Museum of Ventura County

We enjoyed our time here, Dracula doll exhibit was impressive and so entertaining, I had fun reading story and walking through with my family. Kids enjoyed outdoor space and all the hands on activities. Enjoyed learning some of Ventura’s history through photography. Kids free, military 50% discount. Would recommend and will come back in the future :)

Interesting museum. Loved the support of local culture and artists. Definitely a fun place to take your kids.

The staff were great here and I would have most likely rated the museum as a 4 but the day I visited, the main gallery was closed for setup of a new exhibition. At least I was able to visit their native American and Catholic doll exhibitions. Have to admit the dolls were very interesting but some were a little scary.

Couldn't really explore because they were having some kind of poem reading so kids had to be extremely quiet which is impossible. Just hung out at the garden for a bit. But it's free so cant complain. Garden has very nice murals.

Infull disclosure, I am a docent there. But this is a hidden jewel in Ventura. George Stuart's figures alone make this a go to. Right now there are also two exhibits, one featuring photographs of Ventura county and another that features landscapes of Ventura, encouraging people to linger with a circular bench in the space.

We happened open the museum on the first Sunday of May and the admission was free. What a bonus! There were 3 installations and all 3 were superbly curated. Though small, all of the exhibits were thoughtful and filled with such wonderfully talented artists. Though admission was free, I would have paid a $20 entrance fee and left more than satisfied with the experience. (we were happy to donate)

Great place to spend the afternoon with the family. There is a childrens garden as well. Every first Sunday of the month is free admission, otherwise the cost is 5, which is fair considering they have staff to support.

A hidden gem of a museum that more should experience. Great history, art and grounds to experience in a lovely neighborhood for young and old.

We have been coming to this museum in downtown for the last couple of years. We had recently enjoyed their free admission which was a lot of fun and my children looked forward to coming at least once a week. We came in today and found out that starting February 1st this museum won't be free anymore! But they have memberships and honestly they are super affordable and it helps keep the museum open for families here in Ventura and those who are visiting! They change their exhibits few months. It's fun to come and learn new things plus they have a beautiful garden where children have space to play and explore

A small, quaint and kid-centric museum. Located on Main Street the Museum of Ventura offers locally curated art and exhibits. The Museum includes an outdoor children's area with the Garden of Sound and several hands-on opportunities that educate and engage little ones. During my visit, my two favorite exhibits this visit included the Proximity to the Water (part of the permanent collection) and The Murder of Tom Moore: A True Crime Story (local Ventura history). The Chumash exhibit is very informative and well-developed. Museum entrance is FREE until 2024. Parking is plentiful. They have their own parking area, but several free parking lots quite close. A great couple of hours spent enjoying art and playing with my littles.

I hadn't been to this museum in years. It has really changed for the better. I learned so much about our local history which I appreciated. I was randomly walking downtown and noticed it is free Thursday and Sundays for now. People working there today were nice and happy to have visitors. I did appreciate that they mentioned the fact that people fighting for stolen land felt complete ownership to the extent of not allowing others to use the water that belonged to no one. I won't disclose too much but it's sad to see how Ventura went from Chumash land to Spanish to Mexican to European owned to what it is now. Soon to not even having free parking becoming less and less accessible. Anyway .. go check it out.

We recently organized a celebration of life event at the Museum of Ventura County. It was a beautiful location, with both indoor and outdoor facilities. Th staff - particularly Kristy Rogers, the events coordinator - were fantastic. Thank you for your the excellent support in making the day special for our family and friends.

What an unexpected surprise. A small Museum tucked away in downtown ventura. Free parking, easily walkable to the mission, restaurants and eclectic shops. This is a must-do if you're in the downtown area.

Small, but really quaint and interesting, kid-friendly museum. Exhibits change; love the water one now. Mosaics out front are really beautiful, too. Unique items in the gift shop, too.

We came here as part of our escape the summer heat outing in Ventura. Although it was free, it was not crowded which I like on a Saturday afternoon. This place is not too big but packs in a lot of history of Ventura. There is also an interactive Children's area where we got to squeeze in a jam session of drums, guitar, harp, bongos and cymbals. Maybe it was a good thing no one was around to hear our inharmonious sounds! Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area. Free parking in the neighboring lots and close by to walk to. Has a really small gift shop.

