Before driving an hour home, we always stop in this lot to use the public restroom. Only this time, we decided to walk over to the museum. It's free to enter with a suggested donation of $5. First floor has a gift shop and historic artifacts of the city of Temecula, upstairs is an interactive play area for kids and an exhibit. Very tiny museum but so much to do. I was fascinated by the exhibit theme of how tequila and mezcal is made. Very informative and the artwork were impressive. Great way to cool off and if you have children, it's the perfect place to keep them occupied. read more

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It's free with suggested donations but the last time we went the suggestion was $10 each which I thought was $5 before so that was weird. It's a little small with two floors and a small gift shop. The second floor is super cute for young kids. It's interactive and they can play and dress up. It's a fun little activity to do if you're in old town and want to fill your day up. It won't take up much time. read more

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What a cute, fun, informative little place. Right now there's a Charlie Brown Christmas display upstairs, thru most of January, I think. Downstairs is very focused on Temecula history, especially from a Native American and mission culture history perspective. Upstairs has a fun temporary exhibit featuring many oversized Charlie Brown cartoon strip replicas on the walls. In addition, there's a TON of hands-on rooms, displays, and stuffed animals for kids to interact with, including a full sized horse . This place is a MUST for curious kids! There's also a great tribute to the local writer Earle Stanley Gardner with tons of signed books, family historical photos, and a replica office; I learned a lot! The only restrooms are in a separate building and are like clean beach bathrooms. I never did find the stairs, but was told they have some. read more

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This is such a beautiful museum that showcases the history of Temecula. I love that they get students in the area involved and displays their art work as well! I especially love the touch history museum for the little ones (located on the second floor). it is a small museum and you can definitely walk around both floors easily within 30 minutes or so, but if you have little ones that wants to explore the touch history, you can expect to stay longer until they're done. They also have such great photo ops for the little ones. I also want to give kudos to the lady that greeted us at the front. She was very professional and carries herself very well. There is also a little gift shop attached to the museum, I'd definitely recommed this place if you've never been. It is worth it! We love it! read more

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It's free to enter the museum but they do suggest $5 donation for single Entries or $15 for families. They have a small gift shop inside. Outside a gazebo and a play ground. Second floor has history of Aliento a Tequila and the history of Earl Stanley Gardener. First floor had alot of artifacts and models of old Temecula. read more

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Walked in curious. Was told there was a $5 suggested donation to visit. The guy that rung me up was giving off a creepy vibe. He was staring hard. I couldn't walk away fast enough to get into the museum. Most of western history is the same. Hispanics/War/Missions ... I came back down after looking at the second floor. Which would be great for kids to enjoy. I decided to step into the gift shop. The guy - told me about the sweaters. Went back to his computer the told me again about the sweaters. And how he has some that had zippers. Went back to the computer then stood up against the window wall to tell me about the shirts. Went back to his computer. And came back to tell me about the tank tops. Needless to say I wasn't shopping comfortably. There was one thing I was thinking about buying but I could feel that guys beady eyes on me during my entire shopping experience. I decided to exit the building without purchasing anything. read more

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History is important, Lots to see and learn. Actors were a plus!! So were the stagecoach and train rides!

This place is a hidden gem in old town Temecula. You get to learn about the history of temecula and upstairs is all dedicated to children Where they can play and learn. They also have a craft room which i thought was super cool and the kids loved it! Technically, it's free, but they do take donations ( i think the recommended amount said $10 for a family) The restrooms are located outside of the building and there is also a Temecula/wine country themed park right outside of the museum that we liked as well! read more

Went to the Farmers Market today in Old Town Temecula, and noticed the Temecula Valley Museum was a having a tribute to France festival. I haven't been here in many years, but this opportunity gave us the chance to revisit the museum. The price of admission is a suggested donation of $5 a person or $10 for a family. Though we've been through the museum before, we didn't venture in this time. I did notice that the park has been totally revamped since the last time we were there, it's really cool looking. There were kids playing everywhere, wish mine were little enough to enjoy playing on the structure. The festival was for France, they had dancing, music, food and art for the kids. I nice event for the community to enjoy. Places like this remind me how much I love living in Temecula. read more

