A magnificent building that does not represent the interior, from the inside it did not meet my expectations, it is small and doesn’t contain many exhibits, and I was surprised that the tower requires a separate ticket and the cannibalism exhibit requires a third ticket, all of that being said, compared to the other SD so-called museums I think this is one of the best.Note: most of Balboa Park museums have a free day each month for the residents of San Diego County, I think it is the third Tuesday every month for Museum of Us.

The message here is crystal clear: this is the museum of us, all of us, except, of course, those of us that identify as Black or African American. This museum displays the rich and beautiful histories of various cultures around the globe. There’s a huge Maya exhibit, another dedicated to those or Asian heritage, a Native American exhibit etc.. However, there is a complete erasure of ancient or current Africa. This museum would lead you to believe that Black history started with slavery and the creation of race. I suggest you make the museum truly inclusive of all of us, or rename the museum, once again.

Awesome setup and very open spaces. Went midday on a Sunday and it wasnt too busy to worry about social distancing. Lots of cool exhibits and lots of opportunities to take great historic pictures.

I took the tower tour, which was very cool and informative, and our guide was really fun. You climb up 120 steps, with breaks on each floor to learn a little history about San Diego. Then, you take the spiral stairs to the top to check out the amazing views, which was awesome. It was rainy/foggy when I went, and the views were still great. I also checked out the beer, cannibalism and monsters exhibits which were all very interesting. Take the short palm canyon trail back to the parking lot!

Pretty fun place. Lots of interesting exhibits. My granddaughter loved the Monsters exhibit and the hands on participation. So many museums are do not touch. There were fun things to see, do, and touch. It was also a wide variety of topics and artists. Loved the interesting things about race and discrimination. Very thought provoking. I recommend visiting.

Great space and exhibits. Will be opening back up soon.

Ray and Cecilia were amazing tour guides for The Tower Tour!Ray was quick and witty with his stories he had prepared for each stop. My favorite part was learning about how The San Diego Zoo was started.The views were amazing and the staff was friendly.The tour is kid friendly and safe. There are a lot of stairs, so be mindful about how many shorter legs are in your group.Overall I had a blast and I highly recommend that you take this tour if you havent already done so.And try to catch Ray’s tour if you can!

Definitely go. Be prepared that some of the exhibits are more interesting to see than others though. The bests ones were exciting ones are the difference in race, postsecrets, beerology, and cannibalism (this one is a separate cost). The ones that I would not spend that much time on are native California, monsters, and Mayan. The monster one did not feel like it was for an adult. The Mayan and California one had posts stating that they needed to redo it since it was currently offensive to certain cultures mentioned

Some of the things were interesting, but I was a little disappointed. I was there over 20 years ago and this museum had way more than it does now. There were definitely some things missing.

Ive been dying to go to this Museum of Us for months. I saw this place opened up in January I believe, but thats when I saw it for the first time through Instagram. I thought to myself, Aw man I have to go here to experience it at least once. I ended up checking the dates for this and it basically said you could only by tickets until the beginning of March. I was planning to come to the San Diego area at the end of March, so I was sort of bummed it wasnt going to be there when we came down. I constantly checked almost everyday to see if the museum would extend the date and what to do you know. Theyre staying for awhile.

The tour of the California Tower just opened after a year or so of renovations, highly recommend it (it is an additional $20 for the tour). Its eight stories but there are a lot of breaks where they give history of Balboa Park. The museums Ancient Egypt exhibit is really interesting

Very nice museum, some exibits are closed for covid :( still a great place, a little pricey

If youre in Balboa park, this museum is probably worth checking out for a bit. The exhibits themselves are a bit of a hit or miss at times. Despite anthropology being a wildly interesting subject, I would myself at times questioning why certain exhibits were there, and definitely left with the impression that this wasnt entirely worth my time. The Maya section is fascinating, and the recent Cannibalism exhibit is interesting, but at times frustratingly vague and thin on details. Kids might enjoy this, while hardcore history buffs might not.

It was a great experience even though I just went for about a hour. There is information about how the kumeyaay lived and living with pets and pests. Youll see how animals evolved and adapted to living with humans and how rats, roaches, and pigeons are survivors. The last excibit I visited was the post secret where you read postcards of peoples secrets and you realize that we are alike and have secrets and staying around people that wont judge you for your secrets and fantasies will keep you at peace with yourself. Even though I didnt see all of the museum has to offer it was a great experience. Hope everyone that goes has a great experience like I did.

