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Oakland Museum of California
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
1000 Oak St(between 10th St & 11th St)
Oakland, CA 94607
Neighborhood: Lake Merritt
(510) 238-2200
- Hours:
Wed-Sun 11 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
218 reviews for Oakland Museum of California
Review Highlights
"The history and Pixar exhibits were awesome."
(in 100 reviews)
"annual Dia de los Muertos, (Although the Disneyland exhibit."
(in 7 reviews)
"REVIEW FOR DISNEY PIXAR EXHIBIT AND OMCA GALLERIES."
(in 26 reviews)
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218 reviews in English
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Review from Yvette F.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012
Such a fun museum to visit!! We went to visit this place last week on one of our days off. We thought that since it's in the middle of the week, it may not be so crowded (I've since read other Yelpers' observation that it generally doesn't get crowded at all). It's a wonderfully curated museum that showcases the natural history, culture and art of California, with emphasis on Bay Area.
A must when taking out-of-town guests who are interested in learning more about California history that is off the beaten path. -
Review from Jenn C.
1/6/2012
I visited this museum for the first time last fall - and I have to be honest - I had absolutely n o idea what to expect. My friend and I were totally overwhelmed by the vast displays - everything was so incredibly well organized and interesting - we spent about four hours there and found ourselves getting TIRED! Like OLD PEOPLE!
I am grateful that there were no student tour groups there - my first visit to this museum was blissfully tranquil and the museum was nearly empty. It was a great opportunity to visit every part of that museum and enjoy it in a "grown-up" way. Now, I'm looking forward to returning and catching some morning or afternoon field trips of students, just so I can hear what the teachers tell them about the different exhibits and to hear the reactions. This is exactly the kind of museum that can capture the interest and attention of children and adults alike. Don't miss! -
Review from Erin G.
Berkeley, CA
11/21/2011
Reason for visit: My cousin came to town.
Visit date: November 19, 2011
First time? Yes.
First of all, parking for $1/hour! Great!
My cousin and I wanted to go to a museum, so we chose this one because it was close to the lake and we could stroll around beforehand. The museum set-up is pretty awesome with their open-air / be-one-with-nature layout. I really wanted to see the Dia de los Muertos exhibit (which was pretty good), but I ended up appreciating the John Muir exhibit much more. I recommend going to see it! After walking through, I felt a need to hang out in nature or plant a tree (you know, do something good for the environment). I really wanted to go for a hike! The Gallery of California History is pretty fascinating too. The exhibit was interactive; there were a lot of stations for play and for thinking and sharing. This is definitely a good museum for kids of all ages. -
Review from Analynn L.
Vallejo, CA
1/10/2012 5 photos
I signed up to be a chaparone for my daughters 4th grade class... and honestly? I had no clue what Oakland Museum had in store for us... I kinda wasn't feelin it- but wanted to be there with my kid kinda thing.... well by the end of the day... It turned out the kids had to find and look for me because I was sooo mesmerized by all the interesting facts, stories, pictures, sounds, history.... EVERYTHING...
We had a Docent at first to show us around and give our little group a brief tour.. afterwards we were able to walk around ourselves and explore... I love the fact that the time lines are shown like Street signs.. My favorite part of the museum... San Francisco- and also the 70's era.. literally you could spend hours on just absorbing all the history this place has... absolutely a must do AND see- Interesting, bold, and soo much culture- I'm definately going back again soo.. and this time.. i'm brining the whole family :) -
Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
All you people LISTEN up!! If you have not yet been to the Oakland Museum - please go as soon as possible. This past weekend, I went for my first time to see the local art and culture of California, but also the current exhibits including the Dia De Los Muertos gallery and the 20th anniversary photographs from the Oakland fire of 1991.
Very modern and sleek, the Museum is very nice and stylish. It's quite affordable at $12 for each adult. The galleries are easy to maneuver and lots to see. I was really excited about the Dia De Los Muertos stuff, so we started there. I loved the local art and the interactive booths. I made a blessing for my grandparents in one of the Dia De Los Muertos blessings for those who have passed.