I was visiting the city of Ventura and came into the museum not entirely sure what to expect. There's a small fee to enter, but it was worth it! While the space is small, they do an incredible job and making it feel big and welcoming. I was there for the Innovision exhibit, which was so interactive. From monitors playing videos of the artists speaking about their work, to a scavenger leaflet, to being able to add to the exhibit through answering questions posted on boards, and text being in English and Spanish. Everything absolutely blew my mind. The attention to detail and their commitment to diversity is second to none. I definitely recommend visiting this space.

Great displays, wonderful employees and fun shopping! Love stopping in here periodically

After attending an event at the museum some months ago, we knew we wanted to come back and visit the exhibits on our own time. We accomplished that yesterday afternoon as part of our escape-the-heat adventure to Ventura and Channel Islands Harbor. The museum offers free parking (a plus!) and nominal admission fees. We collected another stamp for the Passport 2 History program book, and received the overview of the current exhibits. Entering the main galleries, we got to try lifting carbon fiber bicycle frames as part of an exhibit on bicycle culture. Those puppies are light! With the Amgen Tour of California always passing through the county, it's a fitting tribute to feature bikes here. Next was a special feature on 6 comic strip / comic book artists. They all seem to have Ventura County ties, including the creator of Captain America and the Fantastic Four. A very special exhibit on combating invasive plant species was outstanding in that the artworks, sketches and paintings, were rendered on paper handcrafted from several invasive species, including fennel. Very impressive efforts! A good-sized area devoted to Chumash culture rounds out the main building. I appreciated seeing a map of the various villages throughout the Southland attributed to the Chumash people in the era before the European settlers came to disturb their traditional lifestyle. I hadn't realized the extent of their settlements. A separate gallery houses George Stuart historical figures, which should not be missed. Meticulous details brought to life by a dedicated artist show up in full costume with explanations of their importance in their time. The current crop were movers and shakers during the times of religious upheaval, mostly in Europe during the split-offs from the Catholic church. Fascinating! Though not a large museum, it's one that's worth a visit for its many aspects, including the public spaces and rotating exhibits. The two women at the reception desk had lots of helpful and interesting comments to add to the experience of the visit. We'll be back for other rotating exhibits as this is a sweet space.

I always enjoy the exhibits offered at the Museum of Ventura County. It's very inviting as you are greeted by someone seated at the entrance. Easy to navigate for those with walking challenges. There is a path that is free of steps and offers ramps if one has the need. There is a gift shop with a variety of items. All of which are reasonably priced. The exhibits are very well displayed. Visibly interesting and informative. Right now there is zero entrance fee. I highly recommend visiting this Museum.

I really like this museum they tend to feature some pretty interesting artists. I am looking forward to going to some of the events!

We became members on this visit, after attending a native plant sale event with friends at the beautiful front courtyard that is perfect for events, with nice tile and artwork. After the sale, we wandered into the museum lobby, became members and visited the current exhibit on the history of food in Ventura County, with interesting facts about the first restaurant, and other historic food processors like Ortega Chiles. The four of us grew up in Ventura, so it was a fun trip down memory lane, remember the Colonial Restaurant? The 'what's for dinner' exhibit from the 1800s to 2018 was fun as well. The back area and courtyard has Chumash exhibits, and some interesting murals. I have used the research library in the past, and was glad to see it is open every day except Tuesday. Entry fees are reasonable, the staff is friendly and it isn't overwhelmingly large. The food exhibit made us hungry so we only spent an hour, vowing to return soon.

I've been so many times to downtown Ventura (a nice escape from LA), but somehow never visited the Museum of Ventura County till last weekend. Maybe because I'm a bit of a museum snob? Anyways, you live and learn, because the Museum is a little hidden gem of downtown, almost across the street from the San Buenaventura Mission, just as you pass Mission Park. The building is nice, middle-sized, pretty modern. I read in a magazine about several interesting exhibits they have on display now, so I decided to check the place out. The museum is on a smaller size, but very well taken care of, the staff is nice, they give you great tips about new exhibits, they explain where everything is, the place is clean, the bathrooms are big and well taken care of. So, we started exploring it by checking out the cool Historical Figures (on the darker side of the history) created by Ojai located artist George Stuart. They have a permanent collection dedicated to the local history of the Chumash civilization, another cool exhibit of the painter Michael Pearce, a nice fantastic world to step into and also another exhibit that drew us in dedicated to the "Summer of Love" in the area. The exhibits aren't big, but very interesting to explore. I enjoyed the museum's courtyard and also the cute sculpture garden in the back, peaceful, full of tranquility. This is a nice world created in the middle of downtown, cozy and serene. 11 am-5 pm Tuesdays-Sundays, $5 regular admission, which is very reasonable. Free parking. Very nice museum to visit, you can spend at least an hour here browsing the exhibits on display. Quiet, laid back vibe, which I enjoyed. Exactly what I needed.

