2023: hidden in plain sight on Park Blvd in Universiry Hts. Lots of vintage cars, maybe 30, and I mean really vintage. $10 entry. They also have collections of trains, cameras, clocks as well as other things. The lighting could have been better they tend to store extraneous stuff in the back seats if the cars. This is mom and pop level shop. Positive experience though because they have a very unique collection of vehicles.

Great collection of late 1800's and early 1900's cars. Many rare antique toys, radios and other collectibles. A must see if you are in the area. Carmen the owner was very informative. A+ visit

AMAZING! I highly recommend this museum. It might be small but it's jam packed with so many artifacts. Not only one of a kind cars, but so much more! We literally spent a couple of hours looking at all the displays and cars and I'm sure that we only noticed 10 percent of the things available to see. A return visit is definitely in order, not only to see what we might have missed but to see the awesome family that runs it! I left feeling like a part of their family. J.A. Cooley himself reached his eternal reward a year ago, but his faithful daughter Carmen, her husband and her mom, the matriarch of the family keep things running. Carmen's knowledge and enthusiasm is unmatched. She told us the story of each car and gave us hands on demonstrations of the old Edison Phonographs, compete with the vintage, crackly sound of technology 100+ years old. Everything in this museum has a story and there's more "everythings" than you can shake a stick at. Finally, a word about the train store located on the premises. Secretly it's been my dream to have a model railroad layout. Looking at all the vintage trains and accessories available for purchase made me feel like a 56 year old kid in a toy store. I couldn't resist buying a few things just to display on a shelf. I hope you go and let the stories unfold before you. Cue up the old soundtrack to the Twilight Zone, you'll be transported to a different time and a different place.

A true gem hidden in San Diego in the University heights area. It has an awesome collection of old cars, phonographs and cameras. Some cars are so rare, you won’t find them anywhere else in the world. Loved our visit!

What an awesome place! Lots of vintage cars here from 1895 to 1914 or so. I would guess this one of the largest collections of cars of this era in the San Diego area. Also, a collection of model trains, cameras, dolls, irons for clothes, and much more. Visiting this museum is like a journey back in time.

An amazing private collection

The best car museum in San Diego, and they have way more than just cars! Cameras, toy trains, phonographs and other turn of the century technology. I love visiting here!

EDIT: I have not visited this museum! The owner called me to object to my review, which is based on disagreeing with the business’s choice to fight bike lanes being created on their street. She argues that there are plenty of bike lanes on nearby streets and that her business is fighting not against bike lanes but for “city transparency” in their plans. I believe that prioritizing parking/car infrastructure over increasing the ease of healthier transit options (like bikes and public transportation) is short sighted and damaging. My original review is below. This place promotes cars and car culture beyond the realm of a museum, to the extreme of lobbying to not allow bike lanes to be added to their street. Cars are 2 ton death machines, killing 1.2 million people/year, not to mention the environmental impact. Makes sense to keep them in a museum! But please allow the world to evolve in a sustainable fashion, in particular by supporting transportation that kills no one (bikes and pedestrians).

We were surprised to find that this little place had such a nice and large collection of classic cars (and classic everything, model trains, music players, cameras). We were the only ones there and it seemed like it doesn't get a lot of traffic. The old couple there are the collectors and owners of the place. They sell books that they've published on the various collections. The books have nice pictures and facts on the artifacts. It's definitely worth visiting this hidden gem.

My family and I had a wonderful time looking at the amazing collections of Mr. J.A. Cooley. It was so nice to meet the owner at the entrance, and greeted us and welcomed us in his museum...It is by far my favorite museum!

Interesting place . Friendly staff.. if you like 1950 cars go there. Lots of old cameras, trains and other cool stuff

Amazing, a time capsule, must visit! rest in peace my friend.

A Unique Museum that gives you History! An undiscovered Gem!

