An amazing collection, from fossils, arrowheads, Native American jewelry, to jade, sculptures and paintings. I was very impressed with the variety of artifacts. The displays made items easy to see. The guide made it really great cause he knew so much about the items. Not many items have a write up besides a basic name and date. The gift shop had some really cool stuff too and at good prices.

I loved this little spot! Lots of very interesting items I had never seen before and such friendly staff! The eaterwise garden outside is worth a visit as well.

These are just some pictures I took. But you have to visit this place in person. This place is spectacular, beautiful and informative. I really enjoyed looking at different things from the Stone age, native American artifacts. It's a must visit place in my book and I also liked the location. The water conservation is right next door.

I love this museum. A total gem. A big learning adventure in a small well curated museum with fascinating collections of natural history, archaology, anthropology and art. Friendly staff. Beautiful location. I learn so much about something different about history of the planet and people each time I visit.

What a hidden treasure! I lived in East County for nine years but never knew this was here. It feels like you're entering Cuyamaca College but it's the first building past/inside the gate. They border the conservation garden so you could visit both in one day trip. I brought our homeschool co-op here for a guided tour. School children were all free. The director was very gracious, easy going, and accommodating. Her docents blew us away with their knowledge and passion for history. No question was too obscure or random. They had an answer for every one! You could tell they all genuinely loved kids too. There's a little gift shop where items are priced far below market value because they want students to be able to purchase things with their own money. A very memorable and unique experience overall. Almost all exhibits were actual artifacts and not replicas. We even got to touch real dinosaur eggs. Please go support this amazing museum.

On invite to the Cuyamaca College Spring Garden & Butterfly Festival we stumbled into this true gem. Never new it had existed. We spent most of our time touring this small but very well laid out museum. The docents were very welcoming and active- greeting and sharing stories. Really cool gift shop/souvenir case . Honestly - based on my last experience at the natural history museum in balboa , I'd rather return here. I learned more and felt more welcome.

I went here with my daughter’s class on a field trip. Had I not gone I never would have known this place existed. Glad I did. It is a wonderful place. A bit eclectic for a museum in my opinion but packed full of stuff. Being it was started as one man’s collection and was built on top of that it does not have the normal “exhibits” that go into lots of words and pictures. So some of the items have limited information about them. Usually just a small card with about a sentence worth of info. Though what it lacks in info in makes up with quantity. It is packed to the rim with items. The guides are very knowledgeable and if you want more info on one of the items that’s where you get it. They break out the items into 4 sections; Art, Natural history, Anthropology and Archeology. Each section can take you about an hour to go through. They do a scavenger hunt for the kids to find different items which really gets the kids moving around and looking at everything. I had fun helping the kids because each book ids different, so I was going all over the place. The kids really like the gift shop as most items are priced for them. They also have wonderful gardens around the outside of the building. I not sure if it is something I would go to monthly but it is worth seeing. It’s a hidden gem in the area.

This museum is amazing! The art and artifacts are enough to keep you engaged all day. One of the most enjoyable presentations ia the food created out minerals and rocks. They had their Rock Sale today and we scored some treasures. The docents give tours answer questions and sometimes show a couple of very intriguing specimens. They make the museum most enjoyable. Many thanks to all of them!!

Nice small museum

Even though the museum is very small it has a good introduction to diverse civilizations and tribes in the New World. The place is split on 4 rooms, the natural history, art exhibitions, early conquest and North American Indians. Recommend attending it!

Such an amazing museum! A must visit for everyone. Visited as a parent chaperone with a school field trip. The kids loved it! Dr. Dave gave an outstanding presentation and the students learned an incredible amount of historical information. By far one of the top museums. Can't wait to go back. :)

This a wonderful museum with a wonderful mission. Their goal is to bring bus loads of children through the four wings of the museum and show them exciting areas of the sciences and arts. There are a lot of interesting things to see and great docents to explain things... too much fun.

I went here with my son's 3rd grade class on a field trip. What a wonderful experience. Many interesting authentic pieces of American culture, native american artifacts, and prehistoric items. Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and interesting. Definitly worth the visit. They also have a reasonably priced gift shop, which the kids love.

Excellent! Ten year old granddaughter LOVED the scavenger hunt. I will be back again. Spent two hours there. Small but very packed with great exhibits! Volunteers are very nice and also very willing to help.

A visit to this museum is a great family affair. When my grandkids come to town, this visit tops their “list of must -do’s”. The artifacts are up close, and well displayed, the volunteers are welcoming, informed, and professional. I love the brightly colored art work (oil originals of American Indian life.) And of course the gift shop is a great draw for children and adults, reasonably priced. This museum also has a good display of local gems, and wildlife. I recommend a visit next door to the Cuyamaca College gardens display, featuring local native plants and water conservation ideas. They offer plants for sale as a fund raiser for the school. Well worth your time! Michael Collins, Jamul, CA.

There are four large rooms to this small, but fantastic museum. It's only a few bucks to get in, and well worth what seems like a nominal donation to keep the place up and running. What makes it even more amazing is that most of the artifacts are from one (late) man's collection! Paintings, head-dresses, arrowheads, and amazing jade creations. Pottery, knives, bead designs, and so so so much more. If you are in the area, go. Most people don't even know this cool museum exists. P.S. The gift shop sells great stuff at super low prices, too. Can't go wrong.

The Heritage Museum is a fantastic place to gain a full view of the History of the San Diego area and of Southern California. Amazing relics and impressive works of art from various cultures, native peoples, and more recent immigrants to the area are displayed. From fossils to weaved bread baskets and head ornaments, there is no square foot in the museum that doesn't expose the visitor to interesting facts, awesome taxidermy displays, and many, many, artifacts and works of art. Bring your curiosity and hunger for historical facts...you will need it. Amazing place, I highly recommend it.

We went to a classic car show here. Had never been here before. Was pretty cool

This is an amazing museum. It's a bit small and even with a slow pace you can see everything in about an hour. It is well maintained, quiet, and the art and artifacts are all gorgeous. The staff is friendly and kowledgable. Amazing experience.

Seemed like a small hidden secret in San Diego. The garden area is beautiful and the museum is amazing.

VERY cool place to visit with some outstanding artifacts.

Everyone should check out this amazing museum. There is so much world and local history with knowledgeable staff! Fun and educational for people of all ages and interests!

Great Native American artifacts. A must see if you are interested in the indigenous people of the Americas. The water conservation garden is located next door and can be directly accessed from the museum parking lot.

Excellent collection. Very helpful staff. A great place to visit. Can't miss!

Very cool! Love the rock display from local gem and mineral society - so real looking.

A hidden jewel!!! Better than a lot of world class museums in terms of collections of specific items!

A hidden gem of a museum in Rancho San Diego!

Pokemon Go gym occupied by team Instinct ^__^

AN AMAZING WALK THROUGH TIME :) I HAD AN AMAZING TIME HERE, THANK YOU

Wonderful place for the whole family.

There is so much to see, and the volunteers are so sweet.

It is a fun place to visit and learn and with patient staff who are willing to help you and your kids learn makes it all the better

I was in awe with this museum so much to see and historical findings that have been collected. It was overwhelming I’m so glad to be a part of this community

Amazing place to take the kids to learn in a different atmosphere, awesome gift shop with caring volunteer staff !!

Minerals, shells, Indian artifacts, lots to see and read about other cultures.

Amazing Museum, totally worth going and fun for the kids.

Very nice 👍

An amazingly detailed collection of North American cultural artifacts as well as a few from other parts of the world, with a little natural history thrown in. Two small but very nice biome type gardens in patio areas.

My first time there. Quite a collection of items. Interesting.

Very helpful and friendly staff

Very well ran facility helpful staff very good with kids. When you are done looking thru the museum there is a little gift shop with very good prices for the items let your kids go nut's and buy whatever they want

Some really old stuff on exhibit here

V photo courtesy

One of the best places, to go, around the world 😊

Must visit.

Fantastic collection of artifacts!! Not a large museum, but they use the space they have very well!

Small museum, but lots to see. Free for children and donations ($3-$5) for adults. I recommend you walk over to the water conservation garden; it's down by the amphitheatre.