California Museums with Seasons

California Mountain Museums

The Big Bear Valley Historical (Eleanor Abbott) Museum bigbearhistory.org/ located at the northeast end of Big Bear City Park off Greenway Drive. The museum is open from the end of May into October. Special tours for groups are available by appointment. The museum season runs from Memorial Day weekend in May, through the second weekend of October.

Visit the history of the logging industry in California's Sierra Nevada Logging Museum is open Thursday through Sunday, 12 noon to 4 pm, from the first of April to about the first of December, depending on the weather. In Arnold, if you are going East turn left just past the big Chevron station on Blagen Road. Follow the signs on Blagen Road to the museum. As you pass the school on the left, you will make a left turn on Dunbar Road. The address is 2148 Dunbar Road Logging and lumbering in California's Sierra Nevada began well before gold was discovered. In the early 1800′s logging was a laborious, slow and dangerous profession, with brute strength and animal power being top requirements. The discovery of gold in 1848 brought a new demand for wood products.  sierraloggingmuseum.org/

Logging Jamboree The Jamboree will be on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend which is on August 31st this year. Amateur competition and instruction will start at 9 AM and the professionals should start about noon.

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad March - October MOONLIGHT SPECIAL A 36 year tradition at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, the spectacular, fun filled Moonlight Special operates Saturday and Wednesday nights in summer. The evening begins with a delicious New York steak BBQ dinner and music by Sugar Pine. Chuck, Dave, Robyn and Gina add that special mountain charm to the evening with old fashioned ballads and toe tappin' melodies. Then it's ALL ABOARD for the Logger Steam Train excursion through the woods as the conductor's narration recalls the past when loggers and Shay steam engines ruled the woods. Clap and sing along around the campfire when the train stops-over in Lewis Creek Canyon. Hear the long, lonesome whistle blow on your trip under the stars as the locomotive chugs its way back to the station. Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad 56001 Hwy 41 Fish Camp, CA  The steam train ride is a one-hour narrated excursion through the beautiful Sierra National Forest. You will travel along four miles of the historic right-of-way of the Madera Sugar Pine Railroad where mighty lumberjacks felled the timber and flumes carried the lumber to the town of Madera. The conductor will tell of the history of the line, the trees, and the wildlife native to the area. The train is open to people of all ages, and friendly dogs ride free! $19 ticket. ymsprr.com

Top of the Sierra Center Visit the highest museum in California. Located at the top of Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort at 11,053, the treats visitors to unique exhibits and panoramic views of the Eastern Sierra Landscape. Located at the Summit of Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort at 11,053 feet. Exhibits detail the regions volcanic history, geology, weather patterns and cultural heritage. Entry is free with a Scenic Gondola Ride Ticket, Bike Park Ticket, Ski Area lift ticket, or any season pass. Located at the summit of Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, at 11,053 feet, is the Top of the Sierra Center. This museum, accessible by riding the mountain's scenic gondola, includes exhibits detailing the regions volcanic history, geology, weather patterns and cultural heritage. Access the museum by riding the Panorama Gondola. The Gondola leaves from the mountain's main lodge. 1 Minaret Road Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 800-MAMMOTH Hours/Seasons The museum is open as long as the gondola is running. The gondola runs most of the year; however, it does close between seasonal operations, usually late September until mid-November and May to mid-June.

Giant Forest Museum

nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm

Location: Housed in the historic market building, in the Giant Forest sequoia grove at 6,500 feet (1,980 m) elevation. 16 miles (26 km) from the Ash Mountain Entrance.

Exhibits: Learn about sequoia groves and view short videos on giant sequoia ecology and fire.

Services: Books, maps, and educational items for sale. Fully-accessible restrooms and trails. Pay phone. First aid. During the summer the museum is a stop for the park shuttle.

Alpine County Museum Markleeville, CA

Exhibits include artifacts from early settlers of mining, logging, dairy, cattle, and sheep ranching from pioneer families of Alpine County. Snowshoe Thompson, early Washoe Indian tribal basket weaving, the old Webster school and artifacts from our jail are also on permanent display. alpinecountymuseum.com
Memorial Day thru October
P.O Box 517
Markleeville, California 96120
alpinemuseum@yahoo.com