This park is part of a nationally recognized historic landmark and can be found adjacent to the extant portion of one of California's 21 Spanish-era mission church sites. The park and its Plaza represent what was once the "town square" of the largest town in central California and a vital crossroad for travel between northern and southern California. In the park visitors can gain an appreciation of California peoples, from Native Americans, through the Spanish and Mexican cultural influences, right up to the American period in the late 19th century. The park site includes several structures built in the 1800s. These include the four main historic structures of the Plaza Hotel, the Zanetta House/Plaza Hall as well as Plaza Stables, and the newly reopened Castro-Breen Adobe with colorful and informative exhibits to help create a learning environment for people of all ages. Many of the interiors are arranged as furnished vignettes. The park also features a blacksmith shop, the historic jail, and an early American settler's cabin.

The park offers exhibits, tours, and occasional living history events.

The Bolinas Museum is the premier art museum of Marin County just north of San Francisco. The museum's primary focus is on local art, as many talented artists are attracted to coastal Marin County communities.

The museum offers guided and self-guided tours, exhibits, and special events including lectures and special presentations. The website offers visitor information, information regarding current exhibits, and a calendar of events.

The San Diego Maritime Museum presents one of the world's strongest collections of historic vessels. Highlights include an 1898 steam ferry, the Berkeley; a 1904 steam yacht, the Medea; a B-39 Soviet attack submarine; and the 1863 Star of India, the world's oldest active ship. Replicas include the HMS Surprise, an 18th-century Royal Navy Frigate used in the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and the Californian, a mid-1800s revenue cutter. Exhibits include the ages of sail and steam, the Navy, navigation and surveying, and the tuna industry.

The museum offers one- or two-hour historic cruises on the 1914 Pilot; overnight and day history role playing educational programs; science programs; an educational sailing program aboard the Californian; guided museum tours; exhibits; tours of the Star of India, HMS Surprise, B-39 Submarine, Berkeley, and the Medea; and world cruises led by historians. The website offers information for children; virtual tours of the Star of India, Berkeley, HMS Surprise, and Californian; and numerous videos. All tours require reservations.

The San Lorenzo Valley Museum presents the history of California's San Lorenzo Valley. The museum is housed in a National Register old-growth redwood church built in 1906, and permanent exhibits include a logging display and a circa 1900s kitchen. The kitchen permits demonstration of its equipment to students.

The San Lorenzo Valley Museum offers docent-led tours of the museum to students of 2nd grade community history study, charter and home schools. 'Then and Now' presentations encourage historical comparisons using logging, railroad, antique kitchen, circa 1900 schoolroom, and rotating exhibits with accompanying hands-on activities. Hands-on activities are varied, including washing clothes in a tub with washboards and hand-wringer, making an Ohlone toy, or stenciling bookmarks.

The mission of the Committee of One Hundred is to preserve Balboa Park, California's Spanish Colonial architecture.

The committee offers a fourth grade educational program including an outreach slide presentation and a walking tour, guided walking tours,

The Rancho de Guadalupe Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Guadalupe, California. To that end, the society operates a museum, a historic jail, and a non-circulating library. Artifacts on display include Native American adobes and pieces representative of the cultures which succeeded the Chumash—the Chinese, Filipinos, Mexicans, Swiss, Italians, Spanish, Japanese, and Portuguese.

The society offers exhibits and library access.

The Contra Costa County Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of Contra Costa County and Martinez, California, in particular. The society runs a local history museum, the Contra Costa County History Center. The center is open to the public by appointment, and offers exhibits on Contra Costa County. Prospective visitors should check the website to check what exhibits are currently up.

The website offers visitor information, a collection of articles on local history, an extensive collection of historic photographs, and an events calendar.

The Kelly House Museum is located in the historic Kelly House, which was built in 1861. In addition to serving as a historic house museum, the home offers exhibits on the cultural heritage of the Mendocino Coast. The home also serves as a shining example of the unique Victorian architecture that led to Mendocino's recognition as a National Historic Preservation District.

The museum offers exhibits, walking tours of the Mendocino National Historic District, guided tours of the home, and special events. The website offers visitor information and a history of the home.

The Nevada County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Nevada County, California. To this end, the society operates the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, North Star Mine Powerhouse and Pelton Wheel Museum, Firehouse Museum, and Searls Library. The railroad museum presents local transportation history. Collection highlights include seven historic railroad cars, dating from 1889 to circa 1940. The mining museum's collection highlights include a working Cornish pump; working stamp mill; and the largest Pelton wheel, a mechanism for supplying air to power the mines, ever made. The Firehouse Museum, housed in an 1861 structure, presents exhibits on the Maidu people, the Donner Party, Chinese-American daily life and religion between 1877 and 1938, and vernacular items dating from circa 1850 to present.

The society offers monthly speakers and both library and archive access. Research assistance is available for a fee. The railroad museum and firehouse museum offer exhibits. The mining museum offers self-guided tours, period dioramas, and exhibits. The website offers digital historical and genealogical databases.

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park honors the soldiers who fought in the battle between the U.S. and Californio forces on December 6, 1846 in the midst of the Mexican-American War. Generals Stephen Kearny and Andres Pico both claimed victory. The battle was only one of the military encounters in California in the war, but it proved to be the bloodiest and most controversial as to the outcome. The park has been set aside, not as a monument to war, but as a reminder of the human ideals, actions, and passions that can drive nations to bloodshed.

The park offers exhibits; tours; and occasional recreational and educational events, including living history events.