List of museums in the Inland Empire
The Inland Empire metropolitan area and region of Southern California, which sits directly east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, covers more than. The metropolitan area consists of Riverside County and San Bernardino County and is home to over 4 million people. The Inland Empire contains many museums, which are defined for this context as institutions that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. It includes non-profit and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace are not included in this list.
| Name | Image | Town/city | County | Type | Summary | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Museum | Fort Irwin | San Bernardino | Military | , history of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, located at the Fort Irwin National Training Center | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Agua Caliente Cultural Museum | Palm Springs | Riverside | Native American | History and culture of the Agua Caliente and other indigenous peoples | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery | Agua Mansa | San Bernardino | History | Branch museum of the San Bernardino County Museum, historic cemetery of the pioneer ghost town and museum | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum | Twentynine Palms | San Bernardino | Commodity | Historic hair and beauty care artifacts | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Big Bear Discovery Center | Fawnskin | San Bernardino | Natural history | Co-managed by the Southern California Mountains Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service, natural history of the San Bernardino National Forest | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Big Bear Valley Historical Museum | Big Bear City | San Bernardino | Local history | Operated by the Big Bear Valley Historical Society | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Cabazon Dinosaurs | Cabazon | Riverside | Religious | Dinosaur sculptures and Creationist museum | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Cabot's Pueblo Museum | Desert Hot Springs | Riverside | Historic house | Hopi-style pueblo house with 35 rooms, 150 windows and 65 doors | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Calico Early Man Site | Barstow | San Bernardino | Archaeology | Excavations of a Pleistocene stone tool workshop and quarry sites | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Calico Ghost Town | Calico | San Bernardino | Open air | Ghost silver mining town park with Lane House & Museum of local & mining history, one-room school, blacksmith shop, several original structures | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| California Citrus State Historic Park | Riverside | Riverside | Industry | Visitor center includes a museum that presents the origins of citrus, how it arrived in the Americas, and the commercial development of the Bahia Naval orange in Riverside. | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Route 66 Museum | Victorville | San Bernardino | History | Route 66 and automotive history, cultural and economic impacts | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties | Riverside | Riverside | Society | , operated by the Riverside Community College District, works of Miné Okubo, themes of civil rights and social justice in the context of 20th-century Riverside | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Chaffey Community Museum of Art | Ontario | San Bernardino | Art | , operated by the Chaffey Community Art Association | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Chaffey-Garcia House/Museum | [Rancho Cucamonga, California|Cucamonga, California|Rancho Cucamonga] | San Bernardino | Historic house | , operate by the Etiwanda Historical Society | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry | Riverside | Riverside | Art | Chicano artwork from across the United States collected by Cheech Marin. Currently under development with a planned opening in 2021. | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert | Rancho Mirage | Riverside | Children's | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Chino Youth Museum | Chino | San Bernardino | Children's | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Coachella Valley History Museum | Indio | Riverside | Open air | , local culture and history, operated by the Coachella Valley Historical Society, includes the 1926 adobe Smiley-Tyler House with local history exhibits, the 1909 Indio Schoolhouse and the Date Museum. a blacksmith's shop, pioneer farming implements, specialty gardens | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Colton Area Museum | Colton | San Bernardino | Local history | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Cooper Museum | Upland | San Bernardino | Local history | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Corona Heritage Park & Museum | Corona | Riverside | Multiple | , local history, art and culture | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Daggett Museum | Daggett | San Bernardino | Local history | , includes early American collectibles, railroad china, Navajo Indian code-talkers from WWII, barbed wire, lapidary work | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Desert Discovery Center | Barstow | San Bernardino | Natural history | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens | Cherry Valley | Riverside | Fine arts | , features late 16th to early 19th century European & Asian fine arts set within a recreated manor house, surrounded by beautiful gardens. | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Entomology Research Museum | Riverside | Riverside | Natural history | Insect collection of the Department of Entomology of the University of California, Riverside, open to the public by appointment. | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Estudillo Mansion | San Jacinto | Riverside | Historic house | - | Fingerprints Youth Museum | Hemet | Riverside | Children's | , formerly KidZone Youth Museum | ||
| Fontana Historical Society Museum | Fontana | San Bernardino | Local history | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| General Patton Memorial Museum | Chiriaco Summit | Riverside | Military | Honors veterans, includes military equipment, uniforms, weapons, medals, artifacts, tanks, memorabilia from Patton's life and career | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Gilman Historic Ranch and Wagon Museum | Banning | Riverside | Local history | Operated by Riverside County Parks, late 19th-century homestead ranch house, museum with a collection of authentic wagons and saddles | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Goffs Schoolhouse | Goffs | San Bernardino | Local history | Restored one-room schoolhouse with displays of local history, operated by the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex | Barstow | San Bernardino | Science | Tours and museum about the radio telescope and astronomy | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Hemet Museum | Hemet | Riverside | Local history | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Heritage House | Riverside | Riverside | Historic house | , 1891 Victorian house museum, operated by the Museum of Riverside | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Harada House | Riverside | Riverside | Historic house | A National