Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park
Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park is located in a sumptuous building called the House of Charm, which was built for the 1915 exposition (rebuilt in 1996). Check out its Spanish bell tower with yellow and blue tiles. It was built to resemble the Sanctuary of Guadalupe in Guadalajara, Mexico!
Inside, the museum showcases folk art, craft and design. There are clay sculptures of animals from India, strange papier mache palaces from New York, plant-fiber crickets and dragonflies made in Japan, easter eggs from Romania, ornamental balls from Japan, dance rattles from Guatemala, a wooden yogurt churner from Nepal, and chocolate beaters from Mexico,
There is a pale Chihuly chandelier.
Make sure you go outside onto the sundeck and take in the views of the main Plaza de Panama and palm trees galore! It's lovely up there on the wooden chairs, surrounded by potted plants.
The museum has a large gift shop that is fun to browse, clean restrooms, and an indoor cafeteria.
A great option for lunch is the coffee shop outside called Craft Cafe. You can buy your food at the counter and then eat outside on the public tables in the lovely archways. There are views of twisty trees, and sometimes a Flamenco guitarist strums some melodies. Kids like the chicken nuggets, while I loved my chicken bowl, plus Butterfly Flower Lemonade with the prettiest gradient of colors.
Kids love the huge tile mosaic climbey outside the museum called Nikigator.
Behind the museum is the beautiful Alcazar Garden, particularly enchanting in springtime with its blossoming trees. Check out the blue star-shaped fountain and benches with Spanish tilework.
After, check out the other wonderful places in Balboa Park- don't miss walking on the colorful tiles in the Spanish Village.
Chihuly chandelier.
Clay figures of animals from India.
Clay animals from India, by Sonabai Rajawar.
Clay Elephant, by Sonabai Rajawar..
Scary sculptures