The Museum features local art, culture and the history of California from cultural immigration, the rise of California, right through modern life local pop culture. I was very impressed with the collections and learned a lot. I was quite impressed and took several pictures of which I posted some here.
Next up was the Oakland Fire photographs. Although I was a kid when it all went down, you can feel the devastation through looking at those photos. It is part of our local history and ties us back to who we are as a community and how things will be rebuilt, but not forgotten.
Last gallery we visited was the Natural History portion which is always a favorite. This exhibit is very interactive with sight, smell and sounds of different natural locations and animals.
At the end, we wandered through the gift shop. With all of the unique gifts, I saw quite a few things that would make great presents for friends and family. Quite unique and artistic.
Leaving the Museum, I had a great feeling of being inspired. I started thinking about what I loved the most and what type of paintings I would like to start working on. That feeling is enough to make me thank the Oakland Museum for providing art, culture and inspiration to us all. ;)Listed in: Adventures in the East Bay!
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Review from Aaron N.
Oakland, CA
1/14/2012
I fancy myself an armchair architect or at least a fan of architecture and the building alone is worth a visit. A beautiful example of mid-century modernism houses the interesting history to be found here. If your not like me you'll dig the roof top gardens / terraces with excellent views of Lake Merritt and surrounding Oakland city scape. This is one of my favorite places in Oakland and it rarely gets very crowded.
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Review from Kristen K.
Bay Area
11/1/2011
I recently attended OMCA's O-zone nightlife event and had such a blast! The museum has all sorts of interesting displays of art, science, and history as they relate to California. And the great part about it is that a lot of the museum is really hands on and appeals to your different senses. Things are labeled if you should touch, smell, or listen to them..which I think makes it a really great place to bring kids! I don't have kids, but my boyfriend and I are basically big kids ourselves so naturally we loved partaking in all of the interactive exhibits and I took a zillion pictures!
I had never heard of the OMCA before but I will definitely be back and really want to spread the word, if you haven't been here before--Check it out!Listed in: Date Night!
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Review from Stephanie S.
Vallejo, CA
11/11/2011
O.M.G! This place is amazing. I went to OMCA with my sister last Friday and had such a good time. I love museums and this is one of the best that I have been too. You learn so much about California (the state I love) and the people who built it.
Everyone has to go before the John Muir exhibits ends on January 22, 2011!
Also, the cafe at the museum is excellent, thanks to the chef. Try the tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich; its something simple that's done really well. Much love OMCA, I will return. -
Review from Priscilla M.
Berkeley, CA
11/16/2011
This was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday! The history told of California was done very well! I really enjoyed walking through the different eras in history as well. I'd say the 40's were my favorite :)
We had lunch in the cafe and I wasn't expecting it to be anything special, but I was pleasantly surprised, very tasty and definitely worth the money. And finally the art.. amazing! The only thing kinda disappointing was the gardens, not much there.. but all in all, this is a place I wouldn't mind having a membership to. Plan on spending the entire day looking around. -
Review from Joanna S.
Walnut Creek, CA
10/22/2011
Now is a great time to visit the Oakland Museum. Besides the permanent collection, there are three special exhibits to see.
First, the John Muir exhibit. It tells about the life and work of the naturalist and Sierra Club founder with a variety of installations. Many are well suited for children. There is much to touch, smell, feel, climb into...a very engaging experience.
Second, there is a small, but stunning exhibit of photos taken after the Oakland Firestorm. They are presented simply, in huge size, in a dark (almost "smokey" feeling room).
Third, you can take in the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) installation. There are a number of very touching memorials, presented in the colorful Mexican style. Really beautiful.
Take public transportation if you can, as parking is limited unless you get there early. There is a nice cafeteria and a number of garden tables for lunch. Good gift shop, too. Free admission on the first Sunday of the month. -
Review from Ted R.
