Things to Do in Hilbert Museum of California Art: A Visitor Guide

The Hilbert Museum’s collection centers on California Scene art and the places and experiences represented in it. Rural and urban scenes, coastal views, farms, ranches, freeways, and broader California landscapes all feature in the collection.

Chapman University describes the Hilbert Collection as spanning the California Scene movement from roughly the 1920s through the 1970s and beyond. Its works include oils, watercolors, sketches, and lithographs, giving you several mediums to encounter as you look through the collection.

The museum’s two gallery buildings contain 26 galleries, alongside a café, community room, research library, and an outdoor courtyard with native gardens. An open-air structure connects the buildings and displays “Pleasures Along the Beach,” a glass-tile mosaic by Millard Sheets measuring 40 by 16 feet.

The museum opened in 2016. Its expanded 22,000-square-foot home replaced a 7,500-square-foot facility and opened to the public on February 23, 2024. The expanded layout gives the collection space across two buildings, with the mosaic as a feature between them.

The published Hilbert Museum hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the museum is closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is free, and free online reservations are recommended.

A reservation is for a scheduled arrival time and remains valid until 5:00 p.m.; same-day exit and re-entry are permitted when space allows. Check the official site before you go.

The museum is all on one level and says it is ADA-compliant. Its main entrance is level with the parking lot and sidewalk, and all building restrooms are accessible.

Spaces for vehicles displaying a valid disability placard are available in each of the museum’s three parking areas. ADA-defined service animals are welcome; pets and emotional support animals are not permitted.

Groups of 10 to 20 must reserve in advance by calling 714-516-5880; the museum cannot accommodate groups larger than 20. Chapman University students, faculty, and staff can enter without a reservation by showing a valid Chapman ID at the door or front desk.

The museum recommends the free Old Towne West parking structure at 130 N. Lemon Street, one block east. Free two-hour street parking is often available on the museum side of N. Cypress Street, behind the museum. There is also a small onsite lot with spaces marked “RESERVED HILBERT MUSEUM.”

The train station is across the street, while the recommended parking structure is one block east. These reference points can help you orient yourself around the museum; confirm parking and visitor arrangements with the museum before your visit.

The Cheech Marin Center is another Riverside art stop; its visitor guide to The Cheech covers that museum.

Is admission to the Hilbert Museum free?

Yes. Admission is free, and the museum recommends making a free online reservation. Admission without a reservation may be available as space permits.

What kind of art is at the Hilbert Museum?

The collection focuses on California Scene art, including depictions of urban and rural life, coastal views, farms, ranches, freeways, and California landscapes.

Is the museum accessible?

The museum is all on one level, with an entrance level with the parking lot and sidewalk and accessible restrooms in all buildings. Placard parking is available in all three parking areas.

Can you take the train to the Hilbert Museum?

Yes. The Orange train station is approximately one block west of the museum and is served by Metrolink’s Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines.