Membership has its benefits!
Get ready for BIG FUN during The Big Exchange coming May 1 – 18, 2023. It’s EASY! Just use your museum membership card to visit 50+ participating museums for FREE.
The Big Exchange gives members of participating organizations reciprocal admission at more than 50 museums, historic sites, gardens, and more throughout San Diego County. Show your current membership card and get free entry to the organizations listed below.
Simply head to your favorite participating museum, tell your guest services representative that you are there for “The Big Exchange,” then show your member card from any participating museum for complimentary reciprocal admission. Maximum of four people per membership.
Each membership is reciprocal per guest or membership status. For example, a single membership would enjoy a similar access for one attendee at a participating museum. A family membership might enjoy entrance for up to four guests at another participating museum. *Balboa Park Explorer passholders are not included in this program.
Become a member of your favorite local museum or renew your current membership now.
The Big Exchange 2023 will run May 1 -18.
Youth Ride Free with PRONTO
Plus the City and County just made it easier and more affordable for families to access more San Diego FUN. Starting May 1, all riders 18 & under will be able to ride MTS and North County Transit District (NCTD) services for FREE with a Youth PRONTO app account, or a Youth PRONTO card. The Youth Opportunity Pass is a pilot program, sponsored by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and County of San Diego, through June 30, 2023. Find out more here.
JOIN TODAY!
Become a Member of Your Favorite Museum
(Click on a link below to explore all the benefits that come with membership)
Barona Cultural Center & Museum
Birch Aquarium (Capacity is limited, Big Exchange tickets are available online on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the Birch website to make your reservation).
Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum
Coronado Historical Association
Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
Heritage of the Americas Museum
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Central
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) North
Junipero Serra Museum (The Junípero Serra Museum is part of the San Diego History Center)
Marston House Museum and Gardens (SOHO)
Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum – Always Free
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla
New Americans Museum (Thursday – Friday
10 am–4 pm by appointment only)
Pacific Southwest Railway Museum – (Admission to museum only, does not include the train ride).
San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts (Museum without Walls – watch the website/social media for upcoming exhibits and online programing).
San Diego Archaeological Center
San Diego Automotive Museum (Children must be accompanied by an adult).
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum (Excludes special events. Cannot be combined with other offers).
San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
San Diego Model Railroad Museum (Special Member Showcase, May 6 from 9 am to noon – anyone who becomes a new member or renews their memberships receives a free gift).
San Diego Museum of Art (Not available May 1 & 2. Visitors will have the option to add special exhibition Monet to Matisse for a $5 per person surcharge ages 7 & up).
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
The New Children’s Museum (Members of other museums who purchase a new membership receive an extra three months free. Cannot be combined with other offers except for discount promotion on membership).
Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center – Always Free Admission
Timken Museum of Art (Virtual Programming plus celebrate The Big Exchange this month with the Timken Museum of Art 10% off using code: BIGEXCHANGE2022 at checkout to receive 10% off your online store purchase).
USS Midway Museum (Not available May 4)
Whaley House Museum (Incudes daytime tours only, not evening tours).
