Museums

Lincoln Memorial Shrine
125 W. Vine Street View map
909 798-7636
909 798-7632

The Lincoln Memorial Shrine houses the largest collection of Lincoln artifacts and Civil War material west of the Mississippi. Robert Watchorn, former president of Union Oil, had the monument built in 1932 and donated his substantial Lincoln collection along with a healthy endowment to fund the shrine. Included in the collection are more than a dozen Lincoln letters and an original Norman Rockwell painting, entitled "Thoughts on Peace on Lincoln's Birthday."

The shrine offers an open house every year on the Sunday closest to February 12, Lincoln's birthday.

Open Tuesday-Sunday, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Admission: Free

Historical Glass Museum
1157 Orange Street View map
909 798-0868

This unusual museum is tucked into an unassuming, immaculate 1903 Victorian house on the north side of Redlands. The small museum features displays of American Glassware dating from the early 1800's to contemporary times, and a nice gift shop. Displays include, but are not limited to, glass from Heisey, Cambridge, Fenton, Fostoria, and Sandwich factories as well as those that produced depression-era glassware.

The museum is also open for private groups during the week, but arrangements must be made in advance by telephone.

Open Saturday-Sunday, noon-4:00 p.m.

Mousley Museum of Natural History
35308 Panorama Drive, Yucaipa View map
909 790-3163

Louis B. Mousley began collecting minerals and shells in childhood, encouraged by his sea-faring great-grandfather who brought him shells from exotic world ports. When he, his wife Mildred, and their two children moved to Yucaipa from the Hudson River Valley of New York, they built a museum for their collections.

The facility was presented to the County of San Bernardino and dedicated as a branch of the San Bernardino County Museums in September, 1970.

Open Wednesdays-Fridays and Sundays, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Saturdays 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Weekday mornings by appointment for school and group education tours.
Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

San Bernardino County Museum
2024 Orange Tree Lane View map
909 307-2669

The San Bernardino County Museum offers regional history and geology exhibits, as well as an extensive collection of birds, bird eggs, and mammals. Their outdoor displays are interesting and include cactus gardens and citrus groves, and their picnic facilities provide a pleasant spot for a weekend outing.

There are many things to see at the museum: a working seismometer and San Andreas fault display, plaster castings of dinosaur tracks that exist in eastern San Bernardino County, stations to listen to recordings of bird sounds, a gift shop, and much more.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Admission: $4/adults, $3/students and seniors, $2/children ages 5-12, children under 5 are free.

Riverside Municipal Museum
3580 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside View map
909 826-5273
Housed in a U.S. Post Office building built in 1912, the museum maintains collections of local history, natural history, and anthropology. Plants, animals, and minerals from the Riverside area are the mainstay of the collection. Be sure to check out both levels of the museum.

Open Tuesday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed on Mondays and major holidays.
Admission: Free

Edward-Dean Museum of Decorative Arts
9401 Oak Glen Road, Cherry Valley View map
909 845-2626

The Edward-Dean Museum got its start as a private museum, the home of two art collectors and antique dealers. It was eventually purchased by the County and is maintained as a magnificent collection of decorative arts, fine furniture, paintings by masters, porcelain, crystal, Persian carpets, oriental treasures, and more. Call to schedule tours.

Open Tuesday-Friday, 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Closed Mondays, major holidays, and the month of August.
Admission: $3/person ages 12 and older; $2/ages 59 and older.