Mingei International Museum

At Balboa Park in San Diego, California

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Admission Hours

Tuesday – Thursday, Saturday & Sunday
10 AM – 5 PM

Friday
10 AM – 8 PM

Closed Mondays, and on New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas

Free 3rd Tuesday

The Entry Level with the shop and café is free. Exhibitions Level: adults $15; seniors 65+, educators, students and military with ID $10; members and youth 17 and under free; $5 on Fridays after 5 PM. Admission is free for everyone on the third Tuesday of every month. Prices are currently reduced during a partial gallery closure.

Location of Mingei International Museum

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About the Mingei International Museum

Mingei International Museum is Balboa Park’s museum of folk art, craft and design. It was founded in 1978 by artist and educator Martha Longenecker, and its name comes from the Japanese word mingei, meaning “art of the people.” The collection spans tens of thousands of objects from around the world, from historic pottery and textiles to contemporary furniture and design.

The museum is housed in the House of Charm on the Plaza de Panamá, a Spanish Colonial Revival building that dates back to the 1915–16 Panama–California Exposition. After a major renovation it reopened in 2021 with a free, open Entry Level with a shop, café and restaurant, and ticketed exhibition galleries.

What Can You Expect at the Mingei International Museum?

Exhibitions change throughout the year and celebrate the handmade objects of everyday life: ceramics, textiles, furniture, jewelry, toys and tools from cultures around the world, shown alongside the work of contemporary craft artists and designers.

Friday is the museum’s late night, with reduced admission after 5 PM, and the restaurant ARTIFACT serves lunch Tuesday through Sunday. Paid parking now applies in many Balboa Park lots, so consider public transit or the free park tram.