Mr Cooley's museum is one-of-a-kind. Private collections this impressive are rare: antique automobiles (the kind Jay Leno would love to own), toy trains, phonographs, lamps, telephones, spitoons, clocks, and you name it! The best part is, a visit costs only $5 per person, and the museum is lovingly attended daily by Mr Cooley himself and his wife, who will both regale you with stories about each item and how they acquired it. The highlight for me was an Edison prototype wax cylinder player, or maybe even the phonograph that once belonged to JP Morgan himself. But for many, the highlight will be the 1885 Benz Patent Motor Car, which the owner brags is original. It's what might simply be called the first ever automobile, and it's hiding in plain sight right here at an unassuming strip mall in San Diego. Go for the history, and stay for the cool stories. A great place for kids to learn, but make sure they look and don't touch. There's lots of "fragile" on display. If you're nice, Mr Cooley will probably play one of the phonographs for you. Do remember to bring quarters to feed the meters out front for parking.

A must go place for the history of all things technical before TV and computers when visiting San Diego. Near many great restaurants in Hillcrest and Balboa Park, too. Don't miss this gem of a museum!

Wasn’t there myself yet but just saw the most wonderful report on this on Ken Kramer show and he said it sure should be on the ‘map’ as a have to see spot in San Diego - and Ken Kramer knows!

A true San Diego treasure.

What a wonderful hidden gem of very rare vintage cars! Very different than auto museum in Balboa park.

Highly recommend to make reservations! Or go on the standby line early!! We arrived around 1PM.. the standby line went quick, probably about 30 minutes or so. But that only brings you into the building. There's another waitlist for Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Room, that list is long... I didn't get a chance to see it.. I did not get a notification that it's my turn until 4 hours later.

What an amazing collection of classic and one of kind cars. Also includes an impressive collection of cameras, model trains, spittoons, typewriters, plus a band organ. Everything in the museum works. Incredible to experience.

Awesome small Museum, well worth the visit

It's kinda cool. Run by Older Guy

Great lil hole in the wall car museum, with lots of other trinkets to check out

This museum is full of treasures. You will see antique automobiles, and an amazing collection of early model railroading equipment.

MUST SEE!!! The collection of rarities and 1-of-a kind cars is remarkable. The collection encompasses much more than antique cars. Take the time to talk to the owner and ask him questions!

For car, model train and camera buffs

Visiting San Diego? YOU GOTTA SEE THIS PLACE!

Must see

This is a fun place to see when in San Diego.

Nice to visit

Very interesting collection, and Mr. Cooley has a story about everything in the museum, so set aside some time to ask questions!

You must come here, what an amazing place!

(Translated by Google) It has beautiful exhibits. The space is too small. It is a bit confused in the exhibits. For example, the railway vitrines so dark that you do not recognize the vehicles. (Original) Es hat wunder schöne Exponate. nur ist viel zueng Die Räumlichkeiten zu klein.Es herscht ein wenig durcheinander bei den Exponaten.Zum Beispiel Eisenbahnvitrienen so dunkel dass man die Fahrzeuge nicht erkannt.

The J A Cooley Museum is an amazing collection of automobiles, appliances, cameras, phonographs, photos and memorabilia gathered by it's late founder Jim Cooley. Admission is a tiny $5.00. Located in the same space is the historic San Diego landmark store, "Frank the Trainman." Rolling stock, track, accessories from model and toy railroading is, of itself, worth the stop. TIP: DON'T DELAY! The Museum will be adjusting to Mr. Cooley's passing, at a time when land values in metropolitan San Diego keep skyrocketing.

When in San Diego make sure to visit J.A. Cooley Museum. We had a blast yesterday with Carmen who has a wealth of information about the cars to a multitude of other collections not to be forgotten! This family owned treasure should be your next fun day out! Looking forward to our next visit! You’ll easily pass a few hours without knowing it! Thank you Carmen for all the 21st Bday special’s🎊

I had a great time at this museum. They have 1 of 1 vehicles that you can't see anywhere else. If you take interest in old music, photography, or model trains, the J.A. Cooley museum is the place for you. you will find walls filled with old cameras. display cases full of old model trains. Dozens of old phonographs, most of which work. I was fortunate enough to hear a few of them and it was amazing. For $5 you can't go wrong. although Mr Cooley isn't around anymore, his wife and daughter still are and they know the history of everything in their museum, able to retell the history of various vehicles and notable moments in the vehicles life up to the day it was parked on the museum floor. I highly recommend going to this museum.

it was not very welcoming. me and my family walked in and there was this lady in front that was just looking at us. we asked her if we could buy tickets and she looked like she didn’t want us there so we ended up leaving. would not recommend