Whenever I visit a new place or city I look for the local map to find out where is the best place to visit, including public places such as parks, streets, buildings and natural places such as beaches, rivers and lakes. .In the city of Oakland one of the places that everyone must visit is the Oakland Museum of California at Oak Street, 1000, Oakland, CA 94607, which is located in the middle of urban Oakland, east of downtown City. Tourists and locals walk through the Museums different rooms and environments, observing the variety of items and things that showcase the arts, history, and habits of former city and state dwellers. It offers a solid and entertaining introduction to the art, culture, history and natural history of the state of California. The museum is well maintained and indeed offers good opportunities for visitors of all ages to learn and interact with the exhibits. The BART train station located near the building is also a good reason to visit. So, go and enjoy.

My son and I went on the last day of the Burning Man exhibition. The Burning Man Exhibition Was amazing. I absolutely love it. My son was born into the science area. Both of us ended up having a really wonderful mom and son day.

Great exhibits on 1-5-20. The burning man exhibit was very interesting to see. Never been to Burning Man so the museum offered some insight.The tin dragon was super interesting. Always a great time and we only made it half way through the exhibits.

If I could only describe it in one word, it would be breathtaking! Unfortunately, I didnt get many photos as I was there for business. However, I was very impressed with the exhibit, space/layout (its huge) and the staff. I highly recommend visiting if you are in the area, or consider it for your next event...I will definitely be back!

This is one of my favorite museums not just because of amazing exhibits they show case but also because they are one of the most inclusive organizations. Their Fri night outdoor live music and dance classes with dozens of food truck brings the community together in a fun way. It is super family friendly and my kiddo and I have been coming here for years and will continue to come and support.

Its very easy to spend half a day there. The Burning Man exhibit is a small taste of a huge community. The California section has a lot of unique history. Take it slow, and soak it in.

The Burning Man exhibit is a real treat. The temple set up in the garden was amazingly intricate. The exhibits, history and video were captivating. Then there is the rest of the museum to enjoy.

This place has some amazing facts...check it out

I especially loved No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man that went from October 12, 2019, and will go till February 23, 2020 at OMCA.

My first time here, came with my son and a few friends. Love this museum, many hands on areas. The layout was interesting. The employees clearly enjoy what they do and were eager to assist and explain certain things.

Awesome museum.Came here from NYC to soak in some Oakland culture.Amazing museum.

A good place to know the history of the bay area. If you want to have a sense of belonging to the community, maybe its a good place to go.

Gorgeous museum with so much to see! Great for a day out, and the year membership was so adorable, especially in comparison to other museums. The LGBTQ exhibit was beyond words incredible

Visited this museum for the first time on Sunday and had a great experience. Tickets were reasonably priced/easy to purchase and staff was friendly and helpful. I didn’t have time to see most of the museum, but now I have an excuse to come back. The parts of the museum that I did see were great (I visited the history section)! There were lots of interactive components, that all ages will enjoy, which makes this a stand out from the typical history and arts museum. Can’t wait to come back and visit the next time I’m in town.

Great place to bring your family and picnic.

This is one of the finest museums in the Bay area. It contains four separate sections: history, natural history, art, and a revolving exhibit. When I visited, the exhibit was on the history of queer populations. I learned so much on this visit and only wish I had time to go through all of the exhibits (I ended up skipping the history section). Theyre getting ready to remodel the large outdoor sculpture garden section as well.

Extensive California history on display.... but in need of updating. Didnt make it to the other areas...I will come back!

Arguably Oaklands finest museum, covering an expansive area of California history and development. Visited most recently for the new Black Panther/Power exhibit which was recently added to the permanent collection and was very impressed with the quality and presentation of the materials. Great resource for the serious researcher and casual observer alike!