Historic Landmark recognizing one of the most significant civil rights cases in California, operated by the Museum of Riverside. As of February 2015, not yet open to the public. | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Hi-Desert Nature Museum | Yucca Valley | San Bernardino | Multiple | , artistic, natural and cultural history of the area's deserts | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Historical Glass Museum | Redlands | San Bernardino | Glass | , operated by the Historical Glass Museum Foundation, examples of American glass | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Historical Society of Palm Desert Museum and Archives | Palm Desert | Riverside | Local History | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Idyllwild Area Historical Society Museum | Idyllwild | Riverside | Local history | , history of the San Jacinto Mountain communities of Idyllwild, Garner Valley, Mountain Center, Pine Cove, and Pinewood | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Inland Empire Military Museum | San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Military | WWII, Korea and Vietnam military memorabilia, owned by Juan Pollo Restaurant chain, located next door to the first McDonald's Restaurant | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| International Banana Museum | Mecca | Riverside | Commodity | , over 20,000 banana related items, formerly located in Altadena, then Hesperia | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Jensen Alvarado Ranch | Jurupa Valley | Riverside | Local history | 1880s period local history ranch | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| John Rains House | Cucamonga | San Bernardino | Historic house | Also known as Cucamonga Rancho,mid 19th-century house, branch museum of the San Bernardino County Museum | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Joshua Tree National Park | Natural history | Three visitor centers and the Black Rock Nature Center contain exhibits about the natural and cultural history of the area | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| Jude E. Poynter Golf Museum | Palm Desert | Riverside | Sports | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center | Jurupa Valley | Riverside | Natural history | , a family-oriented non-profit earth science educational facility, located outside of Riverside city limits, features Ruth and Sam Kirkby Earth Science Museum | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Kelso Depot | Kelso | San Bernardino | Local history | Railroads, local history, visitor center for the Mojave National Preserve | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Keys Desert Queen Ranch | San Bernardino | Historic house | Historic ranch buildings located in Joshua Tree National Park | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Kimberly Crest | Redlands | San Bernardino | Historic house | French château-style Victorian mansion | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| La Quinta Museum | La Quinta | Riverside | Local history | , features local and traveling exhibits of art, history and culture | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Lincoln Memorial Shrine | Redlands | San Bernardino | Biographical | shrine and museum about President Abraham Lincoln, special collections division of A. K. Smiley Public Library | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| McCallum Adobe-Cornelia White House Museum | Palm Springs | Riverside | Historic house | Operated by the Palm Springs Historical Society, two adjoining late 19th century houses | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Malki Museum | Banning | Riverside | Native American | , traditions and history of the Cahuilla Indians and other southern California Indian tribes | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| March Field Air Museum | Riverside | Riverside | Aviation | Adjacent to March Joint Air Reserve Base, historic military and civilian aircraft | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Mission Inn Museum | Riverside | Riverside | Historic site | Cultural heritage of the Mission Inn | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Mojave River Valley Museum | Barstow | San Bernardino | Local history | , history, culture and natural history of the Mojave River Valley | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Mountain History Museum | Lake Arrowhead | San Bernardino | Local history | , operated by the Rim of the World Historical Society | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Mousley Museum of Yucaipa History | Yucaipa | San Bernardino | Local history | , operated by the Yucaipa Valley Historical Society | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Museum of History & Art, Ontario | Ontario | San Bernardino | Multiple | , history, art, and cultural traditions of the greater Ontario area | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Museum of Pinball | Banning | Riverside | Sports | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Museum of Riverside | Riverside | Riverside | Multiple | Natural history and Native American culture | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Needles Regional Museum | Needles | San Bernardino | Local history | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Oak Glen School House Museum | Yucaipa | San Bernardino | Local history | , historic schoolhouse | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Old Fire Station Museum | Yucaipa | San Bernardino | Firefighting | , operated by the Yucaipa Valley Historical Society, US Forest Service artifacts from 1936 to 1980 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Old Guest House Museum | Trona | San Bernardino | Open air | , operated by the Searles Valley Historical Society, includes exhibits on local mining activities, Native Americans | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Old Schoolhouse Museum | Twentynine Palms | San Bernardino | Local history | , operated by the Twentynine Palms Historical Society, displays on Indians, miners, cowboys and homesteaders, historic school displays | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Original McDonald's Restaurant Museum | San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Food | Site of the first McDonald's that was open in 1940, memorabilia and history of McDonald's and Juan Pollo restaurants, Route 66 memorabilia | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| P-38 Museum | Riverside | Riverside | Aviation | , history and memorabilia of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning in World War II, housed on the grounds of the March Air Museum | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Palm Springs Air Museum | Palm Springs | Riverside | Aviation | Specializes in World War II aircraft and aviation history | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Palm Springs Art Museum | Palm Springs | Riverside | Art | Modern and Contemporary American art, natural history | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Palo Verde Valley Historical Museum | Blythe | Riverside | Local History | History of Blythe, the Palo Verde Valley, and surrounding areas | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Pennypickle's Workshop | Temecula | Riverside | Children's | , also known as Temecula Children's Museum | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Perris