I've been exploring interesting places in the Los Angeles area for 35 years and finally stumbled…read moreonto this one. It is not your typical museum. It's more like a time warp. The docent, Dick, was a walking encyclopedia and very nice man. We were fascinated by everything we saw and learned and are planning a return trip to see what we couldn't cover in the first four hours. The family history is fascinating. So is the local history, which covers the rough and tumble early days of Los Angeles after 1905. If you like machines, this is nirvana. If you're not into machines, there is still plenty to pique your interest. There are 5 acres of interesting artifacts in various stages of preservation and decay. One gets a strong sense that the place has changed very little within those 5 acres and the fascinating stories of a family of interesting characters are enriched by the stuff that surrounded them. Who needs a curator when everything is exactly as they left it? Go early and make a day of it. Get the tour from a docent. Prepare to get muddy or dusty. Wear old shoes. It's an unforgettable place.

This was a very last minute visit as it wasn't planned but I was in the neighborhood visiting…read moreanother property. This ranch is hidden in plain sight. The area surrounding it is pretty urbanized with apartments across the street and an distribution center nearby. Don't miss the entrance! There is an abundance of things to see! Each building and each room has a lot to take in. If you are into history, antiques and such, this is the place!

Wed August I was getting ads for Imaginarium and couldn't…read moreget a handle on what exactly this was. I was looking for 4hours to keep my charges occupied. I'm glad I had the kids with me: they had a blast, I had an okay time- together we averaged 4 stars. The decorations reminded me simultaneously of the Rose parade floats and Meow Wolf. I thought: How do we make this last four hours so the kids will collapse into bed? I dragged my feet, forced myself to go through the rooms slowly, took lots of pictures of the children posing. When one child wanted to color the balloons/apples I let her do that for 5minutes. The 7:30pm circus show really kicked the experience into high gear for them. They were amazed by the death wheel, the fire dancer, and the globe of death. Then they discovered the ball pen, which was about 15minutes of fun. Then they discovered the bubble machine and I watched from afar as they got themselves covered in foam. There was a misting station to clean off. There was begging to do the slime lab and I finally acquiesced. Those $8 per slime were well worth the money to keep the girls occupied for hours. As it approached closing time the girls got a sudden burst of energy and wanted to go through all the games again, go to another show (this time with an aerialist) and take more photos. Overall, Imaginarium is a very photo op worthy place. But if you're not really into photo ops, it could be perplexing how you would spend your time here. The kids loved it, but I think the highlight for them was the slime lab. Anyway, worth the entry if you have young kids!

Had such a fun time at Imaginarium at Lakewood!…read more Loved the millions of LED lights, giant LEGO displays, and the lantern pool where you can drop your wishes. The live circus performances were also included with the ticket, which was such a fun surprise! Such a magical experience for both kids and adults! ‍ IG: socalhkfoodies

The small museum has numerous activities to encourage learning in the STEM field (science,…read moretechnology, engineering and mathematics) for ages three and up. Our little one enjoyed making and flying several different paper airplanes. Many hands on activities on the second floor geared toward the younger generation, I was equally eager to learn. Robotics on the first floor and many other displays, I especially enjoyed the astronaut suits! Planets represented outdoors, also has a native plants garden but it was too hot thus late afternoon.

We've actually been coming to the Columbia Memorial Space Center since our own childhood, so…read morebringing my kids here now feels extra special. It's a great little spot in Downey, and perfect to stop by whenever you're already in the area. It's not always free, but they do have certain days and events where admission is free, so I always check their calendar before visiting. They also host fun events pretty regularly. The museum isn't huge, but it's full of hands-on space and science activities. My 10-year-old had plenty to do -- and depending on your kid, older children can definitely enjoy it too. There are a few activities that are more engaging for the bigger kids, not just the younger ones. There's also an Apollo Lighting event on Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, which looks like something kids around 10 would enjoy. Overall, it's a nostalgic place for me and a fun, educational stop for families. Whenever we're near Downey, I like to check what's happening and drop by if there's a good event!

This beautiful home has been under renovation for quite some time now, so I have eagerly been…read morewaiting to see it. I would have given 5 stars had the docents been more informative about the history of the home and had more stories to share. The Hargitt House was built in 1891 by the D.D. Johnston family, shortly after, D.D's daughter Cora would marry Charles Frederick Hargitt. The two-story shiplap building is built of Redwood shipped from Northern California, floated ashore at Seal Beach and then hauled north along what is today Norwalk Boulevard. This home is an Eastlake Victorian style home with crossed gables. The exterior design has not been changed from the original. The front and side bay gables are covered in "fish scale" shingles and ornamented with decorative scrollwork. The bay windows and two-story entrance porch are ornamented with spindle and bracket work. One of the original stained glass windows still remains as well as the original etched and stained glass work at the front door. The semi-attached water tower has not been altered and still retains its original pipes. The stairs at the rear of the water tower building were added in 1930.

