|
Centro Cultural de la Raza
Balboa Park on Park Blvd., San Diego 619-235-6135
A Balboa Park landmark with striking exterior murals, the center is
spotlights the visual and performing arts of Mexican, Native American and
Chicano artists.
Mingei International Museum
 1439 El Prado, San Diego 619-239-0003; www.mingei.org
The Mingei International Museum featuress an eclectic collection of more than
10,000 traditional and contemporary folk art and crafts from 80 different
countries. Early American weather vanes, dance costumes of Ecuador, ritual arts
of India, textiles from Indonesia and tapa cloth from around the world are just
a few examples of the intriguing collections on display at the Mingei
International Museum. "Ceramics of Thtsuzo Shimaoka, a National Living
Treasure of Japan" and "Village India, Art of Compassion and
Devotion" are some of the upcoming events.
Museum of Man
1350 El Prado, San Diego 619-239-2001; www.museumofman.org
The only anthropological museum in San Diego exhibits archaeological
findings, artifacts and folk art that help to unfold man’s physical and
cultural development. The permanent collections highlight the lives of the
Kumeyaay Native Americans, the original inhabitants of San Diego, the Mayans of
Mexico as well as the people of Egypt. The museum is housed in Balboa Park’s
most prominent landmark, the California Building with its 200-foot tower. It
resembles the Tepotzotlan Cathedral near Mexico City.
The Museum or Photographic Arts
1649 El Prado San Diego 619-238-7559 www.mopa.org
The Museum or Photographic Arts is one of the oldest museums in the country
dedicated exclusively to photographic arts. Six to eight exhibits are presented
each year.
Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center
1875 El Prado, San Diego 619-238-1233; www.rhfleet.org
 A major renovation in 1998 has more than doubled the size of this
unique facility. In addition to the five interactive exhibit galleries, the
center is now the home of the Nierman Challenger Learning Center, an exciting
program with capabilities to simulate a space voyage. Scitours, a simulator
ride, takes you on a wild ride through our solar system. The famed OMNIMAX
Theater features movies on its giant domed screen. The center also has two
classrooms and a learning lab for young scientists, ages two to six.
San Diego Aerospace Museum
2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego 619-234-8291; www.aerospacemuseum.org
The museum is located in a building that was originally built for the 1935
California Pacific International Exposition. It is listed on the National
Register of Historical Places and is an exceptional example of the "Moderne"
style of architecture. An impressive collection of 97 U.S. and foreign aircraft
and aviation memorabilia bring to life the history of flight and space
exploration. Among the aircraft on display are many famous World War II planes
including a Curtis P40 Warhawk, a Douglas F6 Hellcat, a PBY Catalina, a British
Spitfire and a Japanese Zero. A tour of the museum also includes the
International Aerospace Hall of Fame, the Spirit of St. Louis, Mercury, Gemini
and Apollo spacecraft and a tribute to engineers, pilots and aviation industry
leaders.
San Diego Art Institute
1439 El Prado, San Diego 619-236-0011; www.sandiego-art.org
The institute displays the works of San Diego-area artists. Shows change
every six weeks.
 San Diego Automotive Museum
2080 Pan Pacific Plaza, San Diego 619-231-2886; www.sdautomuseum.org
More than 80 rare and vintage automobiles and motorcycles are on display at
the museum, which offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of motor
San Diego Historical Society Museum and Research Archives
1649 El Prado, San Diego 619-232-6203; www.sandiegohistory.org
Colorful exhibits and an extensive library tell the story of San Diego’s
colorful past.
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
1649 El Prado, San Diego 619-696-0199; www.sdmodelrailroadm.com
This is the home to the world’s largest operating model railroad exhibit
and features four model railroads of the Southwest. Especially popular with
children is the toy train gallery with hands-on controls. The museum also
features artifacts and displays of railroad memorabilia including a centralized
traffic control machine, a working semaphore and a crossing signal.
San Diego Museum of Art
1450 El Prado, San Diego 619-232-7931; www.sdmart.com
Since its inception in 1926, the largest museum in the city has been a magnet
for art lovers in San Diego and around the world. The museum’s offerings
include paintings by great Renaissance masters, the work of American artists
such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Thomas Eakins, a remarkable collection of South
Asian miniature art, Chinese art from 300 B.C. to the 20th century, and pieces
by modern masters such as Raul Duffy, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse and Paul Klee.
Lectures, art classes and free docent tours are also available.
San Diego Natural History Museum
1786 El Prado, San Diego 619-232-3821; www.sdnhm.org
 This museum explores the rich and diverse natural environments of Southern
and Baja California. Some of the permanent exhibits include dinosaur and whale
skeletons, a real-time seismograph, a Foucault pendulum and Bug Zoo — an
interactive lab featuring live insects. A gem and mineral collection focuses on
the geological history of the area. Rotating exhibits have included Birds of
Prey, Antarctica, larger-than-life animatronic insects, the Nature of Diamonds
and the currently showing Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, The Lost World. The museum
also has an extensive collection of books on natural history, an education
department and interactive traveling exhibits for children.
Timken Museum of Art
1500 El Prado 619-239-5548 www.gort.ucsd.edu/sj/timken/
This museum includes European and American art from the 15th to 19th
centuries, including paintings by Rembrandt, Cezanne and Rubens — and a
collection of Russian icons. Admission is free.
Continued ...
|
