa Valley Museum is near Domaine Chandon so after drinking there you can come visit this small museum. It cost $10 adult/ $5 senior citizens. I charged my $10 to my Visa. NO AAA discount! When we went Sun1/9/11 they were still showing the exhibit: "Dreams of Toyland" going on from Nov 20 - Jan 23. NO Photos in this special exhibit. Too bad, because it was so cute! Lots of dioramas of Christmas scenes & cute animals, stuffed animals, etc. Then you go downstairs by stairs or elevator to see the regular collection - photos allowed there. Lots of fossils & stuff about the history of Napa Valley: ranch life; transportation;railroads; Wappo Indians, etc. Did you know there were Chinatowns in Napa Valley? They've been all destroyed though, so sad. The Rozaline & Bertram Johnson Collection of Fossils & Minerals was interesting. Stuff from the area, around the US, & other countries. Some outside art is interesting too. Worth a stop if you're in the area. Bathrooms & drinking fountains available. Tip: FREE Napa County Watershed 2011 Calendar available when I went Sun 1/9/11. Plan for at least an hr to read & see everything. Website: http://www.napavalleymuseum.org/ read more

Second visit and same result, unimpressive. The small Napa Valley exhibit was interesting, feel like this should be a more prominent theme considering the name and location. read more

I really is an unlikely museum setting as another reviewer mentioned. It's a small, cozy, educational museum. We visited the Paul Child exhibit where we learned about his photography and life with Julia Child. It was a great one put together. Downstairs was sweet that they had a children's exhibit based on their poetry to go with their photographs. The rest was on the history of the area which was enlightening as I had no idea. If you are in the area it was nice to go in if you have the time and the exhibit is what you want to see. Admission was ok. It's a nice chill area to be around if you want a break from the busyness of the area. read more

The Napa Valley Museum is in an unlikely setting, right beside an enormous nursing home for veterans, a golf course, a fire station&Domaine Chandon Winery. Luckily, the museum itself is prominent and easy to find. Its admission is now $7. They have cool outdoor sculptures, like a Nature mandala&what looks like a birth canal shaped in rocks. Their current exhibition is called Nourish, inspired by the food, wine&art center in Napa that was Copia. It's got paintings&sketches of hot dogs&hamburgers by Wayne Thiebaud, a depiction of food by Pablo Picasso himself, a portrait of the French Laundry's Thomas Keller, as well as the schematics of Alinea's Grant Achatz. The sculptures are fascinating, from an installation of favorite recipes, to an assemblage of aprons, and San Francisco depicted with Jell-O cubes. On the lower level, there is a history exhibit on the Napa Valley, from its underlying geology to its Jewish and Chinese communities. It's handsomely done with artifacts like an adobe brick from Gen. Vallejo's home, California's official state rock serpentine, and a menu from one of Calistoga's original hot springs resorts. The docent is friendly. It's clean, pleasant, and air-conditioned. The Napa Valley isn't exactly an arts destination. If you want painting&sculpture, Santa Fe's Canyon Road has that, as well as its Museum Plaza overlooking the city in the Sangre de Cristo foothills. It's a nice enough getaway. read more

Ok, apparently Yelpers are too busy drinking to make a stop here... Only because of our group am i stopping here. But it is really a nice treat. The Plein Air exhibit of local artists was nicely appointed with some interesting pieces. And, you must go down stairs to the wine exhibit and edumacate your self on the wine making process and test your BAC. Great place for a potty break read more

Absolutely enjoyed our trip to this small museum. We came for the exhibit on Walt Disney's trains. So fun! Many interesting displays and items from personal collections. One of my favorite displays were the iPads programmed with pages from vintage magazines. These are articles that we would otherwise not be able to see! I also loved seeing the rare Disney family videos!!! I sure wish the family would allow more of it to be shared. So many of us loved what Walt created for all of us. I think the world would benefit from seeing the warmth of his family. What an empire he made... professionally and privately! But, he was a man...a dad...a grandpa...and he loved trains! read more

We came by this museum and visited the outside of it, as we didn't have time to venture inside for an extended visit. There are some cool sculptures outside for your viewing pleasure, and even restrooms to use as well. :) read more

Drove to the museum expecting to see some Napa history. Only the top floor of the museum was open featuring Disney's interest in trains. The prices were almost double those posted on the website. The young lady at the admissions desk was not concerned with our failed expectations, the museum's very limited offering, and the unreasonable admission prices. I'm sure with the passage of time, I'll find something good to write about the Napa Vally Museum. read more

Went to a nice event and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Very beautiful space.

This is not an art museum but a history museum of the region. The temporary exhibit in the main gallery had photos relating to the Southern Pacific Railroad. Unfortunately, I recently saw a superior exhibition at the Huntington Library in Pasadena about Huntington's Central Pacific. Downstairs was a permanent exhibit about the development of Napa Valley which is basic. It's a decent 20-minute, conveniently located respite stop between wine tasting rooms, but not a destination or "must see" attraction. read more

At $10 seems pricy for the small displays - more of art gallery than museum of history

This museum gave us a great laugh because we thought it would be larger. It's a cozy museum probably why admission is so cheap. More educational then anything. If you're in the area then why not try it, but we probably wouldn't drive up there again. We imagine others will like it, just wasn't for our interest. read more

This museum is run by veterans. The elder man at the front desk was very friendly! Students get to pay the youth admission which is just $2.50! They don't have much here but you get to learn some stuff. ;) read more