As I continue to explore my city of Los Angeles for interesting places to visit on day trips, I came across a small museum just down the street from Disneyland in Santa Ana. The Bowers Museum was founded in 1936 but has gone through several self-discoveries and growth since then to become one of the best museums in Orange County. This museum concentrates on different cultures and gives an in-depth look at their histories, art, artifacts and more. 

We drove down there this past Sunday and had a leisurely brunch at their outdoor café, Tangata. This café was a great change from the typical cafeteria-style restaurants at other museums. The ticket cost is $15 per adult and gives you access to the many exhibits and permanent collections. We had perfect timing and saw Maurice Sendak’s personal sketches of his famous children’s book Where the Wild Things Are.

We then moved on to an amazing historical look at Scrimshaw: The Art and Craft of the American Whaler. These early American sailors shared their stories by sketching on whale teeth and bone carvings. Artwork included Victorian ladies, female pirates and scenes from their ships.

The most incredible exhibit was Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasure of Ethiopia. On loan from Ethopia, the REAL Lucy is on display, along with a lifesize model and timeline of the Huminid. I took history like everyone else, and I was still surprised to see how small the bones were and how well-preserved this 3.2 million-year-old hominid was. 

A must see!

— Carly Allen, vice president