Had a good time with the kids would have given 5 stars if the Eygptian exhibit wasnt closed

Very nice museum, and very easy to navigate.The staff were very friendly and helpful.There was construction going on at the time of our visit, but that did not make much of a difference to our experience.I loved a few of the exhibits, and the rest were interesting.Some of them are geared towards children.My favorite museum of the day.

The building was beautiful. The museum itself had a cool layout but wasnt actually very interesting or informative, which is fine but isnt what I expected.Seemed pretty biased in a lot of the information it shared, and didnt share pure objective history like regular museums. It was cool but I wouldnt spend money on it again.

I absolutely loved this museum. There were approximately 7 exhibits. My favorite exhibits were the Monsters, What is Race, and Postsecrets. Its only $13 to enter all the exhibits. Its definitely worth it.

Very interesting exhibits. Takes maybe two or two and a half hours to get through it

It’s a nice place to go for a walk, take some pictures and visit the museums with the family. It’s better if your a local and get a membership to get advantage in seeing all the museums. You can take pictures without using the flash

Very interesting exhibits!Mayan displays are excellent and there is a lot to learn!Should make time to go when one tours SD!

It was fun. Half the exhibits were closed and the tower was closed so maybe a reduced price on admission would have been nice. Its a neat building though.

Cozy museum, great parking, nice trails, overall great place to simply talk and breathe in some good air. The coffee shops makes this place a plus also. They had a few good pieces here as well as a lot of literature to take in. This is good casual place to visit maybe after a meal or any ceremony.

I absolutely love the current exhibit Post Secrets! It is a fascinating look at when people are anonymous, secrets can be shared more easily. Show runs through 2020.

Loved this museum. It was not crowded, I felt like I could take my time at each exhibit and really read and understand the different sets. I would suggest it even to people who think they dont like museums. There is also a section for kids so the little ones will not be bored. I quite enjoyed the monster exhibit.

Cannibal exhibit was really educational. Informative, and well done. I enjoyed how it helped people put it in first hand ethical perspective. I highly reccomend. Also, the beer exhibit is really educational about something that so many people care about!

Great exhibits and amazing view of San Diego from the California Tower.

The exhibits here were fantastic! I loved the care taken with them, especially the one about local indigenous people.

One of the most interesting museums I have visited in a while, I personally enjoyed (more than the rest) the post secret area. To see all of these people sharing these deep secrets anonymously is so incredible, truly unforgettable experience. The prices are pretty low at around 12-25 dollars depending on what you are to visit, and the installations are always clean and ready for use, just make sure you visit on a calm day when it isnt so busy!

One of the collection of 16 museums in Balboa Park, the Museum of Man is housed in this amazing building (see picture of from entry). Great displays throughout the museum and it’s a wonderful place for families to learn about our ancestors. DPEV enough time to read the information at the displays to get the full educational value of the experience.

Found parking off Sixth Street. Beautiful day to be out. Took my 16 y.o. daughter & 13 y.o. son. We really enjoyed each display, but particularly the cannibalism & secrets on a post card is where we spent the majority of our time. Enjoyed an outdoor lunch at the Panama 66 next door & went back to see the rest of the Museum exhibits. Arrived at 11 am, were done by 3:30 pm.

It wasnt bad, the cannibal exhibit was the best part. Along with the race exhibit. Very interesting information.

I think this is probably the best museum in Blaboa Park. Entertaining display, well laid out, informative with just the right touch of interaction. Well done!!

I went to the cannibal exhibit which was incredible. I had to go for a project for Anthropology; however it was far more than just an assignment. The exhibits are so interesting and the museum is so well organized. I left with a far better understanding of the topic and more than enough information to write my 12 page paper. I definitely plan to go back in the future and bring my family with me. Whether your alone or with people this is a great spot to visit! The area is beautiful and there are lots of places to eat nearby as well as many other attractions. Definitely plan to visit for the day if you have the time.

Another worthwhile museum in Balboa Park; Museum of Fan had fun exhibits for both kids and adults.Notable sections include (an amusing) monster folklore area, the PostSecret cards, Mayan culture, and history of beer. We didnt go on the Bell Tower tour, but we were able to admire the exterior from below

Several interesting and highly education exhibits. We spent 3-4 hours there. Also enjoyed the California tower which has a beautiful view of the park and city. The tour guide gives a short historical talk at the top of each flight so there is time to rest but even without the breaks, the climb is not hard.

Amazing architecture and museum in the heart of Balboa Park. I loved how the museum is acknowledging its previous short comings with new interpretation. The race and cannibal exhibits are a must see!!