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The Temecula Valley Museum is a really sweet museum. It is not large but has some really cool historical things from the area and some great art. There is a lot to do there, kids included. There are many things that kids can touch and play with. It is two stories and close to Old Town. Parking is easy and entrance is free, but they would love a donation. I love history and knew little about Temecula. They have everything you want to know there as well as other areas. They have a great gift shop with items that won't blow your budget. My grandson loves the interactive room with a cute play general store that he can walk into and other things for kids to do. I think this is certainly worth a visit if you are in town. Have fun. read more

This must be Temecula's best kept secret! From the minute we walked in we knew we were in for a treat! The docent was very friendly and explained the exhibits. For being such a quaint place, there was so much to see. I especially enjoyed the immigrant exhibit. The children's area was absolutely perfect. I hope to bring my grandson back! read more

If you have kids, I would definitely recommend. It's not a huge museum but the second floor has a play around where kids can touch and pretend with a number of different items. The staff is also very friendly. I've really enjoyed seeing my son explore in such a clean and educational environment. Best piece of advice, come early before the afternoon crowd! read more

A two-story museum situated on it's own, near the ever-popular Old Town Temecula. This place is pretty easy to find, off the 15 freeway at Rancho California Rd. When you first walk in, the gift shop is to your right. Then straight ahead is the first floor exhibition room, which told the story of Temecula's history, how it got it's name and who settled and did business there, natives, ranchers, farmers, and more. After you've completed your round downstairs, mosey to the elevator and head to the slightly interactive area of this museum. We were able to see some paintings on view, stood inside of rooms modeled after a General Store, Dress Shop, a little schoolhouse, and an office. We also took a trip back into our childhoods and crafted some art with construction paper, glue, baby acorns and small brown paper bags. I can describe the activity in 4 words: therapeutic, nostalgic, cute and playful. They have some smashing gift shop items, especially the California themed ones. They just didn't have a magnet or mug with the museum logo, so that bummed me out a smidgen. But I still left a $5 donation, because I like to support the arts! On a last note, I agree with that other Yelp review regarding the only bathroom being through the gift shop. It is among a few administrative offices, and seemed awkward to get to as a museum patron, as the space to weave through was sort of tight (visualize a slim space between the gift shop counter and some gift displays, then a door that leads to the back offices). Best part of this visit was learning about origins of Temecula and building paper trees (is that a pun?) with my husband. read more

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My grandson's and I enjoyed an adventure out to Temecula Valley Museum. We enjoyed learning about Temecula's past with many artifacts displayed and the upstairs had a cool Antarctica exhibit with lots of pictures. There was also a fun historical play area upstairs including a diorama and a large horse to get on for the children! It was a super fun day! They both got to pick up a lil something at the museums gift shop too! Also, out front of the museum is a great outdoor play area!! read more

What a gem. We've been to Temecula multiple times but this is the first time we visited the museum. I was happily surprised to see the truth written about the Natives in the area before European contact and during initial contact up to the present. The first floor is pretty small but has some interesting information. For our family of four, the second floor was really the star of the show. The second floor has a very large imaginitve play area with a store, a tent, a dress up area, a kitchen, a horse kids can climb on, and a puppet theatre. There is also a display of the guy that wrote Perry Mason. I learned lots. He was a cut up in high school! Lol There is also an art and craft area that we didn't engage with. The bathroom is through the gift shop and into the area where the employees work. It was a bit inconvenient with two under two. At one point, our son couldn't wait and had to urinate outside. I wish there was more than one bathroom for the whole bathroom. =( The guy at the front desk was also a little weird. He didn't make our family feel welcome but we weren't afraid to enter ... he was just .. weird. Lol I was also surprised to see a book about how bad white southerners had it after the Civil War freed those they had enslaved. This area is generally considered "conservative" so it made me feel some type of way. I didn't see any Black people but I saw quite a few Latinos. Anyhoo ... we stayed for a little more than three hours. Our kids really enjoyed it. We'll be back. read more

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Museum that gives information regarding the history of Temecula. It gives details about the early residents and an actor ( Perry Mason ) who wrote screen plays for the T.V show ( during the 60s-70s ) Perry Mason. The museum does not charge an entry fee but donations are being accepted. Covid 19 restrictions are being enforced. The museum also has an area for children. There's a playground outside for the kids. Overall experience was a great visit. read more

