List of museums in the Inland Empire facts for kids

The Inland Empire is a big area in Southern California, just east of Los Angeles. It covers over 27,000 square miles (about 70,000 square kilometers) and is home to more than 4 million people! This region has many cool museums.

Museums are places that collect and take care of interesting things. These can be objects about culture, art, science, or history. They make these collections available for everyone to see. This list includes art galleries from non-profit groups and universities. We won't be talking about museums that only exist online.

Awesome Museums to Explore

The Inland Empire is packed with places where you can learn and have fun. Here are some of the museums you can visit:

Adventure and History Museums

11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Museum

Located at Fort Irwin, this museum tells the story of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. You can learn about military history and see artifacts from their past.

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

In Palm Springs, this museum shares the rich history and culture of the Agua Caliente people and other native groups.

Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery

This historic cemetery in Agua Mansa is a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum. It's a look into the past of a pioneer ghost town.

Big Bear Discovery Center

Found in Fawnskin, this center teaches about the natural history of the San Bernardino National Forest. It's a great place to learn about local wildlife and nature.

Big Bear Valley Historical Museum

Operated by the Big Bear Valley Historical Society in Big Bear City, this museum focuses on the history of the Big Bear Valley.

Cabazon Dinosaurs

You can't miss these huge dinosaur sculptures in Cabazon! It's a unique spot with a Creationist museum inside.

Cabot's Pueblo Museum

In Desert Hot Springs, this museum is a Hopi-style pueblo house with 35 rooms, 150 windows, and 65 doors. It's an amazing historic home to explore.

Calico Early Man Site

Near Barstow, this archaeological site shows where ancient people made stone tools during the Pleistocene era.

Calico Ghost Town

Step back in time at Calico! This ghost town was once a silver mining hub. You can see original buildings, a museum, a school, and a blacksmith shop.

California Citrus State Historic Park

In Riverside, this park has a museum that tells the story of citrus fruit. Learn how oranges came to America and how the Bahia Naval orange became famous in Riverside.

California Route 66 Museum

Located in Victorville, this museum celebrates the history of Route 66 and cars. It also shows how this famous road impacted culture and the economy.

Coachella Valley History Museum

In Indio, this open-air museum explores local culture and history. It includes the 1926 adobe Smiley-Tyler House, the 1909 Indio Schoolhouse, and a Date Museum.

Colton Area Museum

This museum in Colton focuses on the local history of the area.

Desert Discovery Center

In Barstow, this center teaches about the natural history of the desert.

General Patton Memorial Museum

At Chiriaco Summit, this museum honors veterans and the famous General George S. Patton. You can see military equipment, uniforms, weapons, tanks, and items from Patton's life.

Gilman Historic Ranch and Wagon Museum

Operated by Riverside County Parks in Banning, this museum features a late 19th-century ranch house and a collection of old wagons and saddles.

Goffs Schoolhouse

This restored one-room schoolhouse in Goffs shows what school was like long ago. It also has displays about local history.

Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex

Near Barstow, you can take tours and visit a museum about radio telescopes and astronomy. It's part of NASA's Deep Space Network!

Heritage House

This beautiful 1891 Victorian house museum in Riverside is operated by the Museum of Riverside. It's like stepping back in time.

Hi-Desert Nature Museum

In Yucca Valley, this museum covers the art, nature, and culture of the desert areas.

Historical Glass Museum

Located in Redlands, this museum displays many examples of American glass.

International Banana Museum

This super unique museum in Mecca has over 20,000 items related to bananas! It's a fun and quirky stop.

Jensen Alvarado Ranch

In Jurupa Valley, this ranch shows what local life was like in the 1880s.

John Rains House

Also known as Cucamonga Rancho, this mid-19th-century house in Cucamonga is a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum.

Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Centers

Joshua Tree National Park has three visitor centers and the Black Rock Nature Center. They all have exhibits about the natural and cultural history of this amazing desert park.

Kelso Depot

This historic railroad depot in Kelso is also a visitor center for the Mojave National Preserve. It teaches about railroads and local history.

Keys Desert Queen Ranch

These historic ranch buildings are located right inside Joshua Tree National Park.

Kimberly Crest

In Redlands, this is a stunning French château-style Victorian mansion.

Lincoln Memorial Shrine

This shrine and museum in Redlands is all about President Abraham Lincoln. It's part of the A. K. Smiley Public Library.

McCallum Adobe-Cornelia White House Museum

Operated by the Palm Springs Historical Society in Palm Springs, these two adjoining late 19th-century houses show early life in the area.

Malki Museum

In Banning, this museum focuses on the traditions and history of the Cahuilla Indians and other Southern California tribes.