8/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Cutting-edge gallery design. I know because I work in the biz. They make the most of their extensive collections, and keep it fresh with changing exhibitions. Love the chocolate furniture, the movable, blue puff stools and smart-chill lounges. I won't go into detail, but the combo of art, history and natural science works well. And their Oakland Standard projects are as hip as anything you'll see hitting the Art Murmur trail.
Even though it was thoroughly modern when it was built, I think the Oakland Museum of California didn't used to attract a lot of repeat visits due to a tired 60's concrete vibe. With the renovations, any culturally and intellectually curious person will want to go frequently. If there's a show on that you're remotely interested, go check it out. OMCA is the place to be! Bring your family, bring your friends. This is a place for people of all colors and all ages. -
Review from Kristina F.
Emeryville, CA
10/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came with my boyfriend for 1st free Sunday yesterday to visit the museum for the first time. We walked through the Muir exhibit that is on view through the coming months. It made me miss being in Marin and has inspired me to visit Muir Woods again.
(*1st floor artworks, 2nd floor where you get tickets are where historical artifacts and the Muir exhibit is located).
We walked through the historical artifacts and California exhibit. There was so much to see in artifacts and the interactive stations- you could literally spend hours there reading and viewing all types of things.
The cafe had delicious options- we had two grass fed beef burgers and ate them on the outdoor patio area that is above the koi pond. The patio area is nicely landscaped with flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds as you eat. The patio area also attracts families with crying children (that goes with the territory on a Sunday).
The art collection at the museum is wonderful to visit! I loved the works by Mel Ramos, Manuel Neri, David Park, Joan Brown, Elmer Bischoff, Richard Diebenkorn, and the exhibition area devoted to the self taught artists.
If you haven't visited the Oakland Museum yet, get yourself there to enrich your life a bit. The collection is fabulous and there is a LOT of work to see! -
Review from Nolan K.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2011
Wow Oakland, you have quite something to offer. I made a bart trip over to this city to check it out. I'm never here so this was completely new to me.
There are free days. Tons of exhibits and workshops and tables for kids in the garden that day. What an open space filled with friendly people! Everyone was so willing to help! Great staff. I came on a free Sunday,not very crowded as I would expect! Facepainting. tamale making demo! princess wand making for the little girls. Tin foil sketching crafts.
There are 3 rooms you can go into. Each has its own theme. what a mix! Art, artifacts, interactive displays! -
Review from Kate D.
San Francisco, CA
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
This museum is amazing. I didn't know what to expect but they had so much space dedicated to only a few different exhibits which was great because you got to see so much work from each artist. I really enjoyed the outdoor garden area as well.
All of the staff was super nice and helped answered any questions you might have had. There was even a few areas of the exhibits that were like hands which made the experience even that much more enjoyable. -
Review from Amy J.
Updated - 10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I stopped here for the Community Dia de los Muertos celebration and it was quite fun. They had dancers, lots of different booths, good food and exhibits galore. Unfortunately, I didn't make it inside the museum this time around but I love the remodel and I plan on checking out more events here. It's just a hop and a skip away from the Lake Merritt BART station.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/13/2010
The Pixar exhibit here is FAN-tastic. It's worth every penny. I couldn't believe how much space they… Read more »
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Review from Nicole C.
Los Angeles, CA
I really enjoyed the museum. It was better than I expected. I really enjoyed the section on California history. Admission is free the first Sunday of the month so that's when I went. I may have been a little disappointed if I'd had to pay to get in.
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Review from Jeffrey N.
Hayward, CA
5/25/2011
2 Star rating for the the customer service. Came out here to experience the PIXAR exhibit. When purchasing tickets from their front desk. The girl we encountered was pushy, rude, and not helpful. Maybe she was overwhelmed by the full house...
5 stars for PIXAR. They showed you the thought process behind your favorite animation movies. ie Finding Nemo, Toy Story, and Ratatouille...
5 stars for OMCA. Clean layout collection of art, history and natural science...
Cool place to bring a hot date... and feed your brain...Comment from Emily Q. of Oakland Museum of California 7/24/2011
Hi Jeffery, Thank you so much for your feedback. We… More » -
Review from Jerico P.
TEACHER TIP: OUSD students get in for $2 each
this place is so close to home that i keep telling myself oh i'll visit... but never have for almost a year. this all changed yesterday! we took our Summer Bridge students on a field trip to the museum!
i can't believe i kept putting it off! this place is AMAZING! i had an awesome time exploring and learning about the history of CALIFORNIA along with my students. lots of cool things to see and interactive things to check out! we made a scavenger hunt of it and if there are any teacher who would like to see that worksheet just let me know.
this place is so fun i want to go again and check out more exhibits.
until next time
cheers! -
Review from jahbottie l.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011
Good exhibits, clean, not too expensive.
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Review from Zee M.
Union City, CA
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's always been fun go to any of the displays or california events. I'm
so glad it's reopened. -
Review from Tito Y.
Emeryville, CA
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you haven't seen it.. the Oakland Museum is getting a CLASSY major face lift. They have already completed the Landscape Terraced areas, Museum Store, California History and Art Sections of the museum. What they have left to work on is the Science areas and quite special studies centers. I think too they will facelift the cafeteria. The place is fantastic, world class and quite the place taking special use of the existing structure that's been there all these years. If you haven't been, come see it.. its much, much better than ever before. This is a "not to miss" whether you are a local, a visitor or simply someone that wants something fun to do.
One of my favorite exhibits has to be inside the California History museum. I promise you that it revisits the old layout with so much new ideas. -
Review from Justin C.
4/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I fell in love with this place. It was the most hands-on museum I've been to only after The Exploratorium.(which reminds me, need to write a review) Every single moment there was spectacular.
The history portion flowed from early Native America culture in California all the way to present day with everything in between from Gold Rush era to WWII, even a part about the counter-culture movement. I loved every minute of it. I do adore California though, so I'm a bit bias.
The art portion was great, a mish-mash collection of contemporary, art deco, and things that were downright bizarre; even for my taste. The intense photos from Dorothea Lange, the awe-inspiring silver gels of Ansel, and some great paintings by Wayne Thiebaud.(a personal favorite) This place truly does have it all.
The staff were friendly and helpful answering my questions and really did make my experience great.
This place is a close second to my hometown favorite, The Crocker. Maybe when they open the Nature Collection in 2012 it'll take the number one seed.
Oh yeah, it's a great place for kids too. -
Review from Japen G.
Anaheim, CA
Visited NorCal from SoCal and my friends took me to the Pixar Exhibit.
Great Exhibit! I do have to say that the layout of the museum was very well thought out. -
Review from kai c.
Danville, CA
7/16/2011
OM is a fantastic place to visit and showcase some beautiful pieces - we went for the Pixar display and saw a breathtaking collection of Pixar concept drawings, sculptures and interviews with Pixar employees.
Wonderful view of Lake Merritt from the OM garden, and the staff is exceptionally friendly and accommodating. -
Review from Raina S.
1/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hadn't been to OMCA in several years, but I'm pleased to see it's still a wonderful place for people of all ages and interests. I have lots of fond memories coming here for school field trips.
We finally made it in to see the Pixar exhibit, which was packed but very enjoyable.
Parking is scarce. I highly recommend you take BART, but if you can't -- get here early! -
Review from Bernadette R.
East Bay, CA
11/24/2010 ROTD 12/3/2011
The OMCA is an intelligent, masterful museum waiting to be explored. It is creative, thoughtful, interactive and most importantly -- fun. You will find yourself lost in time as you travel from one exhibit to another. In fact, you may find yourself turning back into that 8-year old kid as you discover something worth uncovering behind those green-hand stickers. As you turn each corner, it soon becomes an adventure to learn what is written on the walls and the artifacts at your side. Truly a wonderful way to spend your day.
My favorite piece of Art: the 3D artwork and the Dorothea Lange collection.
My favorite History exhibit: The Tribune and the Native American collections.
My favorite Pixar moment: traveling through the Artscape.
I should mention for the parents that there is enough for your child(ren) to do here. However, keep in mind that reading comprehension and active imagination goes much further than just hands on experience in this museum's case. If you have a young one, let's say pre-K, kinder or a 1st grader, your enjoyment may be hindered because they'll move on so quickly that the best you'll be able to do is glance through many of the non-interactive exhibits. My suggestion -- become a member and only take the kid(s) when they have a day off; otherwise, enjoy on your own or with your a guest of your choice.
Best advice: Take BART if possible. It is a short block from Oak and Ninth St. to the museum's entrance.
Lastly, I'm saving the As Good As It Gets star for after the Natural History renovation -- I know you'll be worth the five stars then.Listed in: Kid-approved, Review of the Day
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Review from Monica S.
11/16/2010
I'm not the type that frequents museums often; to me, they're just like strip clubs, all look, no touch. Not that I'm really anxious to get to touching at a strip club, just drawing a comparison.
That said, it should mean something to you that I very very very much enjoyed my visit to the Oakland Museum. Rather than feeling like I had to be overly careful not to break anything, I was encouraged to sit on stuff, fingerprint stuff, and even poke holes in things. At a museum?! And what's more, there's a total ban on whispering. This isn't a hokey children's museum either. The Oakland Museum has successfully transformed a traditionally high brow experience into something digestible, accessible and most importantly, fun!
OMCA has a unique and interactive approach to illustrating the story of California and it's people. Merging art, history and natural science together under one roof, OMCA connects the story of the past and present in a comprehensive and intelligible manner. The mishmash fusion of preserved artifacts with contemporary art and other pieces seems random at first, but it all comes together in telling a bigger story.
It's the story of how the American West became PIXAR and how early inhabitants ultimately left behind a mark in the state's history.
Even a meathead could have fun here. -
Review from Beth F.
My husband and I visited the museum over winter break, and aside from having to hunt a bit for parking, had a killer time. Next time, we're getting off at Lake Merritt BART.
The museum offers multiple galleries covering California history, California art, Natural History (closed till 2012), and what will probably be a rotating exhibit gallery (for us, it was the Pixar Exhibit). Their entry price is also very reasonable, at $12 a head.
I loved all of it. Some of my favorite pieces included the religious items, the conquistador helmet, the stagecoach, and the various dresses/capes/costumes worn by everyday folks and female impersonators. There were also opportunities to become part of the conversation, to participate in the timeline and share important events in which you particpated or things that you remembered via index card. I loved seeing the walls covered in people's personal reflections.
My words won't do justice to the art, but I definitely devoured that part of the museum. As for the Pixar exhibit--truly a delight! Sketches, paintings, maquettes, concept work, etc. I ended up buying the book for the exhibit and the "Up!" exhibit poster with the little house sandwiched between the two towering skycrapers. (It was a little Virginia Lee Burton's "The Little House," and a little "Up!" Just had to get it).
In any case, I'll definitely be back. We spent a good 3-4 hours there and could have easily stayed longer, especially if the natural history area had been open. Next time... -
Review from Robin K.
Hayward, CA
1/24/2011
You MUST check out the Gallery of California History on the 2nd floor.
The Gallery of California Art not so much.
Will definitely be back to check out the Gallery of Natural Sciences.Listed in: Feelin' Nerdy?
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Review from Susan C.
11/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
When Toy Story first came out, I went home and hugged all my childhood toys.
When Bugs Life aired, I didn't squish any bugs for a month.
When I saw Toy Story 2, I brought a bunch of toys back up from the basement.
When Monsters Inc. joined the Pixar list, I finally stopped being scared of monsters in my closet.
When Finding Nemo came out, I laughed, I cried...I wanted sushi.
When I saw the Incredibles, I continued to wait patiently for my superpowers to kick in.
When I heard about Cars I was skeptical, only to find out that it was charming and grew really sick of watching it over and over when I baby sat...
When Ratatouille presented itself, I was instantly hungry....really really hungry.
