San Diego Museum Council

06/10/2026

🎶🌹 Music at the Marston is back! Looking for the perfect summer afternoon? Grab a lawn chair, pack a few snacks, and head to the beautiful Marston House Museum and Gardens for live music under the open sky.

'Music at the Marston' series kicks off June 19 with Peter Bolland, Cara Cormier, and Tim Flannery, followed by two more great concerts in July and August.

For just $10 (SOHO members) or $15 (nonmembers), you'll enjoy incredible local singer-songwriters sharing music and stories in one of San Diego's most beautiful historic settings.

History, gardens, sunshine, and great music? That's a pretty perfect San Diego day. ☀️🎸

📍 Marston House Museum & Gardens
🎟 Advance tickets recommended
➡️ https://www.sohosandiego.org/main/event_musicatthemarston061926.htm

06/08/2026

Please join us in welcoming Katherine Palmer as the Museum of Making Music's new Executive Director beginning in July. She previously was Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville where she oversaw the Taylor Swift Education Center.

We also celebrate the remarkable legacy of the Museum's longtime Executive Director Carolyn Grant, whose vision and dedication helped establish the Museum as a destination for musical discovery and learning over the past 28 years.

06/07/2026

Go behind the scenes with Abi Karkenny as Michael James Rocha takes his popular "In the Curator's Words" series to the San Diego Natural History Museum. Read more in today's The San Diego Union-Tribune at https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/06/07/in-the-curators-words-in-new-exhibit-the-nat-explores-ocean-pollution/

06/06/2026

🌿 Plant lovers, today’s your day! The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas is offering a special plant sale featuring orchids and houseplants showcased throughout its exhibition. Plants are available for just $15–$20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or until sold out).

Quantities are limited, so early birds will have the best chance to take home a new botanical treasure. 🌺🪴

Don’t miss this chance to bring a little piece of the garden home with you! Discover more at https://sdbg.org/ 💐

06/05/2026

Great news for our museums and for all San Diegans! A proposal to restore more than $10.3 million to arts and culture grant funding was announced this morning by the City of San Diego Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee who led a landmark collaboration with Council Budget Committee Chair Councilmember Henry L. Foster III, The Prebys Foundation CEO Grant Oliphant, County of San Diego Supervisor Vice Chair Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, The City of San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture Vice Chair Keith Opstad, San Diego ART Matters Executive Director Bob Lehman, and Arts + Culture: San Diego Director Christine S. Martinez.

This proposed restoration of funding includes more than $6 million from the City and a $3 million investment by The Prebys Foundation to bring together this coalition to develop a regional arts and culture funding plan for long-term sustainability. We thank the Independent Budget Analyst and the overwhelming support for this proposal by City Councilmembers at the Budget Committee Meeting following the press conference.

What makes this moment truly historic is the collaboration that brought us here. We are witnessing the City of San Diego, the County of San Diego, philanthropic leaders, arts advocates, cultural organizations, and community stakeholders working together in ways we have not seen before.

We celebrate this victory and thank everyone who helped make it possible. And we look forward to working with our partners to build an even stronger future for arts and culture throughout San Diego.

Pictured (clockwise from upper left): Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee, Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, San Diego Ballet,; Bob Lehman, San Diego ART Matters Deputy Director Felicia Shaw, and Christine Martinez; and City Human Relations Commissioner and artist Edwin Lohr.

06/02/2026

Take an adventure through the stars as the Fleet Science Center road trips to the Palomar Observatory on Saturday, June 20. Enjoy a private tour of the Palomar Dome, learn its history, engage in a unique lecture from a local astronomer, and explore the stars from historic Palomar Mountain in this brand-new, 18+ experience. Includes bus transportation, meal, and refreshments! Get tickets at https://www.fleetscience.org/events/sky-tonight

06/02/2026

Step back in time and explore the many stories of independence that have shaped our region!

This summer and fall, the Encinitas Historical Society and 1883 Schoolhouse invites the community to its unique "Independence Saturdays" series, celebrating the diverse cultures, communities, and voices that have contributed to Southern California's history.

Held at Encinitas' charming 1883 one-room Schoolhouse, visitors can enjoy hands-on activities, historic recordings, music, films, collaborative art projects, old-fashioned lessons, and even recess! It's history brought to life for all ages.

The free series runs select Saturdays from June through October, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Schoolhouse, 390 W. F Street in Encinitas.

Learn more and see the full schedule at

This is just a short excerpt for the about page.

06/01/2026

Washed Ashore is now open at the San Diego Natural History Museum featuring colorful and fantastical sculptures of ocean life. Artists create the sculptures made from with plastic trash collected by volunteers along the Oregon Coast.

06/01/2026

Lights, camera, Marilyn! The iconic Hotel del Coronado is celebrating Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday with Marilyn Monroe: The Defining Roles, a special exhibit running through July 31.

Featuring photographs by La Jolla native Lawrence Schiller, rare artifacts, and a self-guided tour of Some Like It Hot filming locations, the exhibit offers a fun glimpse into the life and legacy of one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Learn more about Coronado at the Coronado Historical Association and read more about Hotel del Coronado's Marilyn Exhibit at https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/05/30/marilyn-monroe-exhibit/ ✨🎬📸

Running May 30 through July 31, “Marilyn Monroe: The Defining Roles,” examines Monroe’s later films career, and features the work of photojournalist Lawrence Schiller.

05/31/2026

In the Curator’s Words: The latest installment of The San Diego Union-Tribune's popular series by Michael James Rocha highlights a powerful new exhibition at the San Diego Chinese Historical Society & Museum: “Shanghai, Homeland Once Upon a Time — Jewish Refugees and Shanghai.” Read more at https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/05/31/in-the-curators-words-jewish-refugees-in-shanghai-focus-of-new-exhibit/ .

On view through September 6, the exhibition tells the remarkable story of more than 20,000 Jewish refugees who escaped the Holocaust by finding refuge in Shanghai during World War II.

Through personal stories, photographs, and artifacts, the exhibition explores themes of survival, resilience, and the bonds formed between Jewish and Chinese communities during one of history’s darkest chapters. Plan your visit today at https://sdchm.org .