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San Diego - Museums


Things to Do: Museums

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #3 of 273 attractions in San Diego

The USS Midway Museum is a real naval aircraft carrier that served in the United States Navy for 47 years.  Large and very impressive, it has real jets and real airplanes up on the flight deck, that...

Attraction type: Ship; Museum; Speciality museum; Military museum
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #8 of 273 attractions in San Diego

Located in Balboa Park, this center is home to many art galleries and studios.

Attraction type: Art gallery; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #12 of 273 attractions in San Diego

One of the most popular urban parks in the United States, this bucolic paradise is packed with an array of attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo.

Attraction type: Park; Garden; Sports complex; Urban park; Museum complex; Playground; Zoo; Theatre; Golf course
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #16 of 273 attractions in San Diego

The Maritime Museum of San Diego is home to the world's oldest sailing vessel that still sails - "The Star of India". This beautiful square rigger can be visited on the waterfront in downtown San...

Attraction type: Maritime museum
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #18 of 273 attractions in San Diego
Attraction type: Historic home; History museum; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #23 of 273 attractions in San Diego

Museum's emphasis is on the history of flight, from the days of hot-air balloons to the Spirit of St. Louis to today's space shuttles.

Attraction type: Museum; Transport museum; Speciality museum; Science museum; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #26 of 273 attractions in San Diego

Museum that celebrates the important role of art as a way of enriching lives by featuring American, Dutch and Flemish, French, Italian paintings and Russian Icons.

Attraction type: Art gallery; Museum; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #29 of 273 attractions in San Diego

One of the world's largest model railroad museums features a scale model railway that replicates San Diego's tracks.

Attraction type: Transport museum
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #34 of 273 attractions in San Diego
Attraction type: Art gallery; Shop
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #36 of 273 attractions in San Diego

The Museum of Photographic Arts is one of the only museums in the country dedicated exclusively to the photographic arts, presenting work by some of the world's most celebrated photographers and cinematographers in its spacious new galleries and state-of-the-art 228 seat theater. MoPA is located in beautiful Balboa Park near downtown San Diego.

Attraction type: Art gallery
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TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #38 of 273 attractions in San Diego

You can learn about the history of the Missions in California here and while youre at it, ogle some lovely artifacts, like Spanish furniture dating back to the Renaissance.

Attraction type: Speciality museum; History museum; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #40 of 273 attractions in San Diego
Attraction type: Ship; Island; Waterway; Maritime museum; Group tour/boat; Tour; Dance club/disco
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #51 of 273 attractions in San Diego

This museum, reflecting the history of San Diego's police department, opened in February of this year. It has a wonderful collection of artifacts dating from the late 1800's to the present. Vintage photos, badges, uniforms, clothing, police equipment, journals, letters, books... literally anything & everything related to law enforcement in San Diego. The SDPD Museum contributes an educational and nostalgic representation of the history of law enforcement in our city. Helpful docents are available to answer questions, or you can take a self-guided tour. Photography is permitted, and there is a nice gift shop on premises, as well as onsite free parking. The museum was put into effect by the SanDiego Police Historical Association, and has been in our local news as our city's newest historical contribution.

Attraction type: Museum
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #52 of 273 attractions in San Diego
Attraction type: Children's museum
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TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #54 of 273 attractions in San Diego

A museum of folk crafts with a variety of displays that run the gamut from textiles and toys to painting and sculpture.

Attraction type: Speciality museum
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #64 of 273 attractions in San Diego

Built by musician and spiritualist Jesse Shepard, this 1887 Victorian mansion is a museum that features lectures, special events and educational programs.

Attraction type: Historic home; History museum
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #65 of 273 attractions in San Diego

Now a museum and state historical landmark, this is one of only two California houses recognized by the U.S. Commerce Department as being haunted.

Attraction type: Mysterious site; Historic home; History museum
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #72 of 273 attractions in San Diego

Magnificent display of vintage automobiles and motorcycles including a 1927 Bentley, 1931 Rolls Royce Phaeton and Steve McQueen's 1953 Allard.

Attraction type: Speciality museum; Transport museum; Other
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TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #75 of 273 attractions in San Diego

This famous sailing ship docks at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

Attraction type: Ship; Speciality museum
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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #86 of 273 attractions in San Diego

San Diego's only anthropological museum is located in Balboa Park, and it houses one of the nation's great collections of artifacts, folk art and archaeological finds.

Attraction type: History museum
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