Museums are informational, educational, and fun places to visit while traveling. Redlands, California, is home to five museums: The Kimberly Crest House, The Redlands Glass Museum, The San Bernardino County Museum, The Asistencia, and The Lincoln Shrine. Each of these museums are family friendly, so kids will enjoy them as much as adults do. Visitors can stay at nearby hotels in Redlands so they can get an early start to their day.
The Kimberly Crest House
The Kimberly Crest House was built in 1897 and was fashioned after a castle in Europe. The woman who had it built was named Cornelia Hill, and in 1905, she sold it to John and Helen Kimberly. The interior of the home still has the Victorian era stylings. There are both public and private tours of the house, and the gardens are rented out for private events and weddings. The hours and days of operation are Thursday, Friday, and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Redlands Glass Museum
The home that is used for this museum is a Victorian-styled home built in 1903. Inside this museum, you will find 6,000 pieces of glassware made by American glass makers and artists. There is a good mixture of antique glassware from the 19th century as well as more modern pieces. Admission is by donation, and they offer free group tours during the week. The museum is open by appointment only.
The San Bernardino County Museum
The San Bernardino County Museum is filled with cultural and natural history. The museum relocated to Redlands in 1974 from Bloomington, California. One of the exhibits includes live animals that kids and adults alike can learn more about. The hours and days of operation are Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for county observed holidays.
The Asistencia
The Asistencia was originally called the Estancia site and was part of The Mission San Gabriel’s Rancho San Bernardino in 1819. The building that is now the Asistencia is built one mile from that site and was built sometime in the 1930s. While visiting the museum, you can walk through historic rooms and relax in the gardens on the grounds. The hours and days of operation are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Lincoln Shrine
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is a museum where visitors can learn about Abraham Lincoln and The American Civil War. The exhibits include manuscripts, diaries, images, and artifacts. One of the exhibits is The Sultana Disaster, which was the worst maritime disaster in American history and was part of the Civil War. The building was built in 1932 and is operated by the Smiley Library of Redlands. The hours and days of operation are Tuesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
While visiting Redlands, you can easily visit all five of these museums over a two-day period. Make sure to bring a camera to capture the beautiful grounds that each one of these museums sit on.
