Museum of Us Museum

Address: 1350 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Website: https://www.museumofus.org

Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00am-5:00pm

The Museum of Us is an anthropology museum located in Balboa Park, San Diego, formerly known as the San Diego Museum of Man. It was rebranded in 2020 to emphasize inclusive storytelling about human cultures and identity.

Exhibitions cover anthropology, human history, and cultural identity with permanent and rotating galleries exploring topics such as cultural heritage, social structures, and human creativity. The museum occupies a landmark Beaux-Arts building with a distinctive tower that is part of Balboa Park’s historic 1915 exposition architecture.

The museum grew from earlier public and university collections focused on anthropology and archaeology; over time it has expanded its exhibitions and public programming. The recent rebranding reflects institutional efforts to address representation, collaboration with communities, and contemporary social themes.

Located in central Balboa Park within San Diego, the museum sits among other cultural institutions, gardens, and museums in the park and is a short drive from downtown San Diego.

• Name change: Rebranded from the San Diego Museum of Man to the Museum of Us in 2020 to reflect a broader, decolonizing mission and renewed focus on human stories and identity.
• Building: Housed in the historic California Building in Balboa Park, notable for its ornate 1915-era tower and façade from the Panama-California Exposition.

The Museum of Us (formerly the San Diego Museum of Man) is located in Balboa Park. From downtown San Diego it’s a short drive (about 5-15 minutes) via Park Boulevard; there is also local MTS bus service into Balboa Park from downtown - check San Diego MTS schedules for the best route. Once in Balboa Park the museum is within easy walking distance of the park’s main parking areas and attractions.

• Check the Museum of Us website for temporary‑exhibit schedules and any timed‑entry or capacity restrictions before you visit - special exhibits often require advance booking.
• Aim for weekday mornings in Balboa Park to avoid weekend tourist peak times; this gives quieter access to the museum's anthropology halls and nearby park gardens.
• Don't skip the upstairs anthropology and cultural context galleries - visitors who rush through the popular exhibits miss deeper ethnographic displays and associated interpretation.