Best places: History museums in San Diego County, United States

Sprawling outdoor destination is home to the city's renowned zoo, museums, gardens & more.

Miniature models of engines, buildings & vehicles made of metal & wood are displayed at this museum.

Waterfront venue showcasing many types of restored vintage ships & historical exhibits.

Airplanes & artifacts honor Marine Corps fliers & ground teams, with "open cockpit" days in summer.

Museum focusing on Marine Corps history from the 19th century to today is also a research library.

Center dedicated to increasing public awareness of the contributions made by U.S. veterans.

This museum dedicated to aviation & space technology boasts a number of models & restored aircraft.

Supposedly haunted, this museum in an 1850s house offers day & night tours, plus a cafe.

Geological finds, jewelry & books share space at this historic shop known for mineral panning tours.

Multiple exhibits in an expansive space exploring world history as told through the Christian Bible.

A Spanish Revival-style structure built to showcase the collection of the San Diego History Center.

😐 Nice little place, about what you expect with a donation only entrance. I think that it felt a little more like an art museum where there was huge amounts of space not efficiently utilized. If the goal was history of San Diego, there were things that met that goal; however, a great deal more could...

👍👍 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 b...

Open since 1996, museum celebrating Chinese-American culture & art in a restored mission building.

1-acre property & museum of the history of San Dieguito in photos, stories & hands-on displays.

Victorian-era edifice housing offices, a museum, garden & hosting ghost tours & other events.

👍👍 This place is really cool. I stopped by on a whim driving from the San Diego area to Arizona this past weekend, and do not regret it at all. I got a really cool tour and history of the place. Highly recommend a visit, especially paired with other stuff in the San Diego and Imperial county deserts. S...

👍👍 This historical site has been expertly restored and is being maintained by the San Dieguito River Park organization. It's a great example of governments working together. The docents in each area of the tour were very pleasant and knowledgeable with a nice dose of humor. The history of the homestead...