From monsters and beer history to tours in the Tower of California, our relationship with animals and the truth about cannibalism - there is something for everyone at the San Diego Man Museum.During your visit, you will explore many unique interactive exhibits that cover a wide range of human history and culture. In addition, you can make your visit even more memorable as part of the tour in the California Tower and visit the limited time exhibition, Cannibals: Myth & Reality.

One of the most interesting museums Ive ever been. Simple topics, but makes you see in the bigger picture. I Highly recommend to purchase the Balboa Park Explorer Pass.

If youre interested in the history of humankind, this place is great. Despite being a bit worried about what to expect, I enjoyed the exhibit about race. Lots of other gems too. Definitely worth the $13 if youre already at Balboa Park!

Went to check out the Cannibals exhibit & BEERology... Both really educational, stimulating & cool! I havent seen an exhibition here that I didnt like & always look forward to learning new things. Im also going back again this Friday to see them again with different people. A great way to beat the heat, spark conversations & feed your brain!

I read a review calling this place boring, so we almost didnt go. This is the BEST museum I have ever been to. Everything is informative and so much is interactive. The cannibal exhibit was SO fun. Im so glad we went!!! I particularly loved the piece where you get prescribed cannibalistic medicine.

So fun even with covid.

It’s a cool place. I found some of the exhibits politically driven, but other than that I recommend paying the 10 bucks to climb the tower.

Well worth the $13 admission. Not a big museum but fascinating, creative, and interactive exhibits that speak to the heart and mind. My favorite exhibits: History of Beer, Living with Animals, Cannibals, Monsters, Post Secrets. A nice detour from the usual art and history museums. Plan to spend 1 - 2 hours here.

The best part about this museum is the building and the tower- I do love how much information they are able to pack in such a relatively small place; what is neat is that they make the information really easy to understand for all age groups and backgrounds. I really enjoyed learning about a variety of topics. They have several interactive displays too. I didn’t like how expensive it was for the amount of info and exhibits it has. I understand museums struggle with funding so I was ok paying for the entrance but it is a bit steep. I recommend researching to see if they have free days or discounted pricing.

Beautiful replica of a Spanish style cathedral, this was built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. One of only 3 of the original structures. Buy the ticket that includes the tour of the tower, an additional $13 for a 40 minutes tour yup to the 8th floor.

Came to view the Cannibal exhibit, but enjoyed the Secrets and Monster exhibits as well. Loved it so much that I ended up buying a season pass for entry to all the museums. The Museum is currently undergoing earthquake retro-fitting, but remains open. Hint: Sundays are incredibly jammed and parking is very difficult.

Many great things to see always different.

First of all, for families in the Chula Vista area, there are family library passes available for check out that you can place on hold (24 hour notice for pick up, one week to use them 2 adults, 4 children, extra exhibits not included). This is a great way for families to visit this wonderful museum. We have had passes in past years, but this time we used the library pass and went to see one new exhibit that was recently added: Living with Animals. We also spent some time in one of my childrens favorite exhibits, the one on Monsters.We learned a lot at the animal exhibit. Lots of interest facts arranged in different ways, using different media. The exhibit covered pets, pests, and animals as food sources. Warning: some of the short films in the food section are graphic and might be too much for young children. They are not in obvious locations, so they can be easily avoided if the parent is conscientious.There was also a demonstration/class on the outdoor balcony patio about parrots. Our kids had a lot of their questions answered, and we found the presentation very interesting.We were amused by the dream catcher in the Monster exhibit. (pictures included)There are many other areas we didnt visit today, the Egypt exhibit (with mummies, sarcophagus, childrens play area), a section about technology and the future, a section about race, a section about beer, the famous and iconic California Tower tour, a special (extra cost) exhibit about cannibalism, and more.The museum staff, docents, and security guards were helpful and pleasant.Overall, this museum is a great pick for families because of the many interactive exhibits children may learn from.

This museum was so fun! They had a monster exhibit, one on secrets (Post Secret), on the animals we live with, and Cannibals was the special exhibit, which was great!

I stopped in here while walking in Balboa park. There were several interesting exhibits...well worth the $13 ticket.

Not worth the wait in line or the extra money.

Always a great experience at Balboa Park San Diego Museum of Man. We went to the Living with Animals exhibit. Perfect place for the family. I took my 2 year old and she was entertained the entire time. I took these photos on my visit. Hope you enjoy! I highly recommend you visit!

Interesting Museum full of Archeology and anthropology - history of mankind.currently has a Beer exhibit.Also, over the bridge to another section, there is a cannibal exhibit.

