A comprehensive guide to Historical Sites & Museums in North County San Diego. Visit and explore some these North County San Diego hidden historical treasures. If you plan to visit any of these sites, a fun reference book to have on hand is California Place Names.
San Marcos Heritage Park
The San Marcos Historical Society and hundreds of volunteers have spent countless hours restoring the Cox and Bidwell houseses to make them available to the public. Docent led tours provide a short history of the Twin Oaks Valley area of San Marcos, an introduction to some of the past homeowners, and what their life in San Marcos would between 1890 and 1930. The houses provide a glimpse of the past for visitors of all ages.
Address: 1952 Sycamore Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069
(Inside Walnut Grove Park)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760- 744-9025
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Santa Margarita Ranch House
The old adobe Ranch House of the former Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores is maintained by the Marine Corps as a historic shrine of early California history. One hundred fifty thousand acres of the old Spanish land grant have become Camp Joseph H. Pendleton, the largest Marine Training Center in the Nation.
Address: 24154 Vandegrift Boulevard, Camp Pendleton
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760-725-5758
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Marine Corps Mechanized Museum
Ordinary military vehicle museums are usually cold and sterile, comprised of vehicles that haven’t turned a wheel or track in many years. The Mech is not your ordinary collection. The majority of our tanks and trucks can roar into ground shaking life! The collection, started in 2002, is run by MGySgt (Ret) James King. Along with a small cadre of volunteers and financed largely by donations, it is one of the few armored warfare collections in the world dedicated to not only preserving historic military vehicles, but also putting them back into working order.
Address: 2612 Vandegrift Boulevard, Camp Pendleton
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760-725-5758
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Escondido History Center
The Escondido History Center gives presentations to community groups and classes, provides access to research materials, including a collection of historic photographs, actively collects photographs, artifacts and paper ephemera pertaining to Escondido’s past and present, teaches blacksmithing and the wheelwright craft, and actively works towards the complete revitalization of Grape Day Park.
Address: 321 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760-743-8207
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Escondido Public Library Pioneer Room
Genealogy and local history research archive. Search, browse and view a large variety of historic photographs at Escondido Public Library – Pioneer Room. Examples of collections include Ryan Collection, Rutledge Collection and Eloise Perkins Collection.
Address: 247 S Kalmia St Escondido, CA 92025
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760-839-4315
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Felicita County Park
Felicita County Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its rich Native American and pioneer history. Ranger-led school and interpretive hikes are available by reservation. The park also features a newly renovated wedding ceremony space and a covered pavilion perfect for receptions.
Address: 742 Clarence Ln Escondido, CA 92029
Phone: 760-745-4379
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Goodan Ranch & Sycamore Canyon Open Space Preserve
Goodan Ranch is jointly owned by San Diego County, the Cities of Poway and Santee, and the CA State Fish & Game Department. The project’s focus is to stress the value of the region’s natural and cultural resources while respecting the pristine natural setting of the preserve’s ecologies. A seasonal creek bed lies within the site. Other site features include an outdoor amphitheater, a horse trough and hitching post. Programs and hikes are offered year-round.
Address: 13920 CA-67 Lakeside, CA 92040 / 16281 Sycamore Canyon Road, Poway, CA 92064
Email:
Phone: 858-513-4737
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Kumeyaay Ipai Interpretive Center
The Kumeyaay-Ipai Interpretive Center of Pauwai (Poway) is a five acre site rich in the local history of the Kumeyaay-Ipai Indian tribes. Follow the trails past ramadas, interpretive signage, native gardens and a replica of an ‘ewaa (native Kumeyaay house). Motreros (grinding stones ) left by the original Kumeyaay inhabitants still remain on this historic site. Also visit the new Education Center to view artifacts and other interesting historical items and photos.
Address: 13104 Ipai Waaypuk Trail, Poway, CA 92064
Phone: (858) 668-1292
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Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park
Secluded in the heart of a magnificently landscaped 27-acre canyon, this historic park contains and protects romantic hand-crafted adobe buildings, antique windmills, a reflecting pool and many other beautiful historic structures where visitors can explore and experience California history. Nature-lovers delight in gorgeous agave, bougainvillea, Birds of Paradise, plentiful trees and the company of dozens of brilliant peacocks who call the ranch home.
Address: 6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Ln, Carlsbad, CA 92009
Phone: (760) 476-1042
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Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum
The Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum has over 200 functional miniature engines plus miniature guns, ships, autos, cranes, clocks, tools, and more on display. The exhibits are housed in 13,000 square feet of exhibit and working machine shop space.
Address: 3190 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, California 92010
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760-727-9492
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Poway Historical & Memorial Society
Preserving the past for the future. The museum offers information, photos and displays about Poway’s history.