This is open for visiting on the first and third Saturday of every month and hours are from 1pm to…read more4pm for people wondering. It is also not listed on the website. Hope this helps

This museum is small but packed full of incredibly detailed and interesting displays. The quality…read moreis incredible for the price of admission: free! I was surprised how amazing this place is and how much fun I had exploring the history of Whittier. Although I knew that President Nixon was from Whittier, I still did not expect to see an entire display about his history in Whittier. It was also interesting and very well curated. I can't wait to come back one day for a Haunted Whittier Tour! Instead of donating money to the museum we loaded up on a couple souvenirs instead. This museum is definitely worth a few visits since the displays are constantly changing and evolving.

A lovely museum worth visiting…read more I felt like a kid in a candy store with all the different rooms to explore. My friend and I had a great time and spent about an hour and a half here. Museum is free and there is parking in the back.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience here at Rubel Castle. Our host, guide,…read moreand local "Rubelligent" volunteer, Ms. Kathleen had all the intel about this historical property. She was so knowledgeable and helped set the stage for us to slip into a forgotten era and get a glimpse of how imagination met inventiveness with a DIY charm. ~ A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR YOU ~ It's not pronounced Rubel as Barney from Flintstones. Rather, it's like Target is to Targét when we are trying to be fancy. So that's Rubel as in "Roo-bell." Unlike modern-day construction, Rubel Castle wasn't built overnight. It was made of collected recyclables and construction rubble that spanned many decades and took several friends and volunteers to build it. For Michael, however, the lifetime inspiration was first sparked at the age of 9. His love for canons was where it started and the rest is history you can hear about on the tour. But don't just show up like we did randomly one day. To book, visit RubelTours.org and make a reservation. ~ OUR TOUR EXPERIENCE ~ It's as if Michael Rubel, the creator and mastermind of this enchanted dominion had intended it to be--magical. Built in the castle period of wood and tin, every corner captured our interests, from antique cars to the 1890's Seth Thomas Tower Clock with a unique backstory (and only six in existence today). There were old vending machines, tools, trinkets, and machinery that time had long forgotten. Did I mention there was a drawbridge? Yes, and a dungeon too. I was just waiting for a dragon to come swoop down on us next. Walk in the footsteps of famous visitors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. It's a feast for the eyes no matter where you glance. I particularly enjoyed the bottle house that Michael built in 1968 as his "home" as a kid. That independent spirit was quite charming to see. ~ WATERCOLOR NATURESCAPE ~ We were fortunate to have our gracious host lead us on a tour and organize a special art crafting experience outdoors. It was absolutely lovely beneath the trees and between rusted vintage cars from the turn of the century. We each got a small canvas to paint our flowers in watercolor. (This particular experience takes place in the Spring and Fall, weather permitting.) We heard the squirrels rattling in the leaves and birds chirped and sang in the trees above. We discovered that peacocks apparently originated from this property, compliments of Michael Rubel. And did I mention that on the far side of the property, a custom garden was in full bloom? BOOK A TOUR Help support the Glendora Historical Society and keep this magnificently unique city-castle maintained. It's worth it.

A castle in Glendora? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you--Rubel Castle is real, it's magnificent,…read moreand it's gloriously eccentric. Thanks to the sheer persistence (and probably delightful stubbornness) of Michael Rubel, we now have this quirky, towering State Treasure sitting right in the middle of Glendora like a fairy tale that accidentally took a detour through a hardware store. This place is beautifully done, and part of its charm is that it's a full-on hodgepodge of relics, antiques, crystal trinkets, and "wait... what is that doing here?" moments tucked into every nook and cranny. You'll marvel, you'll laugh, you'll squint in confusion--honestly, it's everything you'd want in a castle built with love, imagination, and a dash of madness. And let's talk about the makeshift cemetery. Quirky? YES. Fun? Absolutely. Slightly spooky? Only if your imagination is over-caffeinated. But it fits the vibe perfectly--like the castle whispered, "You know what I'm missing? A tiny cemetery." The tours are fantastic, the guides are passionate, and the whole experience feels like you're stepping into a living scrapbook of California history and charming chaos. Overall: Amazing, amazing place. Book your tour. They only do tours every first Sunday of the month, so set your alarms, mark your calendars, tie a string around your finger--just don't miss it. Rubel Castle is truly a California State Treasure, and an absolute must-see for anyone who appreciates creativity, history, and a little eccentric sparkle.

Fun and scary! Perfect if you like scary mazes. Great sets and props! My family will be back again…read morenext year

A hidden gem...this haunt was very detailed, startling, & worth the drive to check out. A new…read moreaddition to my annual haunt list. The sets, effects, & scare actors were on point. They were hiding very well and you never saw them coming. 5/5 stars for this haunt !

Wow, being here brought back so much childhood memories in the 80s & 90s. See how simple and cheap…read moreit was and how little things bring so much joy in my life. The foam containers, the prizes, and the foods...how it changes from decade to decade. Plus the resolution of the foods....i brought my kid to see how it looks like back in the day and I am sure that he wouldn't understand or care at the moment on how thing started and continues changing as year goes on but he appreciate and enjoy the foods a lot, especially in Europe and Asia more then here at home in the US.

It brings the child back into me, as I go down memory lane and remember my first Big Mac. in the…read moresixties and seventies, McDonald's was one of the best known restaurant by kids and probably still is in some cases. Having a museum of its history is symbolic of a kinder and and simpler time in life as we appreciate what we had and hoping our children have the same appreciation.