The city of Anaheim stands out to tourists as the home of Disneyland but it presents various attractions that extend past amusement parks. The arts and culture scene of Anaheim features a variety of quirky museums that teenagers in the local area frequent regularly. These captivating museums supply teenagers with dedicated spaces to both learn and seize knowledge while engaging in friendly interactions.
Anaheim features rare collections of both contemporary art and worldwide cultural displays that represent its multicultural population. All Disney fans and scientists and art lovers will discover museums in Anaheim that match their specific interests.
The Disney Gallery
Situated right on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland, The Disney Gallery offers fans an insider’s look into Disney animation and theme park history. With a rotating selection of concept art, models, props, and artifacts from Disney parks, this exhibit gives visitors a peek behind the magic.
Teens can marvel at early sketches of iconic Disney characters, study scale models used to develop their favorite Disneyland rides, or pose with props from the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. The intimacy of the space, filled with memorabilia covering the walls and ceilings, makes teens feel fully immersed in Disney lore.
Beyond the exhibits, interactive elements like animation classes and talks by Disney legends also attract local teenagers seeking inspiring creative outlets right in the parks they grew up with.
Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center
Just a quick LA limo service ride from Disneyland, Muzeo Museum offers rotating exhibits spanning art, history, and science, making each visit unique. Recent popular exhibits among teens have included the psychedelic world of OC Alt Surf & Skate featuring the radical art of legendary board shapers.
Muzeo also brought a slice of street culture to Anaheim with the graffiti art showcase Beyond the Streets. Allowing teens to connect with diverse aspects of SoCal culture, these exhibits got locals talking and drawing enthusiastic crowds.
When teens have had their fill of admiring the exhibitions, Muzeo also hosts hands-on art workshops in photography, painting, and more where teens can flex their creative muscles guided by expert artists. With vibrant programming that taps into youth culture, it’s no wonder Muzeo has become a trendy hangout spot.
Discovery Cube Orange County
For teens interested in science and technology, Discovery Cube OC offers an afternoon of non-stop educational fun. With over 100 interactive exhibits spanning two floors, this children’s museum keeps curious teenagers engaged through hands-on learning. Budding engineers can race solar-powered cars, program robots, or turn a greenhouse into a raging lightning storm.
Aspiring veterinarians can scan x-rays to diagnose animal injuries or climb aboard an ambulance to role play emergency rescues. Other exhibit highlights that teens geek out over include flying planes via a flight simulator, experiencing the freezing temps inside an Arctic igloo, and wiping out on a simulated surf board.
With so many cool gadgets, gizmos, and state-of-the-art displays, Discovery Cube OC makes learning feel more like play for teenage visitors. The museum also hosts seasonal camps during school breaks revolving around topics like space exploration and forensic science—perfect for teens looking to expand their STEAM skills.
Bowers Museum and Kidseum
While the Bowers Museum houses a world-class collection of cultural artifacts spanning history, art, and anthropology, it’s the interactive children’s wing known as Kidseum that really excites teenage visitors. Within Kidseum, teens can immerse themselves in diverse cultures from ancient Egypt to Mesoamerica to the wild islands of the South Pacific.
One of the most popular permanent exhibits is the Vietnamese riverboat replica where teens can pretend to steer the vessel or barter wares at a floating market—experiencing life in Vietnam, no passport required. Kidsuem also hosts events like the annual Lunar New Year festival featuring dragon dancing, calligraphy demonstrations, and interactive feng shui workshops—all celebrating Asian culture. For creatively inclined teens, Kidseum offers several art studios as well.
The Animation Studio allows teens to develop their own short animated films using old-school zoetropes. At the Global Arts Studio teens can craft artworks from around the world, learning techniques like Japanese woodblock printing or Mexican papel picado banner making. With opportunities to directly engage with cultures from around the globe, it’s no wonder Kidseum has earned rave reviews from teenage visitors.
S. Preston Art + Designs
On the cutting edge of Anaheim’s art scene is S. Preston, a hip minimalist gallery featuring pop art and custom gear. Owned by former pro skater Shaun Preston, this hybrid gallery showcases limited edition serigraph prints depicting dynamic athletes in action.
Teens who follow extreme sports geek out over seeing their favorite skaters, surfers, BMX riders and motocross racers immortalized through iconic images distilling high-velocity stunts into sleek visual compositions. Shaun and his crew of resident artists also design custom boards, motorcycle tanks, helmets, and other gear which draw teens eager to own their own minimalist sports art object.
Beyond admiring prints on the wall, visitors can also watch Shaun and his team decorate blank skate decks, grip tape tablets, and paint motorcycle gas tanks in the back studio area. Part art gallery, part sports memorabilia shop fused with a beckoning skater hangout lounge, S. Preston offers an unexpected cultural twist sure to attract savvy teenagers.
Tips for Visiting Anaheim’s Museums
With this amazing array of quirky museums to choose from across Anaheim, teenagers have ample options for intriguing and educational activities. Planning transportation is key for getting around sprawling Orange County. From Disneyland area hotels, the Anaheim Resort Transit is a handy option for getting to the Disney Gallery, Muzeo, and Bowers Museum/Kidseum via free shuttle buses.
Groups of teens can also easily zip around Anaheim in a private LA limo service ride booked through a smartphone app for reasonable rates. For museum visits, purchasing multi-attraction passes can offer big savings compared to individual tickets. Teens may enjoy pairing a museum outing with a bite at trendy eateries like the Anaheim Packing House food hall or visiting Downtown Disney for shopping and people watching.
With a bit of advance planning, teenagers can immerse themselves in Anaheim’s vibrant cultural scene at museums that will fuel their passions and expand their horizons.
Conclusion
Apart from amusement park activities Anaheim provides teenage visitors with unique cultural experiences through the charming Disney Gallery display and the forward-thinking Muzeo art gallery and the engaging Discovery Cube OC science center alongside the global cultural exhibition at Kidseum of Bowers Museum.
The unique museums of Anaheim provide teenagers opportunities to explore their interests through Disney history displays and artistic workshops and international cultural experiences inside Orange County. Anaheim’s museums present dynamic displays of art science and cultural content and more through creative exhibitions and programs thus continuing to captivate teenage visitors.