Two men facing each other and holding hands in front of the organ in the St. Francis Chapel.

Hold Your Next Event at the Museum of Us

Make your next special event an unforgettable one at the Museum of Us. Set your sights on the landmark California Tower, or enjoy an intimate ceremony in the 100-year-old Saint Francis Chapel.

Saint Francis Chapel

A Beautiful Balboa Park Special Events Venue

The Museum of Us welcomes everyone to celebrate important life events in the historic and unique Saint Francis Chapel. This dignified sanctuary is an unconsecrated, non-denominational chapel which hosts weddings, anniversaries, quinceñearas, and memorials.

The Saint Francis Chapel is located in scenic Balboa Park on the south side of the California Plaza, across the street from the main entrance to the Museum of Us.

The interior decoration was chosen by Goodhue and Carlton M. Winslow and features stark mission simplicity with its tile floor, exposed wood beams, and bench seating. By contrast, the Chapel also boasts an elaborately decorated altar with gold leaf and meticulously crafted figures of the Virgin and Child in the center, flanked on the left by Saint Francis Xavier and on the right by San Diego de Alcalá.

Venue Includes:

  • Private event dressing suite
  • Use of the historic organ
  • Five reserved parking spaces for the event
  • One, 1-hour rehearsal

Time Allotted:

The Chapel can be reserved in 3-hour blocks between the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

Chapel Capacity:

  • The Chapel seats 88 people on the main floor with an additional 12 seats in the balcony.
  • There is wheelchair access to the balcony only. A wheelchair will take the space of two seats.

Couple hugging on the balcony of the California Tower following their proposal.

California Tower Proposal Package

Take your love to new heights at the Museum of Us! Our California Tower Proposal Package provides an intimate wedding proposal opportunity like no other. Enjoy a private tour of the historic California Tower, complete with panoramic views of San Diego from the bay all the way to the Cuyamaca Mountains.

Package Includes:

  • Private access to the Tower for six (6) people
    • Please note that a staff member must accompany your party.
  • Admission to the Museum for the day
  • Enrollment in the "Membership on Us," program for a year

Time Allotted:

  • Private tours may be booked in 40-minute increments.

Contact Us

contact us

To make arrangements for your next private or corporate event at the Museum or a California Tower proposal, please complete the event inquiry form above or contact us at events@museumofus.org.

The Museum of Us recognizes that it sits on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Kumeyaay Nation. The Museum extends its respect and gratitude to the Kumeyaay peoples who have lived here for millennia.

The Museum is open daily, Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1350 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Affiliations & Memberships:San Diego Museum Council logoCharity Navigator Four Star Charity logoBalboa Park Cultural Partnership Collaborative for Arts, Science and Culture logoAmerican Alliance of Museums logoSmithsonian Affiliate logoInternational Coalition of Sites of Conscience logo
Financial support provided by:San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture logo
Museum of Us California Tower logo