We went on the first Sunday of the month (free admission) so it was crowded! At noon the parking garage was already full, so we parked by the civic center. The museum was huge, with a variety of local art, cultural history, and natural history. We had lunch at the Blue Oak Cafe. Long line and we were told the food would take 25 to 30 minutes but surprisingly it was ready in about 5 minutes. We stayed for a few hours and could easily have stayed a few more if we werent so tired. Lots of interactive exhibits that the kids really enjoyed. We didnt check out the special exhibit this time but it was the artwork of Burning Man. Nice little gift shop too.

Delightful staff, great exhibits and terrific place to visit. Also consider going on a Friday evening when all the food trucks are there.

Just a great local museum - expert staff, a good cafe, changing exhibits and a cluster of food trucks on Friday evenings.

One of the best places to be on a friday night - they showcase live music and tons of ppl. Bring your own food or buy here. Butt bring a happy attitude! Came with the family (kids between 7-14) and we all enjoyed it.

Highly recommend this Museum on the strength of their special exhibition on the history of hip-hop and rap. Really well done and gives the visitor a chance to participate in the art form. All of the pieces exhibited are fascinating to stop and really look at but my personal favorite was a handwritten poem on lined notebook paper. Written by Tupac Shakur this piece could not be more timely and relevant than it is right now!

Cool Friday nights at museums and lot of food, drinks , music and dancing!Art is natural and loved the photo booths free photography

I’m kind of obsessed with this place. It’s a highly interactive, super interesting museum with multiple levels of goodness. They host a lot of community events and appeal to all walks of life. We went there for the Eames exhibit and stayed for everything else. Highly recommended if you are in or around the downtown Oakland area and don’t feel like hanging by the lake!

Three floors of nature, community, history and art make this a must see in Oakland. Great rates for students, and excellent hours, easy access from the BART station.

I got tired walking around (Im a disabled senior and my SERVICE Dog is old too!) theres so much to see so they gave me a guest card to come back. Very interesting displays, kid friendly, way to access by bus.

I love the Oakland museum, in the last couple of years the Oakland museum has been remodeled. Even though I miss the old style of the museum, the new exhibits are family and young kids friendly. There are more interactive activities that requires touching listening, talking to or into. Every first Sunday of the month the museum is Free, they do ask for a donation for the exhibition on the first Sunday of the month. Also explore the outside of the museum, you could have a picnic, look at gold fishes, and see lake marriett from a different point of view.This Hip Hop exhibit runs until August.

Love this place. Cant wait for it to reopen.

Its a great museum. It has three floors. Visitors can see exhibits on Californias natural history and learn how the land was formed. Califormia has seven different land regions which are beautifully photographed and explained. Visitors can also look at exhibits on the people who have populated Califormia. It is very informative. The history starts before Californias colonial period. Exhibits include pictures and artifacts from tribes that lived in Northern and Southern California. Posts next to the exhibits detail the history of what happened to the people. And amazingly the exhibits on history even stretch into modern times. There are pictures and memorabilia from the 1950s, as well as the Civil Rights era, and from Californias technological boom. And no visit to this museum would be complete without a stop at the third floor where visitors can gaze at a massive collection of art created in California. The art is inclusive of different peoples, media and time frames throughout the history of California.

I was in Oakland for a concert, but since whenever I go out of town I make it point to visit museums when there. Since I was going to Oakland I goggled Black Panther Party Tours and sites and Oakland Museum of California came up amongst others. Im going back to Bay this summer and this treasure is definitely priority when I return. This museum will give you a timeline history of the state of California that is great for all ages, genders and races.

I went to the Oakland Museum of California specifically to see the Eames exhibition (photo uploaded). Being interested in design of objects, I knew it would be interesting. I was glad the museum had the exhibition. The layout of the museum is nice, however the rest rooms are a little hard to locate. The museum is very conducive to family and school groups. The menus in the cafeteria could be placed better; depending which way you come in, you dont see them until youre in line, which slows things down for people there for the first time. Overall, the museum is very informative. NOTE TO MILITARY / MILITARY VETERANS: Ask for the Military Discount. Its not on the Price of Admissions list at the ticket counter. (It should be.) Very easy to get to by BART: less than 2 blocks from Lake Merritt Station.

The Oakland museum is a great place to spend some time. Alone, or with kids, theres lots to see. Im partial to the natural sciences area. The permanent exhibits are excellent and they always have a temporary exhibit thats really special. At the time of this review, the new exhibit focuses on bees and its fascinating.The museum in general is calm and peaceful. If you go during the week its not uncommon to be the only person in a sprawling gallery. The koi pond is a peaceful place to eat lunch, or you can leave the museum and find yourself in the middle of Oakland Chinatown with all it has to offer.The on-site, validated parking and close proximity to the freeway, makes visiting really convenient.

Hands down one of the best local museums. Really terrific special exhibits that are thoughtful, community-minded, and provocative. VERY kid friendly. The California history and nature permanent exhibits are wonderful and highlight many minority stories and narratives. They also are constantly updating and adding new content.Friday nights are special and have food trucks from off the grid, a bar, and live performances. Highly recommend stopping in if you’re visiting the Bay Area.

Such a cool experience with the whole family. Affordable too!

Awesome changing and permanent exhibits! Love the native plants in the garden areas

Really great place to bring the children. There were a bunch of interactive displays and different areas other than just art. my boys got in free and I only had to pay my entrance. Before we knew it we had been there for over 4 hours and still didnt get to see everything.

Family membership is the best deal around. Ive gone 50 times or more over the past 15 years and havent seen it all yet.Beautifully curated and highly interactive. Exhibits never disappoint.My favorite museum on the West Coast. Better than even the Getty.

There is a good variety of things at this museum. One floor is art, one floor is the history of California, and one floor is natural sciences. Theres something for everyone and many of the exhibits have interactive elements.First Sunday of the month is free admission.

Fun history exhibits, fairly interactive, and the special exhibits are good too. Nice outdoor area.

Fantastic museum! Everything in California history, nature and arts.Some of the exhibits are fully interactive and are great fun for children. Not only that, there are also several booths (with comfortable seating) where educational videos are played all the time. Overall, a great learning experience!

This museum is in need of a major overhaul.. elevators only accessable from certain floors of parking, bathrooms are small and hard to find (except the two stalls next to the cafeteria). Cafeteria is modest but the staff is nice. The special exhibit hall is good... Just so many stairs everywhere. Maybe ramps are in order.

Yes, go to this museum. The gardens are beautiful and the art collection is awesome. Brilliant curation and excellent exhibition design. A gem in the rough.

Awesome Burning Man exhibit. Check it out before it leaves in January 2020. Rest of the museum is ok. Worth a visit.

Great burningman exhibition. Check out the outdoor art.

Love this place.. Fun and interactive! Tickets are inexpensive.

Its a quaint little museum that I think it is better for understanding California history than for the art. They also have good special exhibit. One recent exhibit was a display of Burning Man art. Their permanent collection is so-so.

A great regional museum with highly engaging exhibits including for teens and children. It is really 4 museums - art, nature/environment, California history and the outdoor grounds. I recommend an annual family pass if your live in the area.

Great experience. A must see if u travel to Oakland

The greatest museum in California for California. So hands on and amazing. Also our favorite Friday night spot for dinner, dancing and art! I could write a book about the amazing attributes of this place for all ages. An amazing example of community and art that will please anyone from 0-100 yrs old.

What we were able to see was nice. Its very clean. Only down side is when they close they only allow you to leave one way. My dad is disabled and they wouldnt let us go the way we came in which was closer to our car. They made us walk around the block which made my dad be in pain.

Just moved here and I definitely want to get a membership to this museum ASAP! The buildings architecture is one of a kind, and the exhibits are extremely captivating. Parking is nice and easy and I love how close to public transportation it is.