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Lovely museum that teaches you about our local City of Temecula. The staff is very pleasant and well informed. Juliana did a great job accommodating the Women's guild Of St. Catherines. Thank you so much! read more

My children love this museum not only is it close to our home, it is free. This museum is free, you are encouraged to make a donation in the donation box. So please make a donation!. It is a really nice little museum. There is a lot of history on the area. There's so much to see, especially with how small this museum is. The second story is my children's favorite part of the museum. It is a play area, you find a store that is kid sized... children get to use their imagination. There's also a life size horse, plenty of clothes for dress up. There's a house filled with things for them to play with, as well as a teepee and a shoe store. read more

Temecula Valley Museum - General store - Museums Near Me - Temecula, California

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Great little museum to check out if you're in the area! My 4 year old really enjoyed the discovery play area upstairs and spent about an hour here with plenty to do and see. read more

I love history and i love the concept of a museum. Naturally I really liked this place. Just as a heads up though, the museum is literally one large room filled with interesting tidbits and various agricultural artifacts. There's also a gift shop. But its just a good important heads up that this museum is even smaller than I would have expected. That being said, its a really nice room with a quality giftshop. The information is packaged well and if you have any interest in the origins of Temecula it delivers really well. This is just not a day trip kind of thing. Also, there is a suggested donation but it was actually somewhat hard to pay it. So while they do ask for a 5 dollar per person or 10 dollar for a family suggested donation it is in no way obligatory. All in all clean and nice and lovely which is what you would expect from something in Temecula. read more

Cute, quaint little museum in Old Town Temecula full of local lore and knowledge. One of three stops on a break during a road trip, I left knowing too much history of a city I knew absolutely nothing of prior to walking in. I'd say mission accomplished! read more

I really wanted to learn about the history of my new home city and found the information for this museum on the web. It's a beautiful place located at the Sam Hicks Monument Park within Old Town Temecula. The exhibits help to narrate the rich history of the Temecula Valley from the earliest days of the cowboys and Indians to the present using artifacts, historical documents and vintage photos. There's a really neat interactive area for children that is also fun for adults. The gift shop carries a nice collection of books related to the history of Temecula. Admission into the museum is free but there is a suggested donation. Of course you're welcome to donate more than the suggested price in order to help preserve the history for future generations to see. The gardens outside are perfectly groomed and there are nice places to sit and just enjoy the serene beauty of the surroundings. In addition to the museum there is also a beautiful chapel nearby that is available to rent for small weddings. I only viewed the church from the outside, but I can imagine the inside is probably just as beautiful. read more

Temecula Valley Museum - pic found on the web - Museums Near Me - Temecula, California

Great place for kids to enjoy and play and great costumer service, for the front desk man

Was ok. Downstairs was super boring, but Upstairs they had a little dress up area which was fun to take photos. They also have a huge plastic horse that I'm assuming is for kids to sit on, I got on it anyways :p They have a gift shop, which I considered maybe getting something up until I saw the leather bracelets...no thanks :) I don't support animal exploitation. read more

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Brought my 9 y/o son here while trying to find something to do in Temecula. This is a very nicely done museum that makes the most of their smaller space. Every display had good informational boards to go along with it. I like that there was plenty of representation for the local Native American tribes that inhabited the area and I also like how the information boards explained truthfully how they were treated by the Europeans. The upstairs area consists of more kid-friendly exhibits that kids can touch and interact with. My son loved playing in the kitchen and taking pictures on top of the life-size horse. The "Perry Mason" section was interesting and I learned something new about the creator of the show. All in all this is a nice little museum and can keep the kids busy for about 1-2 hours. They don't charge admission so if you enjoy it then be sure to make a donation or buy some stuff from the gift shop. read more

Very nice collection, including an HO-scale model of how Temecula looked 80 years ago. Upstairs they also feature changing exhibits that probably travel from museum to museum; they've all been good. Very nice people work there. Plus ask about the walking tours of Temecula. read more

