Time Out / CULTURE
LIVE AND LEARN
These museums and education centers will spark a sense of wonder
about the past, present and future.
BLACKHAWK MUSEUM
The main event at this Danville establishment is a gleaming fleet of iconic
cars, including jazz-era autos, a Ford Thunderbird built for the 1964 World’s
Fair, Alfa Romeo BAT cars and Chrysler’s first fiberglass car. On another floor,
Spirit of the Old West comes to life with miniature scenes, objects and photos;
a third section displays contemporary African masks and other artwork, as
well as the latest addition, Into China. blackhawkmuseum.org
MUSEUM ON MAIN
Delve into Pleasanton’s history with artifacts and images of the Ohlone
people, Spanish and Anglo settlers, World War II’s expanding population,
and today’s dwellers. Traveling exhibitions add layers of historical depth,
while a kids’ corner provides hands-on activities. museumonmain.org
EUGENE O’NEILL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
Eugene O’Neill, the only American playwright to win the Nobel Prize,
reached the peak of his powers at Danville’s Tao House, which he built on
158 bucolic acres in 1937, and where he lived through 1944. Here, he wrote
TOY
L Blackhawk Museum
I H P V I S I T T R I VA L L E Y.COM 4 9 Long Day’s Journey into Night and The Iceman
Cometh, among other masterworks. Combining
elements of Asian and Spanish design, Tao
House is now a museum where you can view
O’Neill’s desks, manuscripts and photos; in
September, the O’Neill Festival presents plays
in the barn. nps.gov/euon, eugeneoneill.org
MUSEUM OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY
Visitors to this restored 1891 Danville train
depot can explore the lives of early Native
Americans, Gold Rush settlers and their
successors. museumsrv.org
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL
LABORATORY DISCOVERY CENTER
The Discovery Center introduces kids and
adults to the thrill of STEM learning. Pedal
an “energy bike” to see how much power it
generates and hold a plasma globe, a glass
ball electrified with a Tesla coil. llnl.gov/
community/discovery-center
DUBLIN CAMP PARKS MILITARY
HISTORY CENTER
This museum-quality history center offers
visitors the opportunity to learn about the
Camp Parks military base—established during
World War II—which helped transform Dublin
from a rural community into the dynamic
city it is today. dublinca.gov/1916
DUBLIN HERITAGE PARK AND MUSEUMS
Clustered on 10 acres, a Craftsman house, a
simple white church, a schoolhouse and a
cemetery tell the story of the Tri-Valley in
the 1800s. In the school, interactive exhibits
describe a time when the region was part of
Mexico, and a pioneer playhouse allows for
make-believe. A tour of the house provides
details about its architecture and the family
who lived there. dublin.ca.gov/269
