Surprisingly complete ode to the history of Imperial Valley, with both things to see inside and…read moreout. The museum is very large with two upstairs sections. Downstairs includes a history of the valley plus slices of the changing technology that helped make the west what it was. Nature and animal exhibits too, with stuffed animals. Upstairs one large section is devoted to the different ethnic groups who have settled in the valley and contributed to it, and another section includes antiques that made life easier through home improvement devices over the years. Works of well known Imperial Valley residents like author Harold Bell Wright are exhibited. Outside some farm devices and a parked few pieces of a train including its caboose. In all a very enjoyable experience with something for everyone. $10. per adult, $5. for students.

Good day for a couple laps around the park! Nice view with…read morewater area with ducks Friendly family park!

Such a great children's museum. We brought my 5 and 2 year old here when we were visiting family in…read moreImperial a few years ago, and they had a blast. It is really great for all ages.. the adults had just as much fun as the kids. Lots of fun things to do, see and learn about. Some of my kids' favorite exhibits were the bubble area, massive pin wall, art spin crafts, vertical slide, and light brite wall. They also have a separate play room geared for younger children. I would absolutely recommend taking your children here.

I'm giving this 4 stars but wish it could be 4.5 (and they could easily reach 5 stars). This…read moremuseum is very centrally located in Centro Civico, right next to Liverpool. There is plenty of free parking. It is a large lot that has both indoor and outdoor exhibits and an IMAX theater indoors. We unfortunately arrived too late in the day to check out the IMAX. It was very deserted, even on a Saturday. The outdoor exhibits focus on trains, flora/fauna and colors/shapes. There is plenty of outdoor space for eating and relaxing. There is also a large lawn area, where they were having birthday party (looked fun!) and I believe they rent the entire museum after hours for weddings, events, 15eras, etc....The inside has all kinds of science and daily living exhibits. There is also a large maker space where kids can create (there is a second art space in the dark exhibit section as well). There is a rock climbing wall, a huge lighted fountain and an orbiter ride in addition to many interactive stations (bubbles, life size chess etc...) It is fun for the whole family. There is also a very high catwalk (I don't recommend this if you are afraid of heights, It is very high and not the sturdiest but fun!). All the attendants are very enthusiastic as well. So why no five stars? 1. Many of the exhibits were broken or partially broken 2. The gift shop needs to get in items for older kids, they have a captive audience but it's mainly little kids coloring books 3. the food is horrible!!! overpriced, overcooked and didn't taste good at all. This was a great outing. Oh one final note they do NOT have A/C they have big fans and the day we went (in mid October) was moderate enough that it wasn't an issue but you may want to go early in the morning if you are going in the summer!

This is an excellent desert museum. They have a number of good interpretive displays and regularly…read morehost events such as star viewing (they have several telescopes), lectures and planned trips to Anza Borrego state park and the surrounding areas. For years, this museum sat vacant. Finally enough money was raised to build out the interior. When it opened, I just had to go see it. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. For its size, I was surprised to see the number of displays they had and the quality of them. They also have a nice bookstore with trail maps and other informative desert literature. If you've driven on interstate 8 eight between San Diego and Arizona, I'm sure you have seen this museum. It has an outdoor trail with many native plants. There's also shaded sitting areas. If you have an extra 30 minutes to an hour, drop by the Imperial Valley desert museum. I'm sure you would enjoy it.

We were driving from San Diego back to El Centro. We had tried stopping earlier but the wind was so…read morebad, so we drove on. We saw the sign for the Imperial Valley Desert Museum on our last trip and it sounded interesting...but I didn't really expect that much being so far away from any towns. We weren't sure we were even heading toward the museum since there was no sign and road was gravel and bumpy. But around the corner there was the terra cotta roof of the museum. No sign for the entrance either but they were glass doors so in we went. No one was at the desk but there were people looking at exhibits so we went in. The museum was not large but had areas with different exhibits and historic artifacts. The exhibits were very informative and well done. They have a beautiful collection of pottery by the Kumeyaay, a local First Nation tribe (who had bands that covered north from Escondido to near Ensenada and east from Yuma, AZ. to the Pacific Ocean. There is a movie that explains how the different bands lived that was so wonderful and informative that I would watch again. We were there about an hour and didn't see everything in detail. I really enjoyed learning about the Kumeyaay people and the desert area of Imperial County area. We will definitely come back to go through it again. I highly recommend making the stop to see the museum.

A marvelous museum that all prominent professionals and dignitaries have or will visit. But it…read moreisn't just open to those few, it is open to all of humanity who wants to have an enriched experience--an absolute must to visit! It is a magnificent display of history and art that transcends academia by utilizing all of the human senses. Upon arrival, one is immediately intrigued by Michelangelo's bronze arm that points along a line that travels though a pyramid and into history etched on granite before arriving at a church on a hill that overlooks the area. As one enters the museum, a docent greets the visitor and introduces the museum by a short film. The pyramid is opened where you have an opportunity to enter and be photographed standing at the "Center of the World," to capture your own history. From within the pyramid, you can feel the cool granite stone and see the sunlight glistening off the beautiful etched granite in the history courtyard--what beauty the Pyramids of Giza must have displayed during its day! You take a fresh breathe of the outdoor air as you approach the magnificent etched granite that displays the history of humanity. Being inspired by the great artists, philosophers, scientists, leaders, and many others--you continue to walk around under the blue blanket sky studying those topics of interest. At the end, you can ascend up a series of stairs to the Church. As you approach the heavens, you can sit and look out towards the mountains, desert, and blue skies. You pause to process what you just experienced while also subconsciously reflecting upon your own story of life. This is not the end. Departing from this experience, you stop to have a cold Felicity beverage at their restaurant where you further reflect. Finally, you slowly leave this spectacular museum, while subconsciously asking yourself, "what more can I do"--leaving this place with a new sense of belonging and a desire to accomplish more in life!

This museum is like a jewel in the desert and the owners are wonderful! Jacques-André and Felicia…read moreIstel. It's fun to stop by because there's always something new to see. It's worth stopping at, especially in the cooler months when the cafe and gift shop are open.

I have seen this place from the I-8 freeway over the years as I drove across into Arizona. While…read moreworking in the area I made the trek over and visited! They have a big gift shop with random knick-knacks. You pay $10 to explore the grounds which includes a tiny chapel on elevated mound of earth, a replica of a chapel in Brittany, France. They also have a beautiful display of granite blocks carved out like an encyclopedia of just about all kinds of things! Such an interesting place I definitely recommend you check out!

It was really a lot more than I thought it would be. Beautiful engraved granite, a maze, and the…read moreCenter of the Word Certificate. It was fun and had a lot of unique things to see. I highly recommend it for the history alone.

This place is a total gem!! Highly recommend for Coachella history, Indian History, Education…read moreHistory, Date Study (the fruit), and so much more!!!

Good small yet informational museum Parking across the…read morestreet. You can choose assisted touring or solo

Johnny Cloud is an amazing, local treasure!…read more Not only is his collection remarkable, his grasp of the areas history is second to none.

I lived in California for years and thought that I visited every corner of the state. I drove a…read morelot of miles in that time. Somehow, I missed a little piece of the state just north of Yuma, Arizona. Bard, California, has date farms and there was a ripe crop of lettuce growing yesterday. It was a long field of green. There's not really a town center but, if there is, it's most assuredly the Cloud Museum. It sits across from one of the lettuce fields, too. I'm not a car geek but all I can say is wow. Wow! I'm not the only one, either. I watched some folks exclaim the same word after entering. Johnny Cloud is 82 years old and has been collecting for half his life. The museum looks more like a junk yard from outside the fence where a large sign says: 'Probably the largest collection of Model T's in the world.' I don't know if that's true but if there is a larger collection, someone is keeping it a secret. Pulling up in the dirt parking area in front, I was immediately greeted by a bevy of older dogs that were eager to say hello and ask for pets before they all rolled around playing with each other. The admission price is $10. It's an honor system so place your bill in the metal box. At that point, you'll hear a loud motion sensor buzzer sound. It's a bit jarring at first but there is not a staff here. It's Johnny, his dogs, and some friends who may be there as they all tinker with whatever they may be working on. Indeed, they asked me if I wanted to watch them turn on a jerry-rigged Model T that now served as a large saw. Yes. Yes, I did. (For those who find it odd, I remember seeing old family photos of folks doing the same with their Model Ts back in the day.) The engine puttered to life, smoke bellowed into the air, and a large rusty saw blade began to whirl. One of Johnny's friends looked for a large chunk of wood to test out. Safety be damned. Johnny and his friends are obviously having fun among the hundreds of cars here. Most are rusted to a beautiful patina. Some have original faded paint, while others look almost new and seem ready for a country drive. All are neatly organized in long rows. This is an overwhelming display and I probably said wow a hundred times before leaving. There are also other car brands, toy cars, boat motors, car parts, wheels -- lots of wheels -- old electric pole glass transistors, a few period rooms, tools, and more assorted bric-a-brac. Again, it's all organized well and easy to view and appreciate. Although there is a website, Johnny doesn't maintain it. He doesn't use the internet and seems happily ensconced in an older time aside from the little golf cart that he uses to roam the property in his cowboy hat so he can chat with visitors. I don't know how many more years this will museum will be open even though Johnny doesn't look 82 and acts like a kid around his collection. California has always amazed me with its diversity. There are always surprises and this is one of the most memorable. P.S. The website says the museum is open at 9am. Johnny said he's usually tinkering by 7:30am so try your luck and offer your respects.

Small but cozy! At first I wasn't too sure about this museum and once I went inside I learned a lot…read moreabout the town and the following towns around it. It was a very nice experience and the staff was very informative and it kind of felt that I was getting my own private tour there is no admission but there is a donation box I would probably come back to check it out again. I ended up having a full-blown conversation with the host, she is a very lovely woman welcomed me with a kind heart and was more than happy to answer any questions I had. They have postcards and other little knickknacks you can purchase as a gift I could recommend this place to visit if you are only in town for a short time and need something to do. I found this place by accident due to walking around town waiting for my court date for traffic citation.

This is from an experience a while back and realized I forgot to post the final review. A cute…read morelittle museum and fun to walk through, to understand a bit about the local past. Appreciated that it was free and based on volunteers/donations.

We enjoyed this museum…read more It's located about 50 minutes east of Palm Dessert or about an hour east of Palm Springs. This privately run and funded museum touches on al aspects of General George Patton's life, from childhood, school, military life and his death. It also touches on and is sited near the Desert Training Facility that trained 100,000 US troops before they went to fight in Africa. The museum is well done and flows "okay". There are many displays full of photos, artifacts, plaques and notes. There's a large room with a lot of war-era artifacts. Some of them are scale models. There is a large outdoor yard with tanks and other heavy military vehicles and artillery. I wasn't able to figure out how to get into that fenced space but I took a few pictures of it from outside the fence. If you follow military history and enjoy museums like this, you'll enjoy the General Patton Memorial Museum.

Great little museum we hit on our way to Palm Springs! My husband got a little bit of discount for…read morebeing a senior citizen. Definitely worth checking out.Friendly staff!