Address: Old Poway Park, 14114 Midland Rd, Poway, CA 92064
Phone: 858-679-8587
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Rancho Bernardo History Museum at the Bernardo Winery
The Rancho Bernardo Historical Society is a non-profit organization, dedicated to preserving the local history and increasing public Rancho Bernardo Historical Society – Newsletters awareness through programs and outreach.
Address: Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego, CA 92128
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 858-775-5788
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Rancho Buena Vista Adobe
Two hundred years ago, in this area, Native Americans roamed. As they were gatherers, not farmers, they moved about to find food and water. Actually, Vista is the site of an ancient Indian village. The Luisenos and Dieguenos were the main tribes residing in this area. The land was dotted with mostly shrubs and chaparral and no vegetation grew more than 20 feet high . . . Visit the 163-year old Rancho Buena Vista Adobe for a fun and educational experience!
Address: 640 Alta Vista Dr Vista, CA 92084
Phone: 760-639-6164
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Rancho Guajome Adobe County Park
Rancho Guajome was a focal point of social life in San Diego in the late 1800s, and their parties drew people from all over Southern California. We want to rekindle the spirit of this magnificent rancho and re-establish its role as a centerpiece in the culture of Southern California.
Address: 2210 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista, CA 92083
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760-724-4082
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Los Peñasquitos Adobe Ranch House
The park features a historic adobe ranch house built in 1823 by the recipients of the first Mexican land grant in San Diego County. The house was enlarged in 1862, and the building and site now comprise a National Historic and Archaeological District. The preserve also offers hiking, biking and equestrian trails and a wedding and reception area.
Address: 12122 Canyonside Park Drive, San Diego, CA 92129
Phone: 858-484-7504
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San Diego Archaeological Center
The San Diego Archaeological Center is a curation facility and museum where visitors can learn the story of how people have lived in San Diego County for the past 10,000 years. In addition to its role as a museum, the Center serves as an education and research facility and is the only local organization dedicated to the collection, study, curation and exhibition of San Diego County’s archaeological artifacts.
Address: 16666 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027
Phone: 760-291-0370
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San Dieguito Heritage Museum
The San Dieguito Heritage Museum was founded in 1988 to collect, preserve and interpret the local history of the San Dieguito River area, including Leucadia, Encinitas, Olivenhain, Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Rancho Santa Fe.
Address: 450 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas, CA 92024
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760-632-9711
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San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park
San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park honors the participants who fought in the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual, the bloodiest battle in California during the Mexican-American War, and the indigenous people who lived in the valley at that time.
Address: 15808 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92027
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760-737-2201
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Santa Ysabel Store
Dating from 1884, the store is now being restored, bringing a unique emporium brimming with heirloom and artisanal foodstuffs, back-to-nature gifts, wares for home and garden, and books and guides for the naturalist or cultural tourist. Santa Ysabel Store doubles as an antiques and architectural salvage store in what was originally the feed store section, it is now The Feed Store – Antiques & Such.
Address: 30275 CA-78 Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760-765-1270
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Vista Historical Society & Museum
Home of The Vista Press Archives, the Vista Historical Society’s Museum at Rancho Minerva preserves and honors the past while serving the present.
Address: 2317 Foothill Dr, Vista, CA 92085
Phone: (760) 630-0444
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Warner-Carrillo Ranch House
Built in 1857 by Vincenta Carrillo, a prominent early Californio woman rancher, the adobe known as the Ranch House at Warner’s served as the Butterfield Stage Stop from 1868 until the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. As California’s first regular overland transcontinental stage connection.
Address: 29181 San Felipe Road, Warner Springs CA 92086
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 619-297-9327
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Wilderness Gardens Preserve
Acquired in 1973, Wilderness Gardens Preserve is the oldest County Parks and Recreation open space preserve. Located in the picturesque San Luis Rey River watershed, the preserve offers over 4 miles of easy to moderate hiking trails and is known as a birdwatcher’s paradise. The preserve staging area provides picnic tables, portable restrooms and quick access to the trail system.
Address: 14209 CA-76 Pala, CA 92059
Phone: 760-742-1631
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Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
The Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, a nonprofit corporation, collects, preserves and displays examples of mechanical ingenuity and crafts associated with the early days of the American farm and rural community. Located on 55 acres of rolling farm ground, 2015 will mark the 39th year the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum has been in Vista, CA. Over that period our Museum has grown to become one of the premier educational and recreational facilities in North San Diego County. With around one thousand volunteers, our Museum’s collections focus on the 1849 through the early 1960’s era with exhibits that actively demonstrate farm equipment and tools from horse drawn through modern row crop.
Address: 2040 N Santa Fe Avenue, Vista, CA 92083
Phone: 760-941-1791
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Awesome! I’m looking forward to looking through these.
Don’t forget the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum in Vista!
Added!
Oh, one more; the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad!