General Information
Overview & Welcome
Our Mission
The Monterey Museum of Art cultivates curiosity in the visual arts and engages community with the diversity of California art – past, present, and future.
Our Vision
The Monterey Museum of Art is a collaborative center where art and community engage.
Hours
MMA Pacific Street hours
Open Thursday – Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
MMA La Mirada hours
La Mirada is open only for special Museum events and programs. We accept appointments for educational and research purposes.
Holiday Hours
Closed Thanksgiving Day
The Museum will be closed for winter break from December 23, 2022, through January 3, 2023.
Directions & Parking
Monterey Museum of Art–Pacific Street
559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940
831.372.5477
Located across from historic Colton Hall in Old Monterey, the Museum features galleries devoted to exhibitions of American and California painting, photography and contemporary art. Wheelchair access is available at the sculpture park entrance located between Pacific and Calle Principal Streets.
Parking
Two-hour free street parking is available near MMA Pacific Street. The City of Monterey operates several downtown parking facilities within short walking distance of the Museum. Please visit the City of Monterey’s Public Lots and Garages web page and refer to the section labeled Downtown Area Garages and Lots for more information.
Monterey Museum of Art–La Mirada
720 Via Mirada, Monterey, CA 93940
Contemporary galleries complement the old-world elegance and lavish rose gardens of this gorgeous, historic estate. Located in one of Monterey’s oldest neighborhoods, La Mirada began as a modest stone adobe in the Mexican period. It was later remodeled to become an elegant home where the great stars of silent film were entertained. The Dart wing, designed by architect Charles Moore, was added in 1994. MMA La Mirada is open only for special Museum events and programs.
Parking
MMA La Mirada offers limited on-site complimentary parking. Additional parking can be found at Monterey Peninsula College in Lot A. With limited street parking, please be considerate of our neighbors and observe City of Monterey No Parking zones
Admission
| Adults: | $15 |
| Students w/ID: | Free |
| *Active Military w/ID: | Free |
| 18 years and under: | Free |
| Members: | Free, Become a Member |
| **Museums for All – SNAP Participants w/EBT: | Free |
| NARM and AAM Members: | Free |
*Blue Star Museums – Active members of the military and their families receive free admission.
**Museums for All – Individuals and families presenting a CalFresh/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, and a valid form of photo ID receive free admission for up to a group of four.
Bicyclists: Receive 50% off Museum admission on Thursday when you show us your helmet. Excludes special programs and events.
Visitors can purchase tickets at the door, or book ahead with the link below. Advance purchase is strongly recommended for groups of 6 or more.
Accessibility
Monterey Museum of Art Pacific Street is wheelchair accessible with ground floor access via Francis Elkins Park between Calle Principal and Pacific Street. Please ring the doorbell and a staff member will be there to assist with entry and elevator access to the Museum.
Photography Guidelines
Photography of loan exhibitions is not permitted. Still photography of the permanent collection galleries and gardens is permitted on condition that the photographs are for personal, noncommercial use. Flashes, tripods, selfie sticks, and video cameras are prohibited.
Frequently Asked Questions Addressed by the Executive Director
Q. Can I contact the Museum for an appraisal or authentication of my artwork?
A. The Monterey Museum of Art and its staff are prohibited from offering valuations, appraisals, or authentications for works of art (see our Appraisal Policy). These should be carried out only by a qualified appraiser or reputable auction house. For a selected, partial list of auction houses and appraisal services, click here.
Q: What is happening at each of the Museum’s locations?
A: Since January 2015, MMA Pacific Street focuses on showing the permanent collection and the Community Gallery. MMA La Mirada is open only for special Museum events and programs. We welcome educational and research visits by appointment. Both locations offer participatory educational and public programs, and interactive experiences for visitors of all ages.
We are assessing both facilities and the Museum’s long-term needs. The MMA Pacific Street building is owned by the City of Monterey, with which we have a long-term lease agreement; the Museum owns MMA La Mirada. Strategic Plans going back decades call out the need to address the facilities and the operational impact of having two locations. The Museum is exploring all factors concerning each facility in light of capital and maintenance needs and long-term sustainability. We will keep our members and supporters apprised as the assessment processes unfold. Significant strategic, historical, and architectural studies have been undertaken in the past year.
Q: The Museum looks different than it did when I visited last. Why?
A: The foundation of the Museum’s identity is its strong permanent collection, especially early California painting, photography, and modern and contemporary art. The Monterey Museum of Art’s focus is California art—past, present, and future. We are stewards of the collection, committed to its preservation, display, and interpretation. Galleries rotate regularly and works not on view are being researched and catalogued. Collection review and assessment are standard professional museum practices, allowing us to better care for and understand the Museum’s holdings.
For regular updates and museum news, please subscribe to our e-newsletter and follow the Museum on social media.