Ok, technically the two female docents were polite and nice. But MAN, were they stuffy! I'm 49 yrs old and I felt like I was in trouble with a couple of school marms (was there something in my teeth? was my lipstick too bright?). It's not like I was expecting a juggling act or one of them to shoot water out of a fake flower in their lapel for laughs, but I've never felt so junior high disapproved of before as a grown adult, wowza. Besides, it was just a bunch of fake history anyway crammed into a 2 inch X 2 inch space and an expensive gift shop: your tax dollars at work. And a mural including a naked savage out back in the garden. As if the Chumash were one step away from cave men, they could dress themselves, is that really the take away here? In fact, back in 1926, two boys found a cave off the 126 with a TON of Indian artifacts. So much so, and so varied from all over the continent, that those who studied the find surmised that Ventura/Santa Clarita was the largest Native American trading hub in North America spanning from Mexico through Canada. The Smithsonian swooped in to boot to claim most of the objects, but still, why no mention of real history like this instead of just a couple of "grinding bowls" (they're called metate holes) and a thatched hut that could have been stolen off the set of Gidget after the filming of a beach party. I'm not even into history, how do I know more than what was shown in these displays? OK, I'm going too crazy.... it's just the haughty pretense of this place, over literally nothing, really got to me. I hate it when people/places are unnecessarily condescending like this over nothing (and even if it was something, then share your excitement! Don't be a history blow hard just to try and make yourself seem important while making other people feel small). Skip it. Life is precious. I can't believe I just wasted my own time leaving this review.... but if I could just save one museum goer's plans then my job is done (hug a tree, buy a homeless person a coffee, anything but this place).

My 4 year old son and I were on a day trip to Santa Paula to see a handful of Passport 2 History Museums (look up that program if you don't know about it!). Our last stop was the excellent Ventura County Museum of Agriculture, and the super nice staff member working there told us that our admission also got us into the Ventura Country Museum of History and Art for free if we went that day! Why not?!?!? It's only 20 minutes away, and we were already over an hour away from home. I'm so glad we went. My son just turned 4, and it was later in the day and his attention span was starting to waver. However, they had this cool scavenger hunt that was perfect because it wasn't too hard or advanced at all. Not only that, but it was on a lanyard, he could wear around his neck like a necklace, which he LOVED! We enjoyed their current exhibit that had art by high schoolers, middle schoolers and even elementary schoolers! We enjoyed the historic section with the basket and taxidermy coyote. They had some other cool things for kids to do throughout, which I always appreciate. We went outside and saw the Chumash hut and the cactuses outside. Careful in the Chumash hut if you're tall... spider central! There is a cool dark room that had these hand crafted figures. I wish I could remember the artists' name, but it was pretty cool. My son was thrilled that he got to pick a prize for completing the scavenger hunt! So there's not a super ton here, but you could definitely make this a part of your day trip to Santa Paula or Ventura. I'm so glad we went! Very friendly staff!

This is a great museum in ventura. Very chill. I was impressed that they translated everything into Spanish, although I do not speak nor read Spanish. It's great that this museum is inclusive. We had a good time. Best of all it was free. Must visit.

A sweet little museum in downtown Ventura. Yes they have parking. We saw the Chicano art exhibit. It is inexpensive and a great exhibit. Allow about an hour for this. There is a nice court yard for relaxing as well.

Great small museum located in downtown Ventura. Came here on earth day and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was free for the day (usually priced nominally per person). They had a variety of informational and fun activities geared towards the little ones such as painting, coloring, and poppy seed planting that you can take home. Fun exhibits include models of evil figures throughout history, local artwork, and native tribes. The staff, mostly (if not all) are volunteers and are all very friendly and knowledgeable.

