The Best Museums In Fresno, California
Despite being hundreds of miles away from the cultural hotspots of Los Angeles and San Francisco, Fresno is by no means a backwater. The largest inland city in California has a number of museums, from single-building affairs to large galleries. Some dwell on local history, while others celebrate the achievements of ethnic groups or Americans as a whole. Take your pick from these top museums in Fresno.
1. The Discovery Center
Building, Museum, Park, Winery
The Discovery Center
The five-acre Discovery Center consists of a museum and park that contain a wide range of hands on learning opportunities for children. Inside the museum, kids can visit exhibit areas dedicated to music, electricity, space, magnets, paleontology, botany, geology, and Native American artifacts. Outdoor attractions include a tortoise enclosure, a replica space capsule from the Gemini program, bark dwellings made by members of the Miwok tribe, a cactus garden, and the oldest adobe building in Fresno. The “Dino Dig” excavation area is always a hit – just watch out for the metal T-Rex and pterosaur.
Address & telephone number: 1944 N Winery Ave, Fresno, CA, +1 559-251-5533
2. Meux Home Museum
Museum
3. Fresno Art Museum
Museum
4. African American Historical & Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley
Museum
5. Kearney Mansion Museum
Museum, Park
Kearney Mansion Museum
M. Theo Kearney, known as the ‘Raisin King of California’ for his involvement in the fruit industry, was a self-made Irish businessman who played a major role in the San Joaquin Valley’s agricultural development in the latter part of the 19th century. In his will he bequeathed his residence and the grounds of his 230-acre estate to the city of Fresno, now Kearney Mansion Museum and Kearney Park respectively. Over 70 percent of the mansion’s original furnishings and décor from 1903 have been preserved, and guided tours can be taken around the premises.
Address & telephone number: 7160 W Kearney Blvd, Fresno, CA, +1 559-441-0862
6. Veterans Memorial Museum
Memorial, Museum
7. Arte Américas
Library, Shop
Arte Américas
Across its 10,000 square feet of gallery, classroom, and performance space, Arte Américas aims ‘to make Central California a flourishing place for Latino arts’ by promoting the work of artists from Mexico, Latin America, the American Southwest, and California. To this end, exhibitions, performances, dances, and recitals are frequently held here. Cultural education is facilitated further by the provision of a Latino history and literature library. The center also contains a tiendita, or ‘little shop,’ that sells authentic handcrafted garments, jewelry, and other items.
Address & telephone number: 1630 Van Ness Ave, Fresno, CA, +1 559-266-2623
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