When I was taken to outer space with WALL-E, I pretty much fell in love with a piece of metal and once again teared up wanting the little robot to be happy...I also went to the gym.
When Up made everyone else cry, I didn't....what does it mean when fish and robots make you cry but a sweet old couple doesn't?
When I heard there was a Toy Story 3 I rushed to see it....and brought my toys from my childhood home to my apartment, in case they felt unloved at home...
All this Pixar love being said, the OMCA had the most fantastic exhibition of Pixar art, sound, video I have ever seen. I gained a huge appreciation for the time and detail that has gone into each of these 11 films.
Kids (Free) loved it. Parents ($12) loved it. Student discounted people ($9) loved it.
While waiting for our entrance to the Pixar exhibit (about a 45 minute wait on a Saturday afternoon) we wandered around the art floor which was very diverse and interesting.
Overall the new building is very fun, modern, and well laid out. I am optimistic about this installation breathing more life and sophistication into Downtown Oakland.
Oh little Nemo and Wall-E *sniffle* I'm so glad you were ok in the end.... -
Review from Jennifer A.
San Diego, CA
11/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
Being a lifelong Californian, a museum showcasing a time line of the state's history felt like coming home. Lots of neat interactive displays and facts that entertain the whole family.
But what is really amazing is the Pixar exhibit they have on display now. (It'll be up until January 9th, hurry!) Awesome artwork featuring 25 years of Pixar animation. I wish I had more time that day to linger and gape at all the neat displays! (I also wish I had enough money to own those pieces!)
To top it off, I went on a Sunday where admission was free! Go, go! -
Review from Vicky L.
1/10/2011
My stars are for the Pixar exhibit, the museum itself didn't really impress me. Hubster and I walked through the other parts of the museum while we were waiting for our ticket time and we weren't extremely impressed with the exhibits. The art wing was so so, nothing like the Legion of Honor or De Young and the history museum was mediocre. It was interesting but nothing I didn't learn in history class in high school. It would be a good museum for kids or if you had time to kill and it was the first Sunday of the month.
Pixar exhibit was awesome. Being that I'm a HUGE Pixar fan, I loved seeing the development process. The sketches and art was amazing and I loved the various models they exhibited. -
Review from Anne N.
11/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
GO HERE FOR THE PIXAR EXHIBIT! Worth the trip guys!
The exhibit is included in general admission and they are happy to validate your ticket for $1/hr instead of $2/hr. Quite a walk if you want to find something to eat outside the museum and there's lots to see. Sad that the exhibit didn't allow photographs but I think the time you spend here will be memorable enough. I felt like such a kid, every single detail was just so childlike. I'd pick this over Disneyland any day. Less lines and there's more to take in visually. -
Review from sherry t.
1/2/2011
5 stars for PIXAR EXHIBIT AND GIFT SHOP.
3 stars for the museum as a whole.
Come early to Pixar exhibit. They give you a different ticket with the time slot to enter the exhibit. You are free to roam the other exhibits until your time at the Pixar one.
Nothing special with the history and art exhibits. Student tickets are only $9 so it wasn't that bad. -
Review from Eric B.
9/11/2010
Gayle and I came here for the Ozone event last night and we both very much enjoyed ourselves. We got half-price tickets through Groupon, only to find out near the last minute that our intrepid Yelp CM had scored some free tickets. Yelp also had a table on the lawn, so Gayle and I stopped by and said Hi to Monica and Ruggy.
Our only regret for the evening was not staying around for the NonStop Bhangra Bollywood Dance Party. Maybe Gayle didn't want me to show off my "moves".
However, we did very much enjoy the California History Gallery, Mark Dion's "The Marvelous Museum", and walking outside among the lawn and the art-enhanced terraces. The various Docents were also happy that we were there and very helpful in showing us around.
It's been years since Gayle and I were here and the place looks fresh, vibrant, and fun. We'll definitely be back. -
Review from Eric E.
