Museum of Natural History

The Museum of Natural History - the only one in the California State Park system -- opened in 1962. It served over 10,000 visitors in its first two years alone, and now some 65,000 thousand people visit the Museum annually, including 14,000 children who participate free-of-charge in the docent-led school group programs that support California's required science and social studies standards. Just west of California's scenic Highway 1, midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History sits on a hill overlooking the Morro Bay Estuary. In addition to panoramic views of the coastline, the view from the museum includes world-famous Morro Rock.