The Coronado Museum is in the landmark Historical Association building, a historically designated site, right in the center of downtown. You can take an interactive look at Coronado's colorful past, its long association with aviation and with the military, the renowned Hotel del Coronado, and changing exhibits about Coronado culture and history. There is also the Museum Store that sells unique items.
The Coronado Historical Association's hours are Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 4 pm. The Coronado Historical Association's galleries are closed.
The Coronado Historical Association presents: Ode to the Ferry
For nearly 100 years, the most reliable transportation to and from Coronado was by boat. Before construction even began on the Hotel del Coronado, the first ferry boat, The Della, transported workers across San Diego Bay in 1886. Starting in the early 1890s, bay traffic was dominated by two companies: the Coronado Ferry Company and the Star & Crescent Boat Company. The Coronado Ferry Co. operated the civilian car ferries that were a central part of life in Coronado. Mentioning the ferry often stirs nostalgia to those locals who remember riding it as part of their daily routine. The Star & Crescent Boat Co. operated the military commuter ferries, famously known in Coronado as the “nickel snatchers” due to the 5-cent fare in the 1940s. The ferry remained the most prominent mode of transportation to and from Coronado until 1969 when the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge opened. Learn more about the history of the ferries in the exhibit!
The Coronado Historical Association, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, was founded in 1969 to help people understand and appreciate Coronado’s unique history, art, architecture, and historical resources. We continually work toward these goals to bring the history of Coronado to the community. In our state-of-the-art collections vault, we are carefully preserving everything from 1880s newspapers to vintage garments and over 20,000 photographs. In our Museum, we bring Coronado’s history to life through fascinating exhibitions.
We're proud to host you on Coronado's premier walking tour. Every tour purchase supports the Coronado Historical Association and its mission. Thank you for your support.
Every Sunday at 11 am, Tuesday - Friday at 1 pm
Location: Coronado Historical Association,
1100 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Admission: Adults $25 | Children (12 & under) $10
Tickets available at CoronadoHistory.org
1100 Orange Avenue
Coronado, CA 92103
(619) 435-7242
Toll-Free: (866) 599-7242
info@coronadohistory.org
The Museum Store and Galleries are open Tuesday - Sunday from 10 am - 4 pm.
The Coronado Historical Association Cordially invites you to the 2025 GEM Award Ceremony This incredible event will be held on Thursday, March 27th, 2025 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm in...
On Thursday, April 17, 2025, the museum’s Executive Director, Brian “Beef” Drechsler, Captain, USN (Retired) will visit the Coronado Historical Association to provide an update on...
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