The silent film museum is full of history and admission is free; however donations are welcome. There are a lot of cool cameras and pictures to see. They even have some antique seats from the theater. Per the person who attends the theater "you can touch but be very careful", he was very welcoming and he likes questions. Bring your children if you have any you will be surprise how amaze they get when they see all the films and the things that were used to produced movies back in the days. There area a lot of antique stores near the theater and a little park across from it. there are also places to eat, from pizza, to American food, even ice-cream shops. Have fun and enjoy the place.

A good place to learn about history The team was very knowledgeable and helpful The visit to the projection room was very interesting They have a weekly silent movie night see web site for details

Lovely little museum that is a tribute to early film and answers the question: "Where did Charlie Chaplin produce films besides Hollywood?" A lot of great vintage film equipment and artefacts from that era. Just be careful, I got a little side eye from the staff. I tried to diffuse it with a friendly glance, but just got a terse nod from the old timer there. (I couldn't tell if it was because I was Asian or because I didn't drop anything into the donation basket initially.) Otherwise, I loved it being a film enthusiast.

What a great museum. Completely volunteer based, these people know their stuff and truly love silent films and movies. Can't wait to go back when they open the theatre for silent movie nights again.

It is a great little museum with lots of old movie-relared objects. I wish it explained the history of this amazing place more! We learned more from a volunteer than from all exhibitions in a museum.

Niles Canyon is a fun little place. It's where Charlie Chaplin made five movies. There's antique stores, a train through the Canyon, ice cream shop's. A nice place to spend some time....

We stopped in on a whim and met Michael, a volunteer who was as knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the silent film era as anyone we've ever met. Not a large museum by any means -- you can probably view and read all the static displays in about 30 minutes, but it is nonetheless worth every minute of your time. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the museum is the fact they have several examples of hand-cranked arc lamp projectors that you can actually touch and crank yourself! The history behind the Niles Essanay Film Studio is fascinating and informative. We learned a tremendous amount about film history in the short time we were there. Please make a generous donation to this important little slice of American film history. Highly recommended.

The museum is amazing, with old artifacts of the early movie theaters and silent studios. The guided tour was so wonderful -- you get to hear how Fremont was Hollywood before Hollywood was more than a neighborhood of LA; how the Niles Theater had a secret vault and what was in it,... Check their web site for weekend silent movie showings with live piano accompaniment. It's sort of steam punky and awesome!

A small but great silent film museum with very friendly helpful volunteers. Limited hours so be sure to check.

Our visit to the museum was very educational.

That's the place where Chaplin was building his career. Atmosphere inside the museum allows you to feel the times of early 1900th. Moreover, you can see how movies were made at that time. Local guide will tell you a lot of other amazing facts about Niles and filmography. Even if you're not a fan of old films, you should see this place at least once and dive into atmosphere of 1900th.

Niles silent film Museum is a treasure for the community it is rich with silent film history. Here you can learn about Essanay Silent Film Studio where Charlie Chaplin film three of his movies and who was Bronco Billy?

Nice small theater filled with history. Enjoyable silent films with perfect piano accompaniment.

Wonderful , most of earlier Charlie Chaplin movies were made here

Amazing lessons in history. Well preserved and presented. And just fun.

I had a blast! I had no idea this place existed untill last night. Check with them as to which films are showing for that evening. Saturday nights are comedy. Last night had 4 comedy shorts by Charley Chaplin, Buster Keton, Laurel and Hardy.... between viewings are short fun lectures or better described stories and fun facts about each movie and about the movies made at the film studio that was in operation in the Freemont -Niles area in the 1910s and 1920s. The museum has displays of vintage cameras, props, costumes, photos ....all the equipment used at the time. Also a short visit to the projection room that had been boarded up for 80 years. Very casual and fun.

Great time to meet Charlie chaplain

I was heartbroken when I found out the museum is only open sat and sun

Love this place! Went there for a Laurel and Hardy film festival. It was so much fun. David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely, the postman, on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, was a special guest at the theater that day. This place is great fun for the entire family!

(Translated by Google) I know the town of Niles because there is a museum (Niles Essanay Silent File Museum) that houses all the works of Chaplin and the hotel where Chaplin lived and the coffee shop EssanayCafe [coffee] [coffee] The essence of the town, in addition to the silent film museum, is also full of old buildings and a variety of sentimental junk shop, lingering in the gallery, the old record store, reminiscent of the old time 100 years ago, feel the live Cultural relics, rich American western culture, suddenly emerged [Coffee] [Coffee] (Original) 知道Niles小镇是因為在這里有一个收藏着卓别林全部电影作品的博物馆（Niles Essanay Silent File Museum）及卓别林当年住的酒店和常去的咖啡店EssanayCafe[咖啡][咖啡]这个小镇的精华所在，除了默片博物馆，还充满了旧时的建筑和各种颇有情调的旧货店，在画廊、老唱片店之间流连忘返，回味一下100年前的旧时光，感受着这个活生生的文化遗物，浓郁的美式西部文化色彩，顿然浮现[咖啡][咖啡]

Free admission. A gem in niles canyon because of its Hollywood past.