March Field Air Museum

Next to March Joint Air Reserve Base in Riverside, this museum has many historic military and civilian aircraft.

Mission Inn Museum

This museum in Riverside explores the cultural heritage of the famous Mission Inn.

Mojave River Valley Museum

In Barstow, this museum covers the history, culture, and natural history of the Mojave River Valley.

Museum of History & Art, Ontario

Located in Ontario, this museum explores the history, art, and cultural traditions of the greater Ontario area.

Museum of Pinball

In Banning, this museum is dedicated to the history of pinball machines!

Museum of Riverside

This museum in Riverside covers natural history and Native American culture.

Original McDonald's Restaurant Museum

In San Bernardino, this is the site of the very first McDonald's restaurant, which opened in 1940. It has memorabilia and history of McDonald's and Juan Pollo restaurants, plus Route 66 items.

Palm Springs Air Museum

This museum in Palm Springs specializes in World War II aircraft and aviation history.

Perris Valley Historical Museum

Located in the historic Perris Depot in Perris, this museum shares local history.

Planes of Fame Air Museum

In Chino, this museum has a large collection of historic aircraft.

Riverside Art Museum

This museum in Riverside features over 20 exhibitions each year of traditional and contemporary art.

Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA)

Part of California State University, San Bernardino, this museum in San Bernardino has collections of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, world ceramics, and contemporary art.

Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum

In Barstow, this museum celebrates cars and memorabilia from Route 66.

Ruddy's General Store Museum

In Palm Springs, this museum is a recreated 1930s general store with original items and fixtures.

Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts

In Alta Loma, this foundation includes a crafts gallery and the historic home and gardens of artist Sam Maloof.

San Bernardino County Museum

In Redlands, this large museum covers cultural and natural history. It also runs many smaller branch museums.

San Bernardino de Sena Estancia

This restored ranch outpost of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel in Redlands includes a chapel. It's a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum.

San Jacinto Museum

In San Jacinto, this museum explores the natural and human history of the area.

Sherman Indian Museum

In Riverside, this museum tells the history of the boarding high school for Native American students and their culture.

Southern California Railway Museum

In Perris, this museum is a heritage railroad and museum about Southern California's railroad history. You can often ride historic trains here!

Sunnylands

In Rancho Mirage, this historic house was the winter home of Walter and Leonore Annenberg.

Temecula Valley Museum

In Temecula, this museum focuses on local history.

UCR ARTSblock

Part of the University of California, Riverside, this interactive art facility in Riverside includes the California Museum of Photography, Sweeney Art Gallery, and Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts.

Western America Railroad Museum

In Barstow, this museum is all about railroads in the western United States.

Western Science Center

In Hemet, this center has amazing Native American artifacts, Ice Age fossils, and exhibits on archaeology and paleontology.

World Famous Crochet Museum

In Joshua Tree, this unique museum is a collection of crocheted items inside a recycled photo booth. It's a fun, quirky stop!

World Museum of Natural History

Part of La Sierra University in Riverside, this museum has animal mounts, gems, minerals, meteorites, and American Indian artifacts.

Ya'i Heki' Regional Indian Museum

Located in Lake Perris State Recreation Area in Perris, this museum focuses on Native American history.

Yanks Air Museum

In Chino, this museum has a large collection of American aircraft, including World War II fighters and bombers.

Yorba-Slaughter Adobe

This historic house in Chino is a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum. It includes a post office/general store with exhibits on farming and animal care.

Yucaipa Adobe

In Yucaipa, this historic adobe house is another branch of the San Bernardino County Museum.

Children's Museums

Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert

Located in Rancho Mirage, this museum is designed for kids to learn through play.

Chino Youth Museum

In Chino, this museum offers interactive exhibits for young visitors.

Fingerprints Youth Museum

In Hemet, this museum (formerly KidZone Youth Museum) provides hands-on activities for children.

Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center

This family-friendly science center in Jurupa Valley has an Earth Science Museum with lots to explore.

Pennypickle's Workshop

Also known as Temecula Children's Museum, this workshop in Temecula is a fun place for kids to experiment and learn.

Art Museums

The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry

In Riverside, this center showcases Chicano artwork from across the United States, collected by Cheech Marin. It opened in 2021.

Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens

In Cherry Valley, this museum features European and Asian fine arts from the 16th to early 19th centuries, set in a beautiful manor house with gardens.

Palm Springs Art Museum

This museum in Palm Springs focuses on Modern and Contemporary American art, and also has natural history exhibits.

Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art

Part of Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, this museum features contemporary art exhibitions.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

• A Special Place Children's Museum, San Bernardino
• Heartland, California Museum of the Heart, Rancho Mirage
• Southern California Medical Museum, Riverside (moved to Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona in 2015)