Cupertino, CA
11/27/2010
I went to the Pixar exhibit, which is free the first month of every Sunday. This won't be here forever so those that want to check it out, do it soon. It opens at 11am but I came here at 10am, simply to get free tickets. The line did get pretty long after 1030am. Lots of family members, couples, kids were eagered to get a ticket. The doors opened exactly at 11am and the staffed asked folks to assign 1 group person to get tickets. I would say that there were many tickets available since we were the first 20-30 in line.
Things you get to see:
Life of Pixar - historical timeline
Various Pixar art, sound, and video - colorscripts, storylines, portraits, character sketches
I've spent 2 hours looking at things and the place is not that huge. Keep in mind that you are not allowed to take pics. Enjoyable place to check out and I like the UP collection. -
Review from Seong P.
1/6/2011
I remember coming here for a Yelp event a couple of years ago. I know I got free beer which resulted in taking a lot of pictures at the photo booth. I don't think I ever made it past the lobby, now that I think about it.
I went back recently for the Pixar exhibit. I had forgotten how many movies they made with Disney. The organization of the exhibit was kind of confusing to me but I think that was because we rushed in and then just went in a direction without really knowing where to start. I was impressed with all the drawings and some of the displays. I'd recommend checking it out. -
Review from Shannon L.
Fremont, CA
9/9/2010
All I can say is FREE FIRST SUNDAYS OF THE MONTH. Get there early because we got there at noon and the next available time for the Pixar exhibit was at 4:15pm.
Not that the exhibit isn't good enough to be paid for, but who doesn't like free?
The zoetrobe itself is worth going for. It blew my mind.
As for all the other things like the sketches, storyboards, clay models, etc., I wish I had all these in my house to decorate with.
You'll also have admission to the rest of the museum and all I can say is that now I know why this museum needed the Pixar exhibit... to survive. -
Review from May W.
8/26/2010
What brought me to the OMCA was definitely the Pixar exhibit. I went on a weekday so I was merely 1 out of 3 people waiting in line for tickets. I used my student ID and paid $9 for admission. The exhibit was fairly large and I was really pleased with the layout of everything. We started out with a little timeline of Pixar the company and moved onto sketches and statues of Toy Story characters. It was really cool to see all these ideas the artists had for the characters. As some other Yelpers have mentioned, there were plenty of sketches of potential Edna Modes for the movie The Incredibles.
I loved all the Pixar short films they showed as well as the amazing Zoetrope. I read that they were inspired by the Totoro Zoetrope in Japan. I can't wait to see that Zopetrope one day! For anyone who has issues with flashing lights, you may want to pass on this part of the exhibit.
No photographs were allowed inside the exhibit, which bummed me out. However, you can buy a souvenir book that has pictures of everything in the exhibit. I think the book cost $30. Not worth it for me, but maybe it is for you die-hard Pixar fans.
Parking was really easy and you just reuse your admission sticker as the validation for parking. Be sure to save time after the Pixar exhibit for the other stuff at OMCA. I really enjoyed learning about the history of CA and was really touched by some of the exhibits that explained the hardship of immigrants. -
Review from Clint B.
10/16/2010
The one and only time I've been to the Oakland Museum of CA was to see the Pixar 25th anniversary exhibit. Parking was a breeze and it was easy to find the ticket booth. General admission tickets were $12 for adults and free for kids under 8.
The exhibit has hundreds of original sketches, paintings, and models from Pixar that show the evolution of many of their stories and characters. It was amazing to see early renderings of Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and other characters and how they progressed to become the ones we know and love from the movies. Their were works from Toy Story, Wall*E, Finding Nemo, Up, and just about all of the other Pixar films.
The highlight of the exhibit was the zoetrope. It's a carousel with many character models circling it in slightly different stages of animation. When it spins at full speed and the strobe light turns on it looks like the characters are actually moving. It's absolutely amazing to see and is worth the price of admission alone.
The gift shop at the museum had plenty of cool stuff to buy. Not only Pixar merchandise, but plenty of art books and tchotchkes that would make great gifts. The museum definitely warrants a return visit to see the rest of their exhibits and future shows.