Another gem to find in the lovely San Buenaventura is our wonderful Museum of History and Art. The museum captures the essence of the deeply rich roots of Ventura including the historical Chumash prior to the official founding of the city. This is a definitely a location to put on your "Bucket List" to explore. You'll walk-out with a wealth of knowledge and depth, adding a new spark in your eye when experiencing Ventura. Reviewed by- Yvette L. Brownstone Ventura, CA

I can't wait to see the renovated version of The Museum of Ventura County. For now, yes, it is located in a small space at Santa Clara and California; and in the meantime, if you choose to be a visitor, you are forced to spend most of your museum time with the works of mainly one artist. And I'm so glad I wandered into the temporary Museum because I would have never been exposed to Omar d'Leon. Crosshatches, deep reds, greens, and blues... The museum staff set up a crafts table so visitors could recreate their own waxy work with crayons and sand-paper. I took mine home and tacked it up in my bathroom :) With what they have, they did what they could... and personally, I think it sets up an intimacy between artist and patron. Also, they have incorporated a little gift shop with a discount table. I bought a cute pair of wooden hoops for 2 bucks! Also, as my filipino cousins would say, "It's Pree!" [free] Momma Likey.

For the time being, I will give them 2 stars. I've been here, twice. Both times my entrance was free, because both times there was only a single exhibit open. This time we saw 1/4 size historical figures, by George Stuart, sporting 1/4 size diamond replicas, by Scott Sucher. http://venturamuseum.org/event/diamonds-are-forever/ The exhibit provided some interesting history about some of the most well known diamonds, such as the Hope, and many of the Crown Jewels of England, and France. There was also a looped video of George, discussing how he created his figures, which feature actual iron skeletal structures, skulls, and skin layers, as well as finely crafted 1/4 size garments. When I mentioned to the front desk that I was a bit sad that I'd still missed the rest of the museum, they provided me with some free passes. I don't know when I will use them, as it was around 3 years since I was last there, but it was a very nice gesture. Admission isn't steep, and if you're in the area, it's a nice little museum.

Stopped by at this museum today after visiting the Mission. A bit disappointing since there's barely anything on exhibit excepts for plans. Employees are very helpful and friendly, however. The best exhibits are the Qing Dynasty emperors.

For a county museum, I thought it'd be better. The exhibit I attended was on the Vietnam War and its veterans. Informative about Vietnam's political history and the history of the U.S.'s involvement down there, especially a week before the anniversary of the fall of Saigon. The other exhibit was on Abraham Lincoln with these incredible figurines (dolls?)! Also a decent history lesson. A few pieces of art, but not as much as I was hoping to see.

For anyone planning on using the museum as a wedding venue...please read this review. This is solely for my experience in renting the venue. First of all, when I first met with the events coordinator Shannon, she made everything sound so good and easy and that she'd be there helping the whole time...blah blah BLAH. Well what wasn't made clear to me then was that by using this venue we were locked into using their chosen caterer. After everything was said and done...the caterer was phenomenal but...really expensive, way more expensive than I originally anticipated. I had already put a deposit down so I was locked in. In the midst of trying to understand how this was missed...Shannon stopped responding to my emails. I found out...On Facebook...that she quit. She did not have the professional courtesy enough to let me know. I contacted the museum and they said oh we have someone to replace her and they will contact you shortly. 3 weeks go by and I hear nothing. I finally called and left a message. I met Annette and she was helping me through most of the planning process. ONE WEEK before my wedding this woman named Megan starts as the permanent replacement as events coordinator. I talked to her and we discuss things she needed to know and needed before the event...vendor setup times, insurance, etc...we agreed I'd email it to her and she'd call me the next day to go over everything and ask if anything else was needed. At that time I also told her the rentals would be there the day before the wedding at 4pm and we would be setting up decorations...she said she had no idea and didn't know if that was ok. Well, she never bothered to call me back. I talked to the caterer and confirmed the rental delivery times and such. Megan called be back....mind you, it's two days before the wedding saying oh yea I got your emails and sorry I never got back to you, yes rentals come at 4 and asking me ummm which package service did you get? She he no idea anything about this wedding...look I understand because she just started a week ago but wow. So when my rentals are delivered, my family got there quarter to five and Megan told them they had to leave by 6...no one ever said we had to leave at a certain time. We thought we could be there until 7 maybe 7:30. Apparently she was really condescending to my mom. She said if we had hired a professional coordinator then they would have it done faster. Excuse me lady, I was told by Shannon and Annette I didn't have to hire a professional coordinator...that it could be a family member that would direct traffic and such. It wasn't recommended as family wants to enjoy the wedding but it was not a requirement to hire a professional. I didn't want to spend extra money as that all had to go to the expensive caterer. She also said the cake was not to be left out....when I had already talked to the baker who works as an exclusive vendor for the museum and does many weddings there that told me that yes it can be left outside. Megan had no idea about this wedding and it really pissed me off that she wanted to go in dictating this and that with no communication or courtesy. I had been working and planning this for 8 months and a few days before my wedding she's trying to throw this at me? She caused me stress for no reason before my wedding. Good luck for future brides dealing with her...maybe it was because she was new but then she should have been way more helpful and understanding if that was the case. I just feel like she what she did was rude. I would have given one star for this experience as no one at the museum was helpful after dealing with THREE different people over the course of 8 months. The only reason it gets one more star is because the venue is exceptionally beautiful and functional for a wedding. But buyer BEWARE! Don't let them walk all over you...it's your wedding.

