Find your cultural passion
Living here means you get to explore this fascinating county where early settlers blazed trails through the Cajon Pass and adventurers dug gold nuggets out of the earth. You can unearth the cultural heritage of the Inland Empire - as well as a world of other exciting discoveries - at some of the area's many unique museums.
Fossils and moon rocks? Military aircraft? Antique glass? Archaeology? Whatever your interest, there's a museum to indulge it. It's just part of living here.
Norman F. Feldheym Central Library 555 W. Sixth St., San Bernardino, (909) 381-8201 California Room houses burial artifacts of the 1850s uncovered at Seccombe Lake Park; other historical California artifacts.
Heritage House Corner of Eighth and D streets, San Bernardino, (909) 883-0750 Restored 1891 Victorian home and research library. Open for tours hosted by the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society on the first Saturday of the month or by appointment.
San Bernardino County Museum 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands, (909) 307-2669 Permanent and rotating exhibits featuring archaeology, ornithology, earth science, anthropology, and fine arts gallery. Open Tuesday-Sunday.
Kimberly Crest House and Gardens 1325 Prospect Drive, Redlands, (909) 792-2111 An 1897 French chateau-style home with original furnishings, formal Italian gardens and citrus groves. Open Thursday-Sunday.
Asistencia 26930 Barton Road, Redlands, (909) 793-5402 Mission Asistencia, originally built in the 1800s and rebuilt in 1937, is also available for weddings. Open Tuesday-Saturday.
Lincoln Memorial Shrine Smiley Park, 125 W. Vine St., Redlands, (909) 798-7636 Museum, archives and library to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Open Tuesday-Sunday.
Redlands Historial Glass Museum 1157 Orange St., Redlands, (909) 798-0868 The only glass museum on the West Coast features collections of American antique glassware. Open Saturday-Sunday.
Air Museum Planes of Fame 7000 Merrill Ave., Chino, (909) 597-3722 Aviation museum maintains a collection of historical aircraft in five hangars. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Yorba Slaughter Adobe Museum 17127 Pomona-Rincon Road, Chino, (909) 597-8332 Part of the Spanish land grant to Jose Antonio Yorba, home was purchased by Fenton Slaughter in 1868. Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; tours every 45 minutes.
Colton Area Museum 380 N. La Cadena Drive, Colton, (909) 824-8814 Features Indian artifacts, orange crate labels, early clothing and other exhibits. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday and last Sunday of the month.
Oak Glen School House Museum 11911 S. Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, (909) 797-1691 Historic site features books and exhibits, nature walks, workshops, demonstrations. Open Saturday-Sunday.
Agua Mansa Museum 2001 E. Agua Mansa Road, Colton, (909) 370-2091 Archaeological exhibits surrounding cemetery and village church.
Rialto Historical Museum 205 N. Riverside Ave., Rialto, (909) 875-1750 Features a Victorian-style dining room, bedroom and livingroom. Adjacent 1906 church available for weddings. Open Wednesday and Saturday.
Fontana Historical Museum 8863 Pepper St., Fontana, (909) 823-3846 Features a house, bunkhouse, blacksmith shop and farm equipment from the early 1900s.
McDonald's/San Bernardino Route 66 Museum 1398 N. E St., San Bernardino, (909) 885-6324 At the historic site of the first McDonald's restaurant, two McMuseums in one feature original Route 66 memorabilia. Open daily.
California Route 66 Museum 16825 D St., Victorville, (760) 951-0436 Victorville's tribute to the Mother Road includes historic exhibitions, contemporary galleries, library, gift shop. Open Thursday-Monday.
Route 66 Mother Road Museum, Historic Harvey House 681 N. First Ave., Barstow, (760) 255-1890 Historic stop for travelers features Route 66 memorabilia. Open Friday-Sunday.
Yucaipa Adobe 32183 Kentucky St., Yucaipa, (909) 795-3485 Built in 1858, oldest standing two-story adobe house in San Bernardino County. Furnishings date from 1840. Open Tuesday-Saturday.
Lake Arrowhead Children's Museum 28200 Highway 189, Lake Arrowhead Village, lower level, (909) 336-3093 Features hands-on exhibits, including climbing maze, musical instruments, craft workshops. Open daily.
Big Bear Discovery Center North Shore Drive between Fawnskin and Stanfield cutoff, Big Bear Lake (909) 866-3437, www.bigbeardiscoverycenter.com Hands-on activities, speakers and demonstrations. Center features flower tours, nature nights and eagle sightings. Open daily.
Big Bear Valley Historical Museum Northeast corner of Big Bear City Park, off Greenway Drive, Big Bear City, (909) 585-8100, www.bigbearhistory.org Mountain history told through exhibits. Open Saturday-Sunday mid-May through October.
Mojave River Valley Museum Barstow Road and Virginia Way, Barstow, (760) 256-5452 Features archaeology exhibits including Early Man site, minerals and gemstones of the desert, early desert and mining history. Open daily.
Edward Dean Museum of Decorative Arts 9401 Oak Glen Road, Cherry Valley, (951) 845-2626 Collection includes 17th-through 19th-century European and Asian decorative arts and furnishings. Open Friday-Sunday.