I love this museum!! This museum had a lot of interactive sections especially the PostSecret art exhibition which I recommend that you go to see and complete the project there while you have the chance. There were a lot of others, but you have to and see for your self!

Great attraction but very short and small. Wouldve liked it more if it had longer exhibits. I viewed most of the attractions, but the cannibal one was my favorite. Also, what happened to the torture exhibit they had? That one was great and very detailed.

Excellent displays of both contemporary and historical exhibits. Be sure to spend time in the Race area. And dont miss the Secrets exhibition. And there is one on Beer.

Interesting layout. A lot of the exhibits are great at catching ones eye. For a building that looks strikingly similar to a church, the inside has been put to a much better use. I learned new things at this museum!

Interesting, took about an hour. Overall, focuses heavily on the darker side of man. Would be nice to see more contrasts between the light/dark histories of man. The exhibit on race felt dated and appeared to still be using styles and data from the 90s.Side note about the building itself. The decorum of the outside betrays the bland interior.

If you are interested in human evolution, then this is the perfect place for you. I spent 2 hours here. Person who was telling about the history of census was very good and enthusiastic. This museum gives information about race and how area of living decides the human race, how every one is connected to each other.

Had the best time. Just $13.00. Unfortunately the Egyptian exhibit was closed. That was lame. Luckily a man by the name of Sid Banach was SO awesome. He gave a brief lecture on 1000 year old coins.

My family loves it here. It’s very peaceful in the mornings. If you’re looking for a nice place to walk through to relax this is it.

Very helpful and friendly staff. Great exhibitions and knowledgeable experience.

This was such a waste of time. As tourists on a rainy day in San Diego thought Okay we will go to a museum. We have been to many around the world. Canada, USA, Europe etc.... This is the first time I can say, “ A waste of time” “ A waste of money” would have preferred the museum of modern art if we had known. Not going to shell out another $30 when we had already paid $13 each for this one. Sorry, but seriously an exhIbit about beer? A bit of a stretch. Save your money for another museum. I only do reviews when warranted whether good or bad. Note that most of the 5 star reviews come from local guides.

Saw the Egyptian exhibit and took the tower tour. (Private and new) The museum is nice but small. As an Egyptian fan, the exhibit was small and they had later versus early artifacts which was nice to see. There was also a Mayan and Inca section as seen in my photos.

Went for free resident Tuesday. My 9 yr old liked it. Took us about an hr and 15 min to go thru it. Very interesting

We enjoyed ourselves, but nothing too spectacular.

I imagined it diferently, if you dont wanna pay for disappointment wait until balboa holiday nights to visit...

Great exhibits; what you expect from a museum. The beer exhibit was interesting and well done.

An small mesuem about human culture and behaviors. Its apparently under construction in Dec 2019, but a small portion of the permanent exhibit (including Post Secret) and a special exhibit on Cannibalism is open to the public

This is a great museum in a great location. If your in Balboa Park you should stop by.

Very nice museum. Clean well and well laid out. Postcard exhibit very unusual and in itself worth the visit. Cannibalism exhibit also interesting.

Fun exhibits, had a great time!

Very good museum. We toured the main museum, as well as the special exhibit on cannibalism. All of the exhibits were interesting, well thought out, and included fun interactive elements. We didnt do the tower tour, but if were ever back in San Diego, thats definetly on our to-do list. Worth the price, would be great for kids, too!

So great! I would only recommend that you allow more time than what is suggested! Went in thinking I was going to be out in 2 hours, took almost 5! There is a lot to experience and it was a great value!

Quick Facts:Size: Medium (2 Floors)Price: $13Est. Time in Museum: 1.5 - 2 hours.Recommended for: Adults, TeenagersBest Feature(s): California Tower, Exhibit Designs.The most thought-provoking museum in Balboa Park, most of the exhibits at Museum of Man focuses on historical and current social issues that affect people today. Though they do have permanent cultural exhibits that such as the Mayan and Egyptian exhibits. But this isnt a museum where all you do is look at pretty paintings or cool arts and crafts from ancient cultures. You learn alot from these exhibits and there is alot of information in video, text and other media that is conveyed here.The strength of this museum is definitely the creativity in which they employ mixed multi-media elements and turning the exhibits into immersive environments that makes them fun and interesting to walk through. For example, the exhibit entitled Living with Animals (Aug 2019), they built a fake living room because it went hand-in-hand with the theme of the domestication of animals. They also built an actual diner setting because the exhibit was discussing how food would go from the slaughterhouse to our plates. In the exhibit entitled Monsters (Aug 2019), they built a childrens bedroom because of the common trope of monsters hiding under the bed. No two exhibits are designed the same, and no two displays in the same exhibit are designed the same. They really give alot of thought into designing these exhibits so that its just not text and pictures youre looking at. They throw the entire kitchen sink at you!Going up the California Tower is a MUST! You get unparalleled views of Balboa Park and views stretching all the way to Downtown and the bay. A really good way to end your visit.Although they usually have at least one exhibit aimed at kids, there isnt enough here for little children to enjoy for the whole visit for me to recommend this place for the entire family (for a better family oriented museum Id recommend the Natural History Museum). However, Museum of Man is definitely in my Top 3 museums at Balboa Park. A great visit for sparking a discussion and conveying important ideas through fun and creative exhibits.

