San Diego Museum Month was created in 1989 to promote awareness of the region’s museums, historical sites, educational institutions, and cultural attractions. This month-long promotion happens every February and has grown to become a much-anticipated event in San Diego County.
After all, when else can you receive a half-off admission to explore San Diego best museums?
2024 saw the unexpected but very welcome addition of LEGOLAND California and its SEA LIFE Aquarium to the Museum Month list of discounts (see details below). Also added was the WNDR Museum in downtown, which I loved and would definitely recommend. Read on to find out the full list for 2025.
One thing we don’t know yet, but will update you as soon as we do, is whether Tijuana’s museums will be included in 2025 Museum Month’s discounts. Thanks to San Diego and Tijuana jointly being named the 2024 ‘World Design Capital,’ some art and cultural institutions in Tijuana, Mexico, did participate.
How San Diego Museum Month Works
San Diego Museum Month allows patrons to discover what’s new at more than 70 San Diego museums, historic sites, zoos, gardens, aquariums, and other destinations – with savings only seen once a year. It seems to get bigger and better every year, and 2025 is no exception.
Starting February 1, participants can pick up a free San Diego Museum Month Pass that entitles them to half-off admission at all participating museums throughout the entire month of February. You don’t have to be a resident — anyone can use this pass!
Digital passes are also now available and are required for some museums – see details below on specific listings.
Check Before You Go
Always check the Museum Month official website for the listing of the attraction you plan to visit to double check the requirements before you visit to make sure you have the required pass. Some require only digital and some only a printed pass.
You can pick up your free printed Museum Month pass at one of over 80 public libraries in San Diego County. Some of those participating include:
- San Diego County Library
- San Diego Public Library
- Carlsbad Public Library
- Chula Vista Public Library
- Coronado Public Library
- Escondido Public Library
- National City Public Library
- Oceanside Public Library
Guests with a Museum Month pass may bring up to four people to participating museums to receive half-off admission for the entire party.
There are a few restrictions, such as some museums may only allow you to use the pass a certain amount of times in the month or on certain days. Additional fees may apply for special exhibitions at participating museums.
This Year’s Participating Museums & Attractions
Your Museum Month discount pass gets you half-price admission at these fantastic San Diego County museums and various attractions. From hands-on to interactive displays, museum fun can be found all month long. Pick one of the region’s museums or cultural attractions in the full list below, and get ready to explore!
- Barona Cultural Center & Museum: Admission is always free, and pass holders can enjoy 20% off their store purchase – some exclusions apply – during the month of February.
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps: Discounted Museum Month admissions for Birch Aquarium MUST be reserved online in advance for a specific date and time. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu and use code MuseumMonth24 at checkout for up to 4 discounted tickets.
- Bonita Museum & Cultural Center California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum
- Brain Observatory: Get your digital pass and book tickets online
- Cabrillo National Monument
- California Surf Museum
- California Wolf Center: Tours by appointment only. Download your digital Museum Month pass and get the link and code for 1/2 price Wolf Center Tour tickets.
- Centro Cultural de la Raza
- Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center
- Comic-Con Museum: Half-off admission on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays only during Museum Month. Discount is limited to 2 adults & 2 children’s tickets.
- Coronado Historical Association
- Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum: 50% off admission to the museum in February
- Fleet Science Center (IMAX not included)
- Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
- Heritage of the Americas Museum
- Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Central
- Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) North
- JA Cooley Museum
- Japanese Friendship Garden
- Junipero Serra Museum (open Saturday and Sunday)
- La Jolla Historical Society
- La Mesa Depot Museum
- LEGOLAND California: Advance reservations are required. During Museum Month, visitors can get 50% off full-gate-price tickets valid for either a LEGOLAND + SEA LIFE Aquarium Hopper Ticket or a Resort Hopper Ticket that includes LEGOLAND + Water Park + SEA LIFE. The Water Park opens in late March through late October. Tickets are good through December 31, 2025. Book your tickets online. Museum Month discount cannot be combined with coupons for other offers.
- Lemon Grove Parsonage Museum
- Living Coast Discovery Center
- Maritime Museum of San Diego
- Marston House Museum and Gardens (SOHO)
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot Command Museum
- MCRD Command Museum
- Mingei International Museum
- Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum
- Mission San Luis Rey: May exclude some special events.
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Downtown and La Jolla
- Museum of Making Music
- Museum of Photographic Arts
- Museum of Us: Museum Month admission does not include California Tower tours or the Membership On Us enrollment – which comes with a typical full-price one-day admission ticket
- Nautical History Gallery & Museum
- New Americans Museum
- New Children’s Museum: Museum Month discount valid weekdays – they are closed Tuesdays
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
- Pacific Southwest Railway Museum
- RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust
- San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts
- San Diego History Center
- San Diego Air and Space Museum
- San Diego Archaeological Center
- San Diego Automotive Museum
- San Diego Botanic Garden: Use promo code for up to four (4) half-price admissions. Online reservations are required for Museum Month participants. It cannot be combined with other offers, coupons, or discounts. Watch here for the promo code.
- San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum: Passes may only be used once and excludes special events. Cannot be combined with other offers.
- San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
- San Diego History Center
- San Diego International Airport Arts Program
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum
- San Diego Museum of Art: Half-off museum admission is with an official Printed Pass from a library only. No Museum Month Digital Passes will be accepted at the door. Discount is limited to 4 tickets.
- San Diego Natural History Museum: Only printed Museum Month passes, no digital passes, will be accepted at the door. This coupon is for half-price admission for up to four people. The coupon cannot be used for specially ticketed events, Nat at Night, special exhibitions/exhibits, field trips, or group visits.
- San Diego Police Museum
- Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
- Timken Museum of Art
- USS Midway Museum
- Vanguard Culture Visions Art Museum
- Visions Museum of Textile Art
- Warner-Carrillo Ranch House
- Water Conservation Garden (temporarily closed)
- Whaley House Museum: Museum Month passes are only good for the Daytime Self-Guided Tour, operating every day 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and not Evening Guided Tours or the Paranormal Tour)
- WNDR Museum: 50% off on Wednesdays and Thursdays in February – show digital pass at the door or use code: SDMuseumMonth when purchasing
- Women’s Museum of California: Museum without Walls – watch their website/social media for upcoming exhibits and online programming
- WorldBeat Cultural Center
TIJUANA (included in 2024 Museum Month. 2025 still TBD)
- Tijuana Cultural Center
- Tijuana Aquarium
- El Cubo (The Cube)
- Museum of the Californias
- Tijuana History Museum
- Municipal Institute of Art and Culture / IMAC
Learn More About Museum Month From the San Diego Museum Council
Tune into social media to learn more about the best San Diego museums, historical sites, gardens, zoos, aquariums, and cultural offerings, which will undoubtedly include information and fun activities that you might not already be familiar with.
Follow the San Diego Museum Council on these accounts and check them daily throughout February.
Or, follow the hashtag #SDMuseumMonth.
Fun Fact: In April 2015, San Diego was recognized by the National Geographic Channel documentary “World’s Smart Cities: San Diego,” where the region gained applause for its lifestyle rich in art, cultural diversity, and natural beauty.
Explore a New-To-You Neighborhood While You’re at It
Why not visit a museum that is in a neighborhood you don’t get to very often? I have highlighted plenty of things to do in San Diego, but you can also check my neighborhood guides.
Which San Diego museums are you looking forward to learning more about during San Diego Museum Month?
*Photo credits: San Diego Air and Space Museum/Peter Carney for Balboa Park
