Awe-Inspiring Museums Near Woodland Hills

Flip through a book of must-visit attractions in Los Angeles and you will undoubtedly pick up on a trend: There’s a lot of outdoorsy fun to be had. With that in mind, it’s difficult to imagine committing to a day inside of a museum when that warm California sun is beckoning just outside the walls…tempting you with subconscious vibes to work on that tan.

But here’s the thing – no matter how good the weather, visiting L.A.’s museums is essential, if for nothing more than the fact that our venues rival those in Chicago, Washington D.C. and New York, without a doubt. And, making the deal even sweeter are the stunning outdoor campuses, hilltop views, sculpture gardens and sunny courtyards that accompany many of these art palaces.

To get you started (or to continue your education), we’ve narrowed down Woodland Hills’ roster of top museums in the area to those we feel are the most awe-inspiring.

Artvanta, a new art museum experience in Los Angeles located at 23350 Lake Manor Drive in Chatsworth, focuses on art with an accent on meaning and quality, essentially boiling down to the fact that this venue showcases new art exhibiting a “deeper meaning.” Just steps from Chatsworth Oaks Park, a nature preserve area boasting picturesque boulders, multiple trails, a lake view and the historic Santa Susana Pass, Artvanta will enrich your weekend both physically and aesthetically; hike in the morning and explore the museum in the afternoon, taking in everything on display in the “Alphabets – Reinvented” exhibit in the South Gallery and the “Vessels of Light” exhibit in the North Gallery. The museum is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm, with online reservations required.

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley, located at 18904 Nordhoff Street in Northridge, is temporarily closed for COVID, but is scheduled to reopen at some point during the summer; as an educational and cultural institution, the museum acquires, displays and preserves the artifacts, documents and records of the San Fernando Valley we all share. With the help of residents, businesses, organizations and societies, collections of historical items, the fine arts and the folk arts are collected for the public to enjoy and for scholars to research. Primary museum programs here include historic walking tours, the History Of… speaker series, Narrating Lives: Oral Histories of the SFV, Public Art Initiative (PAI), the Valley Artist speaker series and Horses Across the Valley (HATV). The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is open Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 5 pm and Saturday from 12 to 4 pm. Contact the facility directly to learn about the scheduled mid-summer reopening.

Leonis Adobe Museum and Plumber House, located at 23537 Calabasas Road in Calabasas, remains a historical monument and living history museum dedicated to restoring, preserving and sharing California ranch life in the late 1880s. Home to Miguel Leonis, one of the most colorful and larger-than-life figures in 19^th century L.A., the Leonis Adobe survives today primarily because of the efforts of Kay Beachy, a local community activist who recognized the importance of historical preservation early on and who spearheaded the official formation of the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Board. Amongst the magical draws of the Leonis Adobe Museum is the Plummer House, moved to the Leonis Adobe grounds in 1983 from Plummer Park in West Hollywood and referred to as “the oldest home in Hollywood,” eventually being registered as State Historical Landmark No. 160 on January 11, 1935.

The Valley Relics Museum, located at 7900 Balboa Boulevard in Lake Balboa, collects, preserves, interprets and presents the history of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas for the purpose of sharing with residents and visitors alike the stories of those who shaped the region – and its role in the nation’s development. Here, you can browse a vast collection of historical artifacts including rare documents, photographs, vintage neon signs, post cards, yearbooks, negatives, clothing, books, art, automobiles and even BMX bikes from the Valley’s past. The Valley Relics Museum is a nonprofit organization that holds steadfast to an endeavor to preserve and protect local history and its artifacts while educating the public on the rich history of the San Fernando Valley, and is open Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4pm.

Los Encinos State Historic Park/De La Osa Adobe Museum and Historic Marker, located at 16756 Moorpark Street in Encino, was, until the late 19^th century, the hub of human habitation in the Southern San Fernando Valley, the five-acre park blessed with a natural spring that yields water so sweet that animals would come from miles around to drink it. After having provided water for the thousands of people who have lived here over the centuries, the natural spring today feeds a flourishing duck pond – in fact, the ducks of Los Encinos, along with the tranquil surroundings amidst the bustle of Encino, have made this a favorite spot for parents to bring their kids, and also remains a great place for picnics, parties and weddings. The De La Osa Adobe was built in 1849 by Vincete De La Osa and was recently fully restored as a museum. The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, with tours by appointment only and general admission being free.

Los Angeles is blessed with an abundance of outstanding art museums, but if you are focused on the most interesting ones in and around the Woodland Hills area, the aforementioned spots combine an outstanding mix of physical artifacts and historical atmosphere guaranteed to impress.