Museums, Arts and Local History in the Temecula Valley: Places, Hours and Locations
Twelve museums, galleries, theaters, memorials and historic sites in Temecula, Murrieta and Wildomar, with addresses and official hours.
This guide covers the museums, galleries, theaters, public art and local history places in Temecula, Murrieta and Wildomar. The strongest picks are the city-run Temecula Valley Museum, which tells the story of the valley with rotating exhibits and a hands-on area for children, the Old Town Temecula walking route that links murals, a mosaic and historic buildings in about a mile, and the small Murrieta Museum in the restored Hunt House. Hours are given as the official pages list them, so confirm before you go.
Quick picks
For a rainy-day stop with children: Pennypickle's Workshop, Temecula
For a self-guided history walk: Old Town Temecula walking tour, Temecula
For a local history museum on a Thursday afternoon: Murrieta Museum, Murrieta
For a quiet walk past memorials and sculpture: Temecula Duck Pond, Temecula
For work by local artists: the Gallery at The Merc or the library gallery, Temecula
Temecula
Temecula Valley Museum, Temecula
The city runs this museum, which holds a large collection of historic artifacts, rotating and special exhibits, and educational programs. A "Touch History" area lets children learn through play. Both self-guided visits and docent-guided tours are offered. The museum also holds a rotunda gallery for local artists, and a monthly "Out of the Archives" event on the fourth Sunday that covers daily life in the valley more than 100 years ago.
Where: 28314 Mercedes Street, Temecula, CA 92590
Good to know: The city lists Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The city's museum page lists no general admission fee. Saturday walking tours of Old Town's historic buildings run on select Saturdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for $5 per person, per the city. Phone: (951) 694-6450.
Source: City of Temecula: Temecula Valley Museum and city galleries page (address)
Old Town Temecula self-guided walking tour, Temecula
Visit Temecula Valley describes a self-guided tour of about one mile through Old Town. It starts at Sam Hicks Monument Park, where the museum is, and passes the Old Town Arches, the History of Temecula mural in the Sixth Street lot, the Old Town Bridge, Hotel Temecula, the jail in the Emporium courtyard, Town Square Park with its fountain and the Civic Center, where The Emigrant Trail mosaic is on an outside wall. The page gives turn-by-turn directions and recommends comfortable shoes.
Where: Starts at Sam Hicks Monument Park, corner of Moreno Road and Mercedes Street, Temecula
Good to know: It is a walk on public streets, so no hours or fee apply. The tourism page lists museum hours that differ from the city's, so use the city's hours above for the museum.
Sam Hicks Monument Park and the Temecula Mural Project, Temecula
The park is the city's host for the Temecula Mural Project, which gives emerging artists a wall to paint with changing themes through the year. The wall is by the parking lot. The city says artists, art groups and school groups within 50 miles of Temecula may apply, so the mural changes over time.
Where: 41970 Moreno Road, Temecula, CA 92592
Good to know: The mural changes with each project, so what you see depends on the season.
Old Town Temecula Community Theater and the Gallery at The Merc, Temecula
The city site describes a 354-seat proscenium theater in Old Town that opened October 4, 2005. The complex includes the historic landmark Mercantile Building, known as The Merc. It houses the ticket office, the Gallery at The Merc and The Club at The Merc, a cabaret-style space with 48 to 70 seats. The theater season includes classical, dance, big band and other categories, and the city lists dance classes and rentals.
Where: 42051 Main Street, Temecula, CA 92590
Good to know: The city lists the gallery as open Wednesday to Friday 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday 12 to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 5 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday, with hours changing around show schedules. Performance tickets are sold through the theater's ticket site. Phone: 1 (866) 653 8696.
Source: City of Temecula: Old Town Temecula Community Theater and city galleries page
Pennypickle's Workshop, Temecula
This is the Temecula Children's Museum. The city describes exhibits, secret passageways, puzzles, machines and whimsical gadgets for families to explore together, set in the home of the fictional Professor Phineas T. Pennypickle. It sits next to The Merc in Old Town, so it pairs easily with the walking tour.
Where: 42081 Main Street, Temecula, CA 92590
Good to know: The city's pages do not list hours or admission, and point visitors to the museum's own site for session schedules. Phone: (951) 308-6370.
Source: City of Temecula: Arts and Culture and city facility page (address)
Temecula Public Library gallery, Temecula
The city lists a gallery inside the Temecula public library, one of three city galleries along with the museum rotunda and The Merc. The city says it provides free gallery spaces for local artists, and exhibits change.
