Something about the different lifestyles, historic photos, and interesting gadgets generate curiousity and excitement in children. Fortunately, the Bay Area has a wealth of historical museums and parks that appeal to a variety of interests, including California history, agriculture, lighthouses, cable cars, and more.
Most historical parks are very welcoming to children and many have special family events. As an added bonus most are free or low cost.
Historical Museums & Parks
Alameda Historical Museum - Alameda
U.S.S. Hornet - Alameda
Black Diamond Mines Museum - Antioch
Camel Barn Museum - Benicia
San Lorenzo Valley Historical Museum - Boulder Creek
Ainsley House - Campbell
Capitola Historical Museum - Capitola
Carmel Mission - Carmel
Clayton Historical Society Museum - Clayton
Cupertino Historical Museum - Cupertino
Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad - Felton
Mission San Jose - Fremont
Ardenwood Historic Park - Fremont
Gilroy Historical Musuem - Gilroy
Jack London State Historic Park - Glen Ellen
McConaghy House - Hayward
Hayward Area Historical Museum - Hayward
Los Altos History House and Museum - Los Altos
Forbes Mill Museum - Los Gatos
John Muir National Historic Site - Martinez
Martinez Historical Society - Martinez
Moffett Field Historical Museum - Mountain View
Monterey Sate Historic Park - Monterey
Museum of Monterey - Monterey
Slide Ranch - Muir Beach
Museum of American Heritage - Palo Alto
Sanchez Adobe - Pacifica
San Mateo County Historical Museum - Redwood City
Cameron-Stanford House - Oakland
Dunsmuir House & Gardens - Oakland
Oakland Preservation Park - Oakland
Pardee Home Museum - Oakland
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park - Petaluma
Pigeon Point Lighthouse - Pescadero
Amador Livermore Valley Museum on Main - Pleasanton
Richmond Museum of History - Richmond
Alcatraz Island - San Francisco
Cable Car Museum - San Francisco
California Historical Society - San Francisco
Fort Point - San Francisco
Market Street Railway - San Francisco
Wells Fargo Museum - San Francisco
Society of California Pioneers - San Francisco
Museum of the City of San Francisco - San Francisco
Randall Museum - San Francisco
San Francisco Cable Cars - San Francisco
San Francisco Fire Department Museum - San Francisco
San Francisco Maritime National Historicl Park & Historic Ships - San Francisco
History Park at Kelley Park - San Jose
Quicksilver County Park Mining Museum - San Jose
Winchester Mystery House - San Jose
Peralta Adobe & Fallon House - San Jose
Prusch Park - San Jose
San Juan Bautista State Historic Park - San Juan Bautista
Wings of History Museum - San Martin
Marin County Historical Society Museum - San Rafael
Mission San Rafael Archangel - San Rafael
Forest Home Farms - San Ramon
Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park - St. Helena
Mission Santa Clara de Asis - Santa Clara
Museum of Art and History - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Mission Adobe Historical State Park - Santa Cruz
Wilder Ranch State Park - Santa Cruz
Saratoga Historical Museum - Saratoga
Sonoma State Historic Park - Sonoma
Benicia Capitol Historic Park & Fischer-Hanlon House - Vallejo
Old Borges Ranch (Shell Ridge Recreation Area) - Walnut Creek
Shadelands Ranch Historical Museum - Walnut Creek
Agricultural History Project Museum - Watsonville
Bockius/Orr House - Watsonville
Woodside Store - Woodside
Train Models & Museums
Golden Gate Live Steamers Club - Berkeley
West Bay Model Train Association - Menlo Park
Barron Park Garden Railway - Palo Alto
Golden State Model Railroad Museum - Point Richmond
Cable Car Museum - San Francisco
California State Railroad Museum - Sacramento
Golden Gate Railroad Museum - San Francisco
Golden Gate Model Railroad Club at Randall Museum - San Francisco
Market Street Railway - San Francisco
San Francisco Cable Cars - San Francisco
South Bay Historical Railroad Society - Santa Clara
Western Railway Museum - Solano
Western Railway Museum - Suisun City
Niles Canyon Railway Museum - Sunol
Railroad-Ferry Depot - Tiburon
Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society - Walnut Creek