Valley Historical Museum | Perris | Riverside | Local history | Located in the historic Perris Depot | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Planes of Fame Air Museum | Chino | San Bernardino | Aviation | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Redlands Historical Museum | Redlands | San Bernardino | Local history | , planned museum operated by the Redlands Historical Museum Association | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Rialto Historical Society Museum | Rialto | San Bernardino | Local history | , displays include a turn of the century home, a citrus exhibit and packing house office, military display, an early 20th century doctor's office, located in the former church school building next door to the former First Christian Church of Rialto | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Riverside Art Museum | Riverside | Riverside | Art | Over 20 exhibitions a year of traditional and contemporary art | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Riverside International Automotive Museum CLOSED | Riverside | Riverside | Automotive | Closed in June 2016 after the death the Doug Magnon in 2015. The displays included California auto racing history, Dan Gurney, and the largest collection of Mazerati road cars in the United States. | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Riverside Sport Hall of Fame | Riverside | Riverside | Sports | , an outdoor display in Newman Park recognizing sporting achievements of Riverside citizens | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA) | San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Art | Part of California State University, San Bernardino, collections include Ancient Egyptian artifacts, world ceramics and contemporary art | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum | Barstow | San Bernardino | Transportation | , automobile and Route 66 memorabilia | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Ruddy's General Store Museum | Palm Springs | Riverside | History | , 1930s period general store with original fixtures and contents | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Salton Sea History Museum | Mecca | Riverside | Local history | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts | Alta Loma | San Bernardino | Multiple | , includes crafts gallery and historic home and gardens of Sam Maloof | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| San Bernardino County Museum | Redlands | San Bernardino | Multiple | , cultural and natural history, operates many branch museums | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| San Bernardino de Sena Estancia | Redlands | San Bernardino | Historic house | Restored ranch outpost of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, including a chapel, branch museum of the San Bernardino County Museum; also known as San Bernardino de Sena Estancia | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| San Jacinto Museum | San Jacinto | Riverside | Local history | , natural and human history of San Jacinto and surrounding areas | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse | Unincorporated | Riverside | Local history | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Searles Valley History House | Trona | San Bernardino | Historic house | , operated by the Searles Valley Historical Society, furnished to appear as in the 1920s when it was occupied by one of the early managers of the Trona Plant | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Sherman Indian Museum | Riverside | Riverside | Native American | History of the boarding high school for Native American students, culture | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Shryock Museum of Embryology | Loma Linda | San Bernardino | Medical | , part of Loma Linda University School of Medicine, teaching collection of anatomy models and fetuses | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Southern California Railway Museum | Perris | Riverside | Railroad | Heritage railroad and museum about Southern California's railroad history | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Stahl Center & Museum of Culture | Riverside | Riverside | Anthropology | , part of La Sierra University, located on the second level of La Sierra Hall, | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Sunnylands | Rancho Mirage | Riverside | Historic house | Winter retreat mansion of Walter and Leonore Annenberg | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Temecula Valley Museum | Temecula | Riverside | Local history | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| UCR ARTSblock | Riverside | Riverside | Art | , part of the University of California, Riverside, an interactive art facility housed in the renovated Rouse Building, an 1895 department store, includes the California Museum of Photography, Sweeney Art Gallery, and Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Victorian Bridal Museum | San Jacinto | Riverside | Textile | , Victorian-era wedding dresses and accessories | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Victor Valley Museum | Apple Valley | San Bernardino | Local history | , branch museum of the San Bernardino County Museum | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts | Palm Desert | Riverside | Art | , part of College of the Desert, includes 3 galleries | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Western America Railroad Museum | Barstow | San Bernardino | Railroad | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Western Science Center | Hemet | Riverside | Natural history | Native American artifacts, Ice Age fossils, archaeology, paleontology | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art | Rancho Cucamonga | San Bernardino | Art | , part of Chaffey College | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| World Famous Crochet Museum | Joshua Tree | San Bernardino | Crochet | Collection of crocheted items located inside a recycled photo booth. | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| World Museum of Natural History | Riverside | Riverside | Natural history | , part of La Sierra University, animal mounts, gems and minerals, meteorites and tektites, petrified wood, shells, American Indian artifacts, and contemplative stones | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Ya'i Heki' Regional Indian Museum | Perris | Riverside | Native American | Located in Lake Perris State Recreation Area | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Yanks Air Museum | Chino | San Bernardino | Aviation | Collection of American aircraft including World War II fighters, dive and torpedo bombers | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Yorba-Slaughter Adobe | Chino | San Bernardino | Historic house | Branch museum of the San Bernardino County Museum, includes post office/general store with an exhibit of agriculture and animal husbandry | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Yucaipa Adobe | Yucaipa | San Bernardino | Historic house | , branch museum of the San Bernardino County Museum | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Defunct museums
- A Special Place Children's Museum, San Bernardino
- Heartland, California Museum of the Heart, Rancho Mirage
- Southern California Medical Museum, Riverside, moved to Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona in 2015