The Museum is open Wednesday-Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission Tickets
Included with your ticket:
- Free admission for a year
- Entrance to Cannibals: Myth & Reality across the plaza
The Museum of Us is committed to making our exhibits and programs accessible to our community, regardless of your financial status. We offer a varitety of free admission opportunities to the select groups below.
Please note, admission does not include California Tower Tours.
Free Admission Opportunities
Children 5 & Under
Children age 5 and younger do not need an admission ticket to enter the Museum of Us. They must be accompanied by an adult with admission access.
Native Americans & Indigenous Peoples
As part of our commitment to decolonizing, we offer free admission to Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples globally. Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples are granted free admission at the front desk – no questions asked.
Financial Hardship Scholarships
Families or individuals that are experiencing financial hardship, would like to visit the Museum of Us, and become a member may either:
(a) Email membership@museumofus.org with the subject line “Entry On Us” and an associate will be in contact with you to establish your membership for a year of free admission, or
(b) State that you are seeking an admission financial scholarship at the front desk and an associate will assist you with free entry.
Balboa Park Explorer Pass
Balboa Park Explorer Pass holders do not pay general admission to the Museum of Us. Pre-paid cards grant Balboa Park Explorer Pass holders access to various Balboa Park museums. Learn more about the Balboa Park Explorer Pass.
San Diego Public Library Discover & Go Pass
San Diego residents age 16 and over with a San Diego Public Library card in good standing can reserve free passes to visit the Museum of Us and other participating museums. Passes can be reserved on the library website, in-person, or over the phone with a valid library card. Please note, these passes do not include California Tower Tours. Tours may be reserved and purchased ahead of your visit online.
Virtual Access
If you are not able to physically visit the Museum of Us, check out our Virtual Resources page for virtual exhibits, programs, and resources available for free right from home!
Residents Free Days – Currently Unavailable
The Museum of Us is currently not participating in Residents Free Days as we are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Please check back for updates.
Group Visit Pricing
To learn more about our offerings, please visit the Education & Group Visits page.
Hours
Wednesday - Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday - Tuesday: CLOSED
COVID-19 Updates
Please note that all information on this page is subject to change at any time.
February 22, 2022: Based on guidance from the California Department of Public Health, visitors are not required to wear masks during their visit to the Museum of Us.
We will continue to provide the following safety precautions to make your visit as safe as possible:
- Contact-free admission is available through online ticket purchases.
- Hand sanitizer is available throughout the Museum.
- Handrails and other high-traffic surfaces are frequently sanitized.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or have recently been exposed to anyone who has contracted COVID-19, we ask that you postpone your visit to the Museum of Us.
We thank you for your cooperation in keeping the Museum safe and open for all!
Special thanks to the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation for providing financial support for the safe reopening of the Museum of Us.
Getting Here
Click here to view or download a map of Balboa Park.
Driving & Parking
There are several parking options within and near Balboa Park. The closest place to park is on Balboa Drive or Sixth Avenue on the west side of the Cabrillo Bridge, just off of Laurel Street.
There is additional parking in other parts of Balboa Park, such as Inspiration Point, behind Spreckels Organ Pavilion, east of the Comic-Con Museum, and in front of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Those parking lots are accessible by entering the park via Park Boulevard.
Valet parking is sometimes offered in front of the House of Hospitality and The Prado restaurant in the Plaza de Panama.
Taking Public Transit
The Metropolitan Transit System buses 3, 7, 120, and Rapid 215 serve stops on the east and west sides of Balboa Park. MTS routes to Balboa Park connect with all MTS Trolley Lines and most other MTS Bus and Rapid Routes. In downtown San Diego, Rapid 215 is an easy connection from Amtrak and COASTER trains at the Santa Fe Depot and the Cruise Ship Terminal. For MTS fare and schedule information visit www.sdmts.com.
Balboa Park Tram
Visitors can use the free Balboa Park tram to get around the Park. The tram picks up from the parking lots at Inspiration Point, behind Spreckels Organ Pavilion, east of the Comic-Con Museum, and in front of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. To get to the Museum of Us, ride the tram to the stop in front of the equestrian statue next to the House of Hospitality and The Prado Restaurant. The Museum is a short walk down El Prado, west toward the Cabrillo Bridge. The tram runs every eight minutes and travels in a loop through the Park.
Accessibility
The safety and enjoyment of our visitors is our top priority. Learn more about accessibility accommodations at the Museum of Us below.
ADA Lifts & Ramps
Located on the northeast corner of the California Plaza, one ADA ramp allows access to the Museum’s main entrance, classroom, and East Door. Evernham Hall, which currently houses Cannibals: Myth & Reality, is also accessible via one of two ramps located under the Southern arcade of the California Plaza. Our administrative offices are accessible via a ramp on the east side of the Gill Administration Building.
An ADA lift is located inside the eastern wing of the Museum. This lift leads to the bridge that spans to the southern side of the Plaza, providing scenic views of El Prado.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs are available at no charge to assist those with limited mobility. Our exhibits are designed with ample space to allow wheelchair access. An elevator is located in the northwest corner of the Museum by the Monsters! Clubhouse.
St. Francis Chapel Access
The historic St. Francis Chapel is located one level down from El Prado. Due to limited access to its lower level, the Museum reserves access to the balcony level for guests with mobility limitations. Access is gained through either of the two ramps leading to Evernham Hall’s front doors.
California Tower Access
The California Tower is not ADA-accessible. The architectural and historic nature of the building prevents an elevator from being installed. The only way to go up the Tower is to climb steps.
Visitors with limited mobility or fear of heights can see the Tower’s picturesque views from the ground floor of the Museum via a 78-inch curved screen streaming live, high-definition views from the top of the California Tower from all four compass points. A second, smaller screen gives historical and architectural information similar to what the tour guides share with California Tower climbers. This display is included with general admission tickets at no extra cost.
Service Animals
We welcome service animals as defined by the American with Disabilities Act:
“Dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medication, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA” (Source).
Sensory Sensitivity
Some exhibits at the Museum of Us may contain noises, lights, or textures that visitors with sensory sensitivities may find disruptive or disturbing.
Visitors with sensitivity to sound may check out noise reducing earmuffs at the Museum ticket counter to use during their visit.
We encourage visitors with sensory sensitivities to contact us in advance of your visit with any questions or concerns. Please email us at museum@museumofus.org.
Content Warning
Exhibits at the Museum of Us may contain content that is difficult or disturbing to some visitors. Please see below for more information:
- Maya Peoples: Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth and Kumeyaay: Native Californians/Iipai-Tipai exhibits contain content related to the oppression of Indigenous Peoples and genocide.
- Hostile Terrain 94 contains content related to migrant death and systemic violence.
- PostSecret contains a variety of content that some visitors may find difficult or disturbing, such as crude language, violence, and sexual situations or abuse. This exhibit may not be suitable for all, and a responsible adult should accompany all children 12 years old and younger. You will see real secrets.
- Race: Are We So Different? contains content related to systemic racism.
- Living With Animals contains content related to animal abuse.
- Cannibals: Myth & Reality contains content that visitors may find difficult or disturbing. Instances of cannibalism are described, but not visually depicted. This exhibit is gore-free.
