San Diego History Center

140 reviews

1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

sandiegohistory.org

+16192326203

About

San Diego History Center is a Museum located at 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101. It has received 140 reviews with an average rating of 4.5 stars.

Photos

Hours

Monday10AM-5PM
Tuesday10AM-5PM
WednesdayClosed
ThursdayClosed
Friday10AM-5PM
Saturday10AM-5PM
Sunday10AM-5PM

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The address of San Diego History Center: 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

  • San Diego History Center has 4.5 stars from 140 reviews

  • Museum

  • "Two terrific current exhibitions, one covering the work of San Diego conceptual artist Bill Matheny, which just opened today and a second about the LGBTQ+ community in San Diego and second the growth and a accomplishments of the LGBTW+ community in San Diego"

    "While this museum is well put together, It just doesn't have anything to say "Hey, check this out!" The Seuss exhibit is aimed towards families and children, and while there were a few interesting artifacts in the History section (check out the giant guest book), it was a LOT of reading"

    "Do the Friday ghost tour with sandy, a historian who has done impress research into the people and places! Far above the televised, gimmicky ghost hunts"

    "Great little museum with a great pricing sturcture"

    "Great museum"

Reviews

  • Nicole Larson

Two terrific current exhibitions, one covering the work of San Diego conceptual artist Bill Matheny, which just opened today and a second about the LGBTQ+ community in San Diego and second the growth and a accomplishments of the LGBTW+ community in San Diego. Absolutely fascinating and so well done. Be sure to see them!

  • Nicholas Isola

While this museum is well put together, It just doesn't have anything to say "Hey, check this out!" The Seuss exhibit is aimed towards families and children, and while there were a few interesting artifacts in the History section (check out the giant guest book), it was a LOT of reading.

  • Criss Roberts

Do the Friday ghost tour with sandy, a historian who has done impress research into the people and places! Far above the televised, gimmicky ghost hunts. The tour rambles through the district, ending at the museum with time communicating with the willing in-house ghosts

  • Matthew Lahey

Great little museum with a great pricing sturcture. Donation based so you leave a donation once you have viewed the exibits. Great to learn abiut San Diego and the surroundings in Balboa Park. Nice staff, great exibits and a cool place out of the sun to check out.

  • KB

Great museum. We wanted to learn more about San Diego on a rainy day but learned more than we expected. I especially enjoyed the exhibit on the long history of lgbtq+ in San Diego and the stories of women who moved to the town when it was just beginning.

  • Matt Hutchings

One room focuses on history on an architect, one room on San Diego history, one room on Jewish history, another on the San Diego Zoo and finally a small alcove on Black history. All in all, everything is well laid out. You can start on the

  • Tom Noel

The San Diego History Center features a number of exhibitions for the year 2015, including "Ingenious, The Art of Dr. Seuss" "Masterworks of the Exhibition Era" which features plein-air California landscapes that were exhibited at the 1915

  • GoAppr Studio

The museum's collections are the Historic Clothing and Textile Collection, which includes over 7,000 items illustrating the history of dress from the late 18th century to the present, and the San Diego Fine Art Collection, notable for its

  • Ivan Hicks

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

  • Dan Camilli

Absolutely learned nothing about the history of San Diego. No mention of Spreckels, no coverage of the history of the port, no mention the history of the gaslamp, no mention of the military history. I learned more about the Indian history

  • Jeff Kerr

First, I really appreciate the staff and the volunteers who have created an incredible museum. Thank you! I came here a few years ago and it was basically the history of San Diego from the White American perspective. That's been condensed

  • Mackenzie Morton

What an interesting and varied free little history center! I really enjoyed the temporary LGBT exhibit and I thought it was both disheartening and inspirational. The tiny section on Japanese society in San Diego was really cool too (so

  • Lenrock

Great museum at a great price [free]. Well not technically free but you pay what you want upon exiting. We ended up spending an hour here with the various exhibits and short film on San Diego and Balboa park. I've walked by this place

  • Heather B

This was a fun muesem to learn more about San Diego. It's not super big so it's quick to go through and see how the town came to be and what life was like. Also it had a small exhibit on the lesser known events of what happened to the

  • Kapre Carter

Amazing, educational, beautiful and definitely worth checking out. Found out so many things about the making and building of Balboa park and the city of san diego itself. Every last person who works here and or volunteers here were

  • Natasha Souza

A really great place to learn some of San Diego's history. It is very inclusive and the center knows that history is all kinds of people's stories. The staff is very friendly and the center is donation based.

  • Narek Dshkhunyan

They got one room which tells the history of the county, the rest were kind of random. There is a 30 minute video which was quite nice as well. Free attendance, at least on Sunday when I went.

  • J Johnson

Outstanding, interesting and visually enjoyable. Great for kids and adults. So much information. Join and get all the benefits as well as giving to a non profit. So much to do and see.

  • Alexander Pineda

The San Diego History Center tells the diverse story of our region – past, present and future – educates and enriches our community, preserves our history, and fosters civic pride.

  • Josh Bottfeld

A little gem hiding in Balboa Park. The admission cost is pay-what-you-wish. They have a number of different exhibitions and they are well put together. Definitely going back.

  • Bonnie MP

Very interesting with an assortment of very old and new Chinese items. History of Chinese in San Diego. Terrific paintings by Chinese artist. Small but worthwhile museum.

  • Brandon Victorino

This place was great. My kids spent about an hour and a half going through the hands on exhibits and exploring the museum. Very clean and pleasant place.

  • Kara lodge

Really fun, I love walking through the time events the Hands-On ones Superfund to guess the smells and the sounds they even have an LGBT area

  • Gouryella Harayda

It was alright... Nothing particularly stood out or caught my eye. We left after about 15 minutes. Not much to see here, to be honest.

  • Christopher Thien

Great museum to learn about San Diego history! I enjoy that the themes change on occasion as well to keep the experience fresh.

  • Faye Fulton

The exhibits were great. They were informative and grabbed the attention of all ages. The staff was all friendly and helpful.

  • Peter B

It is promited as free museum, but at least 10 USD donation is requested upon entry
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  • Jonathan Mansfield

Small but great museum and friendly staff. Good information for all ages
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  • Arnie Ferriol

A great way to learn more about San Diego's rich cultural heritage and history

  • Raymond Carbonneau Robles

Free or donation based. Nice collection with good diversity

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