Ad feature by VisitCalifornia.com
PUBLISHED: 07:31, 9 February 2024
California’s cultural experiences are as diverse as its landscapes. From city to beach, mountain to desert, every space invites you to connect to the people and cultures that make up the Golden State.
You can learn from the more than 100 Native American tribes that call California home. Cities are sprinkled with incredible cultural districts, where just a few streets can reveal galleries, theatres, street fairs and art walks.
And then there are the ambitious projects, fabulous festivals like PST ART and groundbreaking Destination Crenshaw, the largest expression of Black American culture in the country.
Wherever you travel in California, you’ll find an opportunity to explore deeper.
This is a land that has been shaped by native cultures across the centuries, with their influence woven deep into the fabric of the Golden State.
Meet with Native American communities at Pow Wows and other indigenous events for in-depth insights into their cultures
The diversity of Native American cultures across California is truly astounding, and there are so many ways in which to explore their impact.
See stunning petroglyphs and pictographs of ancient Native American rock art sites that date back 12,000 years, visit heritage sites at the likes of Yosemite and Lava Beds, and meet with Native American communities at Pow Wows and other indigenous events for in-depth insights into their cultures.
This year also sees the opening of two exciting new projects: the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum in downtown Palm Springs, dedicated to the history and culture of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; and the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center, northwest of Santa Barbara, showcasing the intriguing history and vibrant culture of the Chumash people.
The Golden State’s vivacious cities play host to an array of vibrant art districts, where you can catch events such as First Saturday Night Arts Alive!, a monthly art exhibition in Eureka, Azteca dance groups performing at Barrio Logan Cultural District in San Diego and displays of traditional and contemporary artworks at Little Tokyo in LA.
California is ever-evolving, with innovative cultural programmes and projects breathing new life into cities throughout the state. Perhaps the most striking is Destination Crenshaw – a transformative infrastructure project encompassing a 1.3-mile stretch of LA’s north-to-south thoroughfare, Crenshaw Boulevard that aims to be a groundbreaking beacon of Black art and culture.
Then there’s the annual PST ART exhibition, taking place this September in various locations throughout Southern California. This year’s event will focus on the synergy of art and science, with topics ranging from climate change to the future of AI.
California brings art, science and history to life, with a range of incredible museums. Start with the state’s whitewashed marvels, the Missions, built by the Spanish as far back as 1769 to gain a foothold in the New World, spanning from San Diego to Sonoma.
Don’t forget the Museum of Modern Art and Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, home to one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in the United States, and the the Getty Center LA, an ode to Greek and Roman art.
Soak up Albert Bierstadt’s paintings of the Yosemite Valley at the elegant Haggin Museum in Stockton, discover more about America’s most famous driving route at the Route 66 Museum in Barstow and head to Lone Pine at high noon to visit the Museum of Western Film History.
California lives and breathes cultural experiences. From the incredible artworks and transformative projects of its major cities to the rich history of its ancient peoples, a world of cultural wonders awaits.
Get inspiration for your California holiday at visitcalifornia.com