Super good stuff here and surprised to find how large it was! Came for the Burning Man exhibit and it was pretty cool! Would recommend it.PS be sure to bring your corporate badge just in case you get a discount!

Great staff and a huge facility. Three different levels plus special sections.

A great take on a history museum with hands on exhibits and often excellent live shows and presentations. family membership is an amazing value given how often the museum updates and the art exhibits.

Wonderful outdoor space and Cafe. Exhibits were thoughtful, well curated and engaging.

Charles and Ray Eames show is interactive and wonderfully detailed look into the legendary couple’s work and life.

So much to see and interactive exhibits for the kids. Its great! Weve gone twice and still havent seen all of the museum. We spent at least 4 hours with kids each time, our youngest was almost 2. He had a great time looking and playing with the allowed exhibits.

Love love love this museum. Great place for families. Fun for date night on Friday. We liked it so much we became members our first time there.

It’s a great place for families or to hang out with friends. Makes for an interesting date night too. The cafe closes early so plan accordingly.

Went to the Burning Man exhibit. It really conveyed a sense of what a magical, will, art oriented event it is. The displays were engaging and many were interactive. If you can get there before it closes, do!!!

I only saw the arts wing and the burning man exhibits but both were very thorough. The jars of sand from the past years celebrations was a nice feature, as were all the sculptures and other relics. The arts wing was a very eclectic mix of different artworks of California or by California based artists. I was so glad I got see the Dorthea Lange photos.

Love this museum. Even my sports-centric teenage boy thinks its worthwhile. Membership benefits are very generous.

I enjoyed my time at this Museum very much.

Great museum in a very enjoyable building. The Californian permanent art collection is fantastic. The Eames exhibit is very good. Go to visit it!

Friday nights are outstanding there. The Museum as a whole is always great. Love the feeling there and good exhibits. Affordable.

Probably one of the best museums Ive ever been to. The sneakers exhibition was interesting, but the rest especially the historic part (and the view!) Were incredible. I wish they had museums like this in Europe.

So much to see here! I highly recommend giving yourself a whole day to thoroughly take in all the exhibits. I look forward to returning and spending more time soaking it all up!

The Eames exhibit was stellar. Im inspired.

We be been here for the Burning Man exhibit. Nice collection.

I havent seen this place as much as I wanted to. But based on what I have seen its an amazing museum with so much to offer about Califronian History.Every Friday there are food trucks outside the museum as well as live music and people enjoy themselves with what the establishment offers. I would definitely recommend this place - especially on a Friday

Went there for the No Spectators: Burning Man exhibition for the free admission Sunday. The special exhibition was big enough that I spent three hours there, but I also like to read the information for the art.Only had then 1 hour left for the rest of the museum and will definitely come back to take a look at the other exhibitions

Cute little museum by Lake Merritt with a charming koi pond and garden in back. Great place if your looking for somewhere beautiful with interesting things to learn and check some interesting history out.Definitely would recommend bringing the family or even a first date here!

A fantastic museum, could easily spend 5 hours here. Glad I made the decision to come from SF for the day. Great history and scenic views from the garden.. A burning man exhibition was on today so they had a great wooden sculpture up and Im sure this will be on for a few months.I must add that the staff all round from security, front desk and gift shop were all absolutely lovely, best customer service Ive had since Ive been in America.Very decently priced I believe it was $11 for students and $16 for adults.. I did not take note of kids sorry.Overall I would come back here, their exhibition was great.

Wonderful cultural exhibits for all to learn and have better understanding of cultures different than their own.

I went there with my children. 10 year old girl and 17 year old boy. They loved that place a lots. Me too.

Oakland Museum, like most every museum I have ever been to was a great experience. All the staff, including security, was super friendly and helpfull. We were there on Friday night, Valentines day, to see their Burning Man exhibit after eating outside the Museum at their Friday night food truck gathering (which was great fun too)! The Burning man exhibit was fascinating with inreractive exhibits and videos. I was the only one in our group of four that knew much about Burning Man as I have been trying to get tickets for years, but my wife, our daughter and son in law were actually more fascinated because Burning Man had never really been on their radar. We will be back here again soon!

