Do not miss the Cafe for a break after visiting the many fine exhibits! great art, great gift shop too, easy parking
bring the family or take a tour: check special events and free admission days

I was surprised by the quality and depth of the collections at the Bowers Museum. The collection is housed in a mission style house with a very large modern annex. The displays are well organized and professional. The Polynesian art display is impressive, the best I've seen outside of the Quai Branly Museum in Paris. I particularly enjoyed the ancestor towers. Also quite impressive are the well organized displays of Chinese and Mayan art. The mission house has some interesting modern California paintings and Spanish colonial artifacts. There were excellent temporary exhibitions of Faberge art and scrimshaw. The gift shop has a pleasant clutter of interesting jewelry and there is an upscale restaurant. Onsite parking is $6.50, but you can find free street parking nearby. Definitely an outstanding medium size museum and the best I've seen in Orange County.

The museum is a real treasure. If you haven't been you should stop on by. It's a great visit with a variety of static displays and rotating displays. The restaurant is reasonable and a nice lunch spot. Check the museum out on the first Sunday of the month when it has free admission.

The permanent exhibits are interesting and the travelling shows are a good variety of genres, artists, eras - there's something for everyone. Check the website, on weekends, they may have local performers in the shady atrium. Parking is EXCELLENT!