The Long Beach Museum of Art is an oceanfront museum at 2300 E Ocean Blvd in Long Beach, California, with a permanent collection spanning three centuries. It offers a distinct stop among museums in Long Beach, combining art galleries with a historic house and landscaped grounds.
- Location: 2300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA
- Typical hours: Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
- General admission: $15; some visitors enter free
- Access: Galleries and facilities are wheelchair accessible
Where the Museum Is
The Long Beach Museum of Art stands on the coast at 2300 E Ocean Blvd. Its oceanfront campus includes the historic Elizabeth Milbank Anderson House, a two-story gallery space, landscaped grounds and Claire’s at the Museum restaurant.
Founded in 1950 as a municipal art center for Long Beach, the museum has remained at this address. The Anderson House was built in 1911 as a summer house before becoming the museum’s home. Claire Falkenstein’s water sculpture Structure and Flow is also on campus.
Long Beach Museum of Art has a separate downtown location, LBMA Downtown, at 356 E 3rd St. It opened in 2019, so confirm that you are heading to the oceanfront campus if that is the site you plan to visit.
Collection and Exhibitions
The museum’s permanent collection comprises more than 4,300 art objects from all media and cultures, spanning three centuries of American, European and international art. Its areas of focus include California art and modernism, work by Southern California women since the 1950s, early 20th-century European art, decorative arts and fine crafts.
That range gives you several ways to shape a visit, from looking for California art to following a broader path across periods and media. The collection is one point of distinction among art museums in Long Beach.
Temporary exhibitions change, so check the museum’s exhibition listings before planning around a particular artist or show. The campus also offers an outdoor setting for seeing Structure and Flow alongside the museum’s buildings and grounds.
Hours, Admission and Access
LBMA Ocean is open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and closed Monday through Wednesday. Admission is $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors. Members, children 12 and under, and LBUSD students enter free. The museum is closed on most federal holidays.
All galleries and facilities, including every restroom, are wheelchair accessible. You can enter by an accessible ramp at the corner of 19th Place and Ocean Boulevard, or use the ramp on the east side of the Anderson House. Free accessible parking is available in the museum lot.
A limited number of wheelchairs are available free in the lobby on a first-come, first-served basis. You can call (562) 439-2119 to reserve one ahead of time. Trained service dogs are allowed in public museum areas and Claire’s restaurant; emotional-support, comfort and therapy animals are not permitted.
The museum asks visitors not to use cell phones in exhibition areas and prohibits smoking and pets. Before setting out, check the official site before you go for current hours, admission details and any holiday changes.
Planning the Trip from Downtown
Long Beach Transit route 121 stops directly in front of the museum. Routes 21, 22, 23, 91, 92, 93 and 94 stop within a short walk.
For driving, free parking and EV charging stations are available in the museum lot on Ocean Boulevard, one block west of the main entrance. These transit and parking options can help shape a one-day downtown Long Beach itinerary.
Metered beach parking is another option. Turn off Ocean Boulevard at Junipero and follow the road to the beach parking lot; stairs from the lot lead to the museum.
From the Inn at 50 Long Beach Convention Center, about a 26-minute walk away, the museum is also reachable by car in about 4 minutes.
If you are putting together a day around downtown, the museum’s oceanfront location can be one stop in a broader city itinerary.
FAQs
Is the Long Beach Museum of Art open every day?
No. LBMA Ocean is open Thursday through Sunday and closed Monday through Wednesday. It also closes on most federal holidays.
Which visitors get free admission?
Members, children 12 and under, and LBUSD students enter free. General admission is $15, while students and seniors pay $10.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. All galleries, facilities and restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and the museum has ramp entrances and free accessible parking.
Does Long Beach have more than one Museum of Art location?
Yes. LBMA Ocean is at 2300 E Ocean Blvd, while LBMA Downtown is a separate location at 356 E 3rd St.