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 Current Exhibitions
"Rare, Precious and Unusual" through Sep. 6th
"Liberty! The Genius of the People" through Sep. 12th
"Romancing the Stone"--  sculptures by artist Michele Chapin
through Oct. 3
"Between Fact & Fiction" through Oct. 17

Learn More About the Exhibits

 
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Event Calendar
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Books, clothing, souvenirs, pieces of art and so much more are available in our Museum Store.

  

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Come See All the Changes Since We Moved Back to 100 East Main Street
Museum Reopens With $3.5 Million in Improvements

The Phase One Construction includes:
 
 
 
New landscaping, a new, spacious Front Plaza with a water feature, open-columned entrance off Main Street, and an eight paneled mosaic Timeline of Ventura County History, crearted  by artist Larissa Strauss from more than 45,000 pieces of cut glass.
 
The new river-rock walled, state-of-the-art Martin V. and Martha K. Smith Event Pavilion used for lectures, programs and a variety of Museum  events. With 3,500 square feet, it can seat 200 for dinner, with the option to tent the front plaza for an additional 140 guests. The facility  can also be rented for outside events; for information on Pavilion rental, please contact Shanon Rice.
 
The original museum building, reconfigured exhibit areas, a new separate Sculpture Gallery, the reopened Smith Gallery of George Stuart Historical Figures®, a remodeled lobby, and new restrooms.

 

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THE MUSEUM HAS EVOLVED THROUGH MANY TRANSFORMATIONS, EVEN BEFORE ITS OFFFICIAL FOUNDING IN 1913.  FOLLOW THE MUSEUM TIMELINE BELOW:



Will There Be More Construction?

Phase two of the renovation, which includes new galleries, an education center, expanded library, new Museum Store, expanded collections storage, and offices, will begin when the museum has secured funding at a level that ensures completion, according to Museum of Ventura County Executive Director Tim Schiffer and Board Chair John Orr.
 
As we anticipate phase two construction, we are asking the community to help us bring the expansion project to completion. Seven and a half million has been raised already, with over $1 million raised for the Museum's endowment funds, which will support the ongoing programs and operations. 

Read more about the many ways you can help



It's Hard to Know Where You're Going If You Don't Know Where You've Been


Take a moment to enjoy this brief history of the Museum of Ventura County in a presentation prepared by our Executive Director Tim Schiffer.

time
            presentation graphics

Expansion Project Photo Gallery

Photographed by our artist in residence Stephen Schaffer, please take a moment to view this gallery of the construction process which led to what you see today.  More recent images are first.

Building a Place to Learn, to See and to Grow

Expanded gallery spaces, as well as a new education center and event pavillion will provide welcoming places for audiences of all ages to enjoy receptions, lectures and educational experiences. “Meet me at the Museum” will become a phrase heard countywide.

The Museum will host important traveling exhibitions, making priceless collections available to the public. In addition, one new gallery will be dedicated to the Museum’s permanent collection, while another will display items from the library collection. Additionally, the Huntsinger Gallery’s exhibits on Ventura County history will be reinstalled.

The new Berry Research Library housing the Museum’s collection of 150,000 documents, books, maps, historic photographs, manuscripts, electronic histories and other priceless items – will be a valuable resource for local and national researchers. A comfortable, state-of-the art reading room will accommodate visitors, while new storage facilities will ensure proper care of the collection.

The Museum will serve the region well into the future as a place where people of all ages and backgrounds gather to learn more about their community and enjoy exhibits and cultural programs. When Phase Two is complete, we expect to attract over 100,000 visitors per year, nearly double prior attendance.

How You Can Help



 

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Our New Pavilion,
Your Special Event




Host your occasion in our
stunning new Pavilion and Plaza!

more...

Museum Information  Museum Information

New Address
100 East Main Street

Ventura, California 93001
805-653-0323

Museum Hours:
Galleries
11 a.m. to 6 p.m
Tuesday through Sunday
Open until 8 p.m.
most First Fridays
Closed most Mondays
Research Library
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday

Admission:
$4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children 6-17
Members and children under 6 free

Free Parking:
Adjacent to the Museum

  
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