Where: 30600 Pauba Road, Temecula, CA 92591
Good to know: The city lists Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m., subject to change. The page lists no cost.
Source: City of Temecula: Galleries
Temecula Duck Pond and Fallen Heroes Memorial, Temecula
The Duck Pond is a city park with a veterans memorial. The Fallen Heroes Memorial sits alongside the park's Path of Honor. The city describes a life-size battlefield cross cast in bronze, a life-size bald eagle forged in steel on a 17-foot cor-ten steel tower, five bronze Military Service Seals set in the ground, a retaining wall and a flag lit from below. The ribbon cutting was held November 8, 2018.
Where: 28250 Ynez Road, Temecula, CA 92591
Good to know: The city asks visitors not to feed the ducks or other waterfowl and says pamphlets are available at the park.
Source: City of Temecula: Duck Pond and Veterans Memorial and Fallen Heroes Memorial
Temecula Valley Historical Society sites, Temecula
The society, founded in 2001, is a nonprofit focused on the valley's history. Its site lists the Vail Ranch Headquarters, described as open seven days a week, and the Little Temecula History Museum in a red barn on the southwest side of Temecula Parkway and Margarita, next to Kohl's. Monthly presentations are free and are held on the fourth Monday of the month at 6 p.m., except November and December.
Where: Vail Ranch Headquarters, 32121 Temecula Parkway, Temecula, CA 92592
Good to know: The society's page lists no specific hours or admission for the sites, so check before you go. The museum's page gives no street address.
Murrieta
Murrieta Museum at the Hunt House, Murrieta
The museum is in the Historic Hunt House and is cared for by the Murrieta Valley Historical Society. Its site mentions displays, sensory stations and preserved historical items, and says private tours are available. The city's downtown map says there is no fee, with donations accepted, and the map also marks historic homes, a historic church and a historic old mill in the downtown area.
Where: 41810 Juniper Street, Murrieta, CA 92562 (the museum's listed address)
Good to know: The museum's site lists Thursdays 1 to 4 p.m., and the city map lists the same. Phone: (951) 677-7758 per the museum's site; the city map lists a different number for tours.
Source: Murrieta Museum and City of Murrieta downtown map
Murrieta Veterans Memorial, Murrieta
At Town Square Park, the city describes a tall granite obelisk above a series of walls carrying imagery of service members. The photo gallery refers to Korean War and World War II memorial walls. It is an outdoor memorial in a city park.
Where: Town Square Park, Murrieta, CA (the city's Town Square address is 1 Town Square, Murrieta, CA 92562)
Good to know: The city page lists no hours or fee.
Wildomar
Wildomar Bell and monument, Wildomar
The city's history page says the bell, tower and monument stand on the grounds of Wildomar Elementary School. Community volunteers restored them in 2006. The school was built in the downtown area around 1886 on land donated by the town's founders and remains at its original location.
Where: Corner of Palomar and Central, Wildomar, CA
Good to know: It is on school grounds, so check visiting rules with the school.
Source: City of Wildomar: History
Wildomar Cemetery, Wildomar
The city lists the cemetery as first established in 1898. It became a public cemetery district in 1955 and joined the City of Wildomar as a subsidiary district in 2011.
Where: 21400 Palomar Street, Wildomar, CA 92595
Good to know: The city lists gates open Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The district meets with families and provides services by appointment only. Phone: (951) 678-2451.
At a glance
Temecula Valley Museum: Temecula (Local history, children, No admission fee listed; walking tours $5)
Old Town walking tour: Temecula (Self-guided history walk, Free to walk)
Sam Hicks Monument Park mural: Temecula (Changing public art, Not listed)
Old Town Temecula Community Theater and The Merc: Temecula (Theater, gallery, Tickets vary by show)
Pennypickle's Workshop: Temecula (Children's museum, Not listed)
Temecula Public Library gallery: Temecula (Local artists, Not listed)
Temecula Duck Pond and Fallen Heroes Memorial: Temecula (Memorial and park walk, Not listed)
Temecula Valley Historical Society sites: Temecula (Ranch history, Not listed)
Murrieta Museum: Murrieta (Local history, No fee, donations accepted)
Murrieta Veterans Memorial: Murrieta (Outdoor memorial, Not listed)
Wildomar Bell and monument: Wildomar (Town history, Not listed)
Wildomar Cemetery: Wildomar (Local history, Not listed)
Sources worth bookmarking
Details can change. Check the official pages above before you go. For local businesses across the valley, browse the Temecula Valley directory.
By Thomas Hassett and Eric Andrews, Local Business America
Photo: Bluesnote, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wolf_Store_Temecula.jpg)
