14 Museums in Fresno to Visit
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Are you looking for museums to visit in Fresno? I’ve got you covered.
Unfortunately, Fresno does not have a large museum scene. In fact, most of the Fresno museums are small and only host a few exhibits at a time.
While there are no large dedicated spaces for the arts, there is still a vibrant art scene in Fresno. You just have to know where to look.
As a local, I have been to many of the dedicated museums here as well as many of the historical, scientific, artistic, and cultural exhibits that are unique to Fresno.
In this post, I’m sharing my favorite museums in Fresno along with what you can expect to find at each one to help you decide if they are worth a visit.
Fresno Places & Hidden Gems Map
Discover the hidden gems of Fresno with my hand-picked collection of over 200 must-see spots. I’ve compiled my years exploring Fresno and its surrounding day trips all in one place with an easy-to-use legend sorted by activity and proximity.
Download the map and get ready to discover the magic of Fresno, one pin at a time!
The Best Museums in Fresno
1. Forestiere Underground Gardens
Interactive | Family Friendly | Significant to Fresno
A museum is dedicated to displaying and preserving culturally significant objects, and that is exactly what the Forestiere Underground Gardens do.
See a network of underground rooms, gardens, and passageways hand-built by an Italian immigrant in the 1920s. A testament to the significance of agriculture in Fresno, as well as ingenuity in escaping the summer heat.
The Underground Gardens also top my favorite things to do in Fresno list!
2. Downing Planetarium
Interactive | Family Friendly
The Downing Planetarium is a small planetarium on the Fresno State University campus. It is open to the public twice a month for weekend shows that include an educational show projected on the star theater dome, as well as a projection of the night sky.
After the show, you can also stay and use the telescope to find constellations in the night sky.
3. Community Heritage Center
Interactive | Family Friendly | Significant to Fresno
The Community Heritage Center at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District is one of Fresno’s newest museums.
It offers an interactive, educational experience emphasizing the Clovis’ veteran community with exhibits such as learning Morse code and walking in a recreated WWI trench.
4. Arte Américas
Interactive | Family Friendly | Significant to Fresno
Arte Américas is a “casa de la cultura” exhibiting local and international artists who create cultural art forms of the Américas. It is one of the largest art spaces in Fresno.
Arte regularly hosts summer concerts, and community events like dance folkloricos, Mariachi ensembles, and Dia de Muertos exhibits.
5. Fresno Discovery Center
Interactive | Family Friendly
The Fresno Discovery Center is a hands-on science center where kids can interact and play as they learn. It has an indoor play station as well as an outdoor park and playground.
Exhibits include live animals, a dino dig, and many arts and crafts related to science, technology, engineering, and math.
6. ArtHop
Interactive | Significant to Fresno
While ArtHop is not technically a museum, it is free admission to several Fresno art galleries. On the first and third Thursdays of the month, ArtHop is an art crawl between local galleries that often features food trucks, vendors, and performances.
7. Meux Home Museum
Significant to Fresno
The Meux Home Museum is an 1800s gothic Victorian mansion. Take a 45-minute guided tour of the house, and then wander the garden.
There are yearly events that bring the mansion to life, such as a spring tea in the garden, a Victorian candlelight mourning around Halloween, and a fully decorated home at Christmas time.
8. Fresno Art Museum
Significant to Fresno
The Fresno Art Museum exhibits modern and contemporary art with an emphasis on paintings, prints, and sculptures that reflect the rich diversity of the San Joaquin Valley. Founded in 1949, it is also one of the oldest dedicated art museums in Fresno.
9. Kearney Mansion Museum
Significant to Fresno
The Kearney Mansion Museum is another 1800s mansion, much larger than Meux and on much more property. The park surrounding the mansion has a playground, 11 picnic areas, and two soccer fields.
While you are out there, visit some of Fresno’s best wineries nearby.
10. African American Historical and Cultural Museum of The San Joaquin Valley
Significant to Fresno
The African American Historical and Cultural Museum of The San Joaquin Valley has hundreds of historic photographs and artifacts dating back to the 1880s documenting the numerous contributions of local African Americans from the San Joaquin Valley.
11. Fresno County Historical Museum
Significant to Fresno
The Fresno Country Historical Museum is located in the Fresno Fairgrounds and is open to the public on the third Saturday of every month. It showcases the history of Fresno County through displays, replicas, and artifacts.
12. Clovis Big Dry Creek Museum
Significant to Fresno
The Big Dry Creek Museum is located in Old Town Clovis and features artifacts from indigenous tribes like the Mono and Yakuts, as well as historic photographs of the history of Clovis.
13. Veterans Memorial Museum
Significant to Fresno
The Veterans Memorial Museum, also known as the Legion of Valor Museum, tells the story of America’s wars as seen by soldiers through donated papers, photographs, and artifacts. Uniforms and equipment of different eras are also on display.
14. Armenian Heritage Museum
Significant to Fresno
The Armenian Heritage Museum is in the University of California Center Exhibition Hall highlighting the contributions of Armenians to the Central Valley.
Other Museums Near Fresno
If you have already checked all the museums in Fresno off your list, there are several museums nearby that are worth the drive.
The Castle Air Museum is one hour north of Fresno in Atwater. It is a stunning collection of 80 restored vintage military aircraft ranging from WWII to the present day. You can spend a whole day wandering the airfield looking at the aircraft.
The Museum of the Sierra is one hour east in Shaver Lake. Featuring six outdoor exhibits and thousands of artifacts, it makes a good stop when you are on a weekend getaway in the mountains.
Two and a half hours west in San Simeon is Hearst Castle. If you enjoy previewing historic homes and artifacts, there is nothing like the grandeur of Hearst. Featuring ancient Egyptian artifacts, a mosaic-tiled Roman pool, bear pits, and wild zebras, it is something to behold.
Fresno Museums Map
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