Fun and fabulous! Event coordinator is super nice and helpful.

Burning Man exhibit was awesome but when I went to grab my car from the garage at 10:15 on a Friday, before the posted 10:30 closing time, all doors were completely locked. I now have to go back out to Oakland tomorrow, two Lyfts later, to retrieve my car because the parking attendants decided to clock out early. Totally unacceptable in the middle of Oakland at night. And ACE parking who manage the garage were absolutely useless trying to help get it out (before it even hit 10:30). What a way to ruin the start of a long weekend.

Currently showing the No spectators show, all about burning man.

Im counting 16 food trucks on the front and side of OMCA for Friday Nights at OMCA.

If you havent seen the Burning Man exhibit at the fabulous Oakland Museum, you have missed the chance to immerse yourself in a magical experience.

Loved the Burning Man exhibit & event.

They have so many fantastic exhibits here. This one - The Art of Burning Man - is amazing. Light, laser-cut wood, sewing, robotics, light and sound and video shows... The history of Burning Man, some of the types of art made for there, some of the costumes and jewelry and artwork - if youve ever been to Burning Man you should come see these, and if youve never been and dont intend to go you should _definitely_ come see this.

Wonderful displays in my own backyard,and love the our lay of this museum

A lots of California related exhibit. Fantastic.

We had a great time with a group of 4 kids under 5!! The kids especially enjoyed the natural history exhibits which were very interactive and kid-friendly and the beautiful gardens!

The permanent exhibit of the history of California is amazing. The quality of the many period displays is so well done, one could spend a whole day viewing it. I hope to go back soon,

Hidden gem in Oakland filled with great history of California and of course, Oakland. Special cultural events as well, like Dia de los muertos.

I love this museum for many reasons. I love it because it reflects the community in which it is in. It brings to life the history of California, my home state. I love it for the family days I used to take my daughters to. I love it for the Día de los Muertos celebrations. It’s well utilized and an asset to the community. Thank you OMCA!

Lovely place to be. The museum is always wonderful with new displays and activities for all ages.My favorite thing is the Friday night music festivities.

Great California history, lots of variations.

A great local resource for kids and adults alike! Definitely worth a trip whether youre living locally or just visiting. Plenty of hands-on exhibits as well as a sculpture garden, multiple galleries, and a variety of interesting temporary exhibits.

I always enjoy my time coming to the OMCA. Whether its the weekly Friday night event or taking a stroll through the galleries. Our most recent time we on a rainy afternoon with out 2 year old. There are few exhibits that are more hands on that we coild let her explore. She also loved seeing the fish in the pond.

I come here with my partner nearly every Friday night for the Off The Grid gathering. So thankful for OMCA creating such a welcoming and fun community space on a weekly basis. Thank you! And of course we frequent the exhibitions, always excellent!

The burning man show was beautiful!!!

Saw the burning man exhibition. Very good. Theres a temple instillation on the garden, also part of the BM show. Very nice.

OMCA is located right off of Lake Merritts BART stop and is only a few blocks away, which is super convenient. The museum has a mini cafe with coffee and food as well as several exhibits like Californias history, interesting and quirky art, and some outdoor sculptures in the garden where you can get a great view of the lake. Friday nights, theres live bands, Off the Grid food trucks, and half priced admission.

If youre in town for a Friday night, head here for First Fridays. Youll enjoy delicious food trucks (Senor Sigig is a goodie), drinks, fantastic live music, and a family friendly atmosphere. Then head into the museum for 1/2 price adult and free kids gallery admission.

NIce California Campus style museum. Very accessible, in a nice horizontal spread of galleries. On Friday Nights there is a the large collection of Food Trucks, which lends to a great neighborhood block party atmosphere