We come here every year during our vacation. They have interesting exhibits, lots of history. Ticket price is very reasonable.

I love this museum! I particularly love the drawing nights that the artist in residence Samuel, excuse me, Ryan Samual car is doing. He is really supportive and fun to be around and there are so many people there now that I don't want you to tell anybody else. Just go, slip off in the middle of the night OK well 6 to 9 anyway. Love this group, having a great time

This is a great venue for an outside wedding. I love the water elements and the bathrooms are convenient. It may be a museum but none of the outside area conveys that at all. Regardless, it's still a very nice spot for a wedding reception.

We happened to be in Ventura today, the 1st Sunday of the month, when the Museum is open for free admission. Since it is free and since we didn't go out of our way to get here, I was happy with the visit. The current exhibition Who's Minding the Stores shared the history of the grocery stores in Ventura County. appealed to me as I love food. Nevertheless, I still have to say that if you have to come a long way, you may be disappointed by the size of the museum that you can visit in less than an hour.

this place stinks. there are no history exhibits. the boss of the place told me there was no room. later, she said there hadn't been enough time. she offered to return my membership from last year. i had given $1400 for a memorial brick with my dead sons name. she didn't offer to return that. she boasts of raising about $2mm from the city and county. some of that is my money. she didn't offer to return that.

The museum of Ventura County is in a rather plain looking building across and down from the Mission. Your first tip is to drive about 100 yards north of the mission and park opposite the Museum of Ventura. There are a group of 4 parking spots that are free! Not the park and pay back into old town. Additionally the parking lot at the museum is free. Now back to the museum. I visit a lot of different small museums and the display of the history of photography with a story line about people in Ventura is a knockout. It is a world class display. The layout, lighting, continuity, and story are fabulous. Whoever planned and executed this one get 5 gold stars from me. I hope you can get to see it. There are other displays about Cuba by a wonderful photo journalist, another display of Lincoln and his life - very well done too - and other displays about the local Indians. All in all this is a museum I will be checking in on as displays change. Hope to see you there.

We brought our third graders here as a field trip and it was outstanding. The students loved it!

This is the worst "museum" I have ever been to! It does not have real artifacts but simulations of artifacts...what the hell? It was hot in the room with the diamond exhibit so I could not stay in there, it was supposedly air conditioned but it was too hot to be inside it. I was stunned at how bad this "museum" is. I have more authentic Ventura history in MY OWN HOUSE! This is just shameful. About 3 rooms of...almost nothing. And replicas of historic items from the Chumash and Channel Islands. Seriously, the museum could not obtain ANY real Chumash or Channel Island items? That is just bizarre. Also I was very unhappy at the unprofessional way the archival staff handled my request to view an item that was given to the Ventura PUBLIC library for PUBLIC use and then they tried to dictate all sorts of perameters they had no right imposing...finally got around their road blocks but they are not responsible with the way they are running their archives and keeping people from using them as well. (I have a MA degree in Archiving and they still gave me crap about using their own archives for research so...)