Bowers Museum of Cultural Art

Bowers Museum of Cultural Art Review

Santa Ana's premier cultural asset is the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, which exhibits collections from both the British Museum and Beijing's Palace Museum Permanent. Exhibits include Pacific Northwest wood carvings; beadwork of the Plains cultures; clothing, cooking utensils, and silver-adorned saddles used on early California ranches; and California impressionist paintings. Special exhibits such as a show of Egyptian mummies rotate through on a regular basis. A $15 million addition accommodates an Asian art gallery and 300-seat auditorium. Enjoy a salad, pasta dish, or French-inspired lamb shank beneath abundant skylights at Tangata, the museum's outstanding café.

Bowers Kidseum. The neighboring Bowers Kidseum has interactive exhibits geared toward kids ages 6-12, in addition to classes, storytelling, and arts-and-crafts workshops. Admission is included in the general museum ticket. 1802 N. Main St., 92706.