Incredible place, amazing history. Long live cinema!

Enough exhibits to fill the senses taking you back to the silent era. Great folks running the museum and souvenirs at very reasonable prices. No entrance fee allows for a souvenir or two.

Great Lovecraft films with the director of the silent feature, The Call of Chthulu, speaking last Sunday.

It's a small museum and a fun place with old filming equipment.

Great little museum! Learned a lot! I had no idea Niles had a silent film company and that Charlie Chaplan filmed some of his most well loved films here!

We were there during the day and didn't catch a movie this time, but the museum is a nostalgic look back at the early film days. What fun.

This place is definitely worth visiting. The silent movie experience is exceptional. Rich history and retro feeling

This quaint museum dedicated to the silent movie era with a theater showing silent movies on Saturdays, situated in Niles Canyon in Fremont. There used to be a thriving silent movie industry here in the past. I'd come not solely to visit the museum but to see this part of town that so different from the rest of Fremont. It looks like it came from a throwback period of the old West.

Very good tour, very interesting history. My name playing black and white movies every Saturday night at 7:30.

Wonderful museum. Looking forward to watching a silent film here.

A fun stop!

This is another of Fremont’s gems. If you’re a fan of silent films or enjoy movie history, this a must see. The museum is modest but very interesting and continues to grow funded by donors. And every Saturday night and Sunday afternoon (mostly) silent films are shown in the old theater that has been fixed up to look as it did when Charlie Chaplin and Bronco Billy Anderson made films in the Niles area. One of the most interesting parts of the theater is its original projection room that had been sealed up for decades when the theater was sold with its original projection equipment in place.

More people should know about this place! So fabulously quirky, and a sincere throwback to yesteryear. I love the dedication of the staff

Everyone is so brilliant here and this is such a special place! I took my students here with special needs and they were so good to them

Very interesting historical spot to learn history about the Niles town and area.

This is another of Fremont’s gems. If you’re a fan of silent films or enjoy movie history, this a must see. The museum is modest but very interesting and continues to grow funded by donors. And every Saturday night and Sunday afternoon (mostly) silent films are shown in the old theater that has been fixed up to look as it did when Charlie Chaplin and Bronco Billy Anderson made films in the Niles area. One of the most interesting parts of the theater is its original projection room that had been sealed up for decades when the theater was sold with its original projection equipment in place.

I wish they were opened more often per week!

Nice little museum and gift shop devoted to the film history of Niles

Loved the trip to yesteryear in quaint Niles, CA. Hopefully the town won't change too much. Silent Film Museum was amazing. Need to go back to soak it all in. Highly recommend visiting this town!

A true local treasure!

100 year old silent movie theatre and museum showing movies with live piano accompaniment.

Cute interesting place

Wowww, its definitely a time travel by a century. Awesome...

My father took all us kids there and we had a really good time. When I say kids we are all in our 60s.

Wonderful group of volunteers who keep the history of the movies made here alive and interesting. Hoping to return again and again. Great weekend.

Amazing!!!!!! Lots of. Silent film history. Great movies playing weekends. A nice gift shop. $$ attendant was knowledgeable friendly and helpful.

Very informative and awesome place to know about the history of films. They have a show on Saturday as well. They have multiple models of cameras and artifacts from the silent film era and an actual ticket booth!

Come and see! Fascinating place, great exhibition, very knowledgeable and interesting docent, lots of stories buried in this Jewel of Nile!

A treasure of cinematic history and promoter of early film. Wonderful and unique.

Interesting look at movie place that pre dates Hollywood with silent films.

Great experience

Quaint, charming, interesting and fun! Catch the silent film nights!!

This is a cool little museum out in the boonies. We didn't know they showed silent films as well, as we didn't go on that day. Quite a drive out there. Make plans to see other things.

Great historic museum. Buster Keaton is one of the greatest lesser known actors of American Film and to this day one of my favorite actors of all times. Chaplin is a great one too but much better well known. This museum is great to get an insight of the genre of film that launched the Film Industry and revolutionized entertainment. If you ever have the chance to see a REAL silent movie in a REAL theater than do it. its quiet and experience

Cool Niles history

Lotsa fun and we learned a bunch about Niles and it's part in creating the film industry today. Very interactive, it did not disappoint.

Lovely old time theater. Watch movies like they did in the 20s. Silent with live musical accompaniment.

small museum with some good photos and items you can check out the museum first, then go to the near by park to enjoy nature

Very good, interesting. Much better than today's movies. Staff there was very nice and showed us around the theater.

Nice little silent film studio good movies