It’s pity that this museum is under construction so I can’t go inside to see it. The building is very obvious from everywhere due to the height of its tower. I thought it’s a church in the beginning. It’s right at entrance of Balboa Park and there is an arc cross the road.

Enjoyed the exhibits, though it will be much better once the remodeling is finished. We wish we would have started with the secrets exhibit so we had enough time to really enjoy it.

Wasnt expecting to enjoy this visit as much as I did! Tons of cool displays and interactive exhibits!

Wonderful museum that challenges your perceptions of what it means to be a human being. Really enjoyed being able to see controversial materials in the cannibal and living with animal exhibits this time around.

Awesome museum..

Spent a long time here. Every exhibit was great. Especially enjoyed the Post Card Secret exhibit. I have visited this museum many time through the years and never been disappointed.

Very fun. Great interactions. Fun for the family.

Loved it.

Interesting exhibits, and if there you must take the tower tour.

Great venue to get hitched!

Very well designed exhibits. Good special exhibits - good use of videos. Highly recommended.

Not only are the exhibits thoughtful and informative, the building itself is worth the visit. Seeing the famous dome from inside is quite interesting

I love this museum. My kids can get enough of the monsters exhibit. I like the post secrets most

Great experience Im here with my school mate Eng 101 great place to have your mind wonder.. coll place.

Love the supplemental specialty museum displays... cannibalism and the history of beer were particularly interesting!

The museum is surprisingly small. They have an exhibit on cannibals, which essentially is just there to shame white people and defend indigenous people-eaters at every turn. The exhibit concludes with a display that also accuses *you* of being a cannibal, regardless of your heritage.The rest of the museum is just ok to mediocre.There are other museums in Balboa that are more worthy of your money.

Cannibal exhibit was fascinating, the other exhibits were just alright. This would probably take around 2 hours to see everything. Theres also a tour of the museum with the tower!

Amazing exhibits! Good for kids and adults. The Secrets exhibit was particularly interesting. Emotional, funny, ironic, and a honest look into the raw emotions, SECRETS, of everyone around us. Well done!All exhibits were great about blending visual displays and illuminating descriptions for a multitude of topics: race, origins, beer, the role of animals in society, ancient Egyptian culture, monsters, more... really great. Definitely a must-see in Balboa Park.

A little expensive for such a small musem. The frustrating part was that almost everything in the museum was a replica! I would definitely recommend the tower tour as that is the best feature. If you have children, they did have a section for kids that was very fun and will be entertaining for them.

Always fun to visit this museum in the summer. There were interesting exhibits this summer with the Myth of Cannibalism and the Monsters we Fear.

Located in one of the most stunning buildings in Balboa Park, this anthropological museum hosts diverse exhibits from ancient Egyptian mummies to artifacts from the original peoples of San Diego, the Kumeyaay American Indians. More recently, the museum includes exhibits on human ecology and evolution and contains many remains of early humanoids. The California Tower, one of the tallest points in Balboa Park and part of the museum, has a must-see view of the city from the top.

I couldnt fully explore the whole museum but the Race exhibit is 10/10 if youre in college taking a class in Ethnic Studies (doesnt matter the emphasis here by the way) and need to write a report about it, since there are some secret facts here and there which I dont think I should post them here and neither I knew about them before, but these may give you a good work if you want to get outside the box.Will probably come again if the Art History class for summer semester requires to check out a museum.

Amazing gem... Even during construction. The variety of exhibitions was inspiring. Most of them were eye opening, addressing themes that I frankly havent thought much before. Like cannibalism. Surprisingly common practice in societies that youd never think of. The Secret postcard project. Examining racism with rich data. Go off you have time. Located in the beautiful Balboa Park.