9 Museums to Explore in Ventura County

The California Oil Museum highlights the history and inner workings of the state's "black gold" industry through hands-on, interactive exhibits, videos, models, photographs, and memorabilia. A separate building holds a working 1900s oil rig.

This is an art environment, located in Simi Valley, California. It was created by Tressa "Grandma" Prisbrey from the 1950s to the 1970s. Prisbey built a "village" of shrines, walkways, sculptures, and buildings from recycled items and discards from the local landfill. It has been designated as a historical landmark by the City of Simi Valley.

This is a privately owned museum in Oxnard, California. It displays the personal car collection of businessman and philanthropist Peter W. Mullin. The museum has a large collection of vintage Bugattis, and many of the cars are fully restored and able to be driven.

A majestic museum, which celebrates the history, art, and culture of Ventura County and the Channel Islands through its collections, exhibits, educational programs and publications.

The Ojai Valley Museum, located downtown in the historic Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church houses an extensive collection of art, Native American artifacts, and photographs of early Ojai.The museum also has in-depth temporary exhibits. It has a permanent exhibition about Ojai's history, a diorama of the Sespe Wilderness, and a Museum Store in the Sanctuary Gallery. Rotating & original art, history, and culture exhibits are mounted year round and change every 6 to 10 weeks.

Rancho Camulos Museum is a 40-acre NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK situated within an 1800 acre working ranch. It was the home of Ygnacio del Valle, a Californio alcalde of the Pueblo de Los Angeles in the 19th century and later elected member of the California State Assembly. The ranch was known as the Home of Ramona because it was widely believed to have been the setting of the popular 1884 novel Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson.

A majestic museum, with a mission to preserve and share Santa Paula, California’s artistic heritage including the famous Santa Paula Civic Art Collection; and to educate and engage the community through collection, exhibition, interpretation, programming and outreach. It plays host to rotating exhibitions of vintage and contemporary art, cultural events, a gift shop and more.

Originally known as the Grand Union Hotel, was used as a resting area for people who traveled from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. Besides a hotel and stagecoach stop, it has also been used as a post office, church, restaurant and military school. The museum includes a rebuilt Timber School, a carriage house and blacksmith shop, nature trails, and the "Tri-Village", a small group of three houses: the pioneer house, the adobe, and the Chumash "ap".

This is a majestic museum dedicated to the men and women who served in the Battalion. It aims to highlight the deeds of the United States Naval Construction Battalions during both times of war and peace.