Having worked in multiple museums over the years, this is a great museum for learning about the history of Temecula. The entrance is free with an area to donate. There is a small gift shop with friendly staff. The first floor gives a good overview of the history of Temecula and some surrounding events that have influenced the city as well. The second floor contains a space for temporary exhibits and a hands-on activity area for children. In both these areas, I didn't see any docents (though there were signs that said there was surveillance), but all areas were well-maintained. I would recommend this place for visitors and families alike. There is a bit of homeless problem outside the museum (most people I know call it Homeless Park), but I've never been approached by them. read more

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Free Entrance . Two storey museum. I loved the way the museum connect the history with interactive toys, games, on the second floor. We stayed longer than we expected. My children enjoyed playing and learning at the same time read more

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I took my two boys ( 2&4) to the museum today. They loved the hands on Museum on the 2nd floor! It was so much fun. They had dress up, a puppet theater, stores, a campsite, a horse you could sit on and even a game of checkers set up. My boys had a great time, we will be back! read more

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Took my kids here years ago...They loved it. Very nice volunteers. Thanks for everything!!! They still remember it. read more

Temecula Valley Museum is a nice little museum. There is no admission fee, however the website suggests a $2.00 donation, which is what I paid to enter. If you are curious to see the history of Temecula, the founders of the area, and how the city got its name, this is great. I think it's important for anyone living here to check it out, so you know what the locals know. As a recent transplant myself, I have found it to be an invaluable experience. They had a video you could watch about Temecula's history, which I was very interested in viewing. However, this was unfortunately cut short by a little girl whom was having a tantrum and screeching. I couldn't hear the video over her, so I gave up trying to hear and moved on to a different exhibit. I'm sure it was a very informative video. There is a second floor accessible by elevator. Currently, they have an exhibit about Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a very informative exhibit with very important photos to view. They also have a dress up area for children and cool little stores you can go into. Downstairs, there is a little gift shop near the entrance. If you're looking for postcards, this is a great place to pick some up about Old Town. read more

Outstanding display of information depicting the history of Temecula and surrounding area. Well done and worth taking a proper amount of time to become educated about the past struggles for existence. The young lady at the gift shop is knowledgeable and adds to the welcoming atmosphere. A pleasant surprise in a wonderful community. read more

I had to do a project on the Native American population in my community, so I did a search and found this museum. I'm really glad I did because they were extremely helpful here! I spoke with Dale when I arrived and he was very knowledgeable about the city and also its long history with Native Americans. He was able to give me tons of information for my project and even gave me a brief tour of the museum explaining everything. I definitely will return and also hope to do one of the walking tours around Old Town they do. Highly recommend for anyone looking to learn more about the Valley we call home! There's so much history here; it's amazing to learn! read more

Very cool museum! I came here after a friend asked me to go with her and happy I did. It is a nice place for events as well. We learned a lot even though our visit had to be cut short since we were heading back to L.A. This place is a must and the people who work here know what they are talking about! I will definitely come back here. read more

Great little place to take the kids and have them learn about the city they live in. I had no idea Temecula had any real history.

My mom took out three year old here and she loved it! They stayed for 2 hours. The whole 2nd floor is for kids, all little kitchen stuff, a teepee, cash register. There's a park right outside too. And it's free. They just ask for donations. read more

Underrated museum in Temecula...if you want to know the history of your home town, this is the place to visit...Indian artifacts and history explain the regions history...and right now there is a great photo exhibit on The March of Washington with rarely seen photos...all Temecula Valley residents should visit...exhibit will be leaving soon. read more

Great trip for children that might be a bit older , the best of the tour was when the upstairs area for children. The park out front is nice , but too many bums hanging around Sleeping in the grass and smoking cigarettes in their groups. - disappointing !! read more

My kids had a blast here! I fully expected to be in and out in 30 minutes, but we were there for hours. The dress up area was a blast, staff was welcoming. This museum asks for donations as entrance fee. The horse was a hit! I had to force my kids to leave, we had the best experience here. read more

Great little museum! There are not many things you can do that don't cost an arm and a leg. The suggested donation of $2.00 is well worth it, and if you can throw a few more dollars in it will only help the musuem out more. Great 2nd floor for kids to play and interact. Super firndly people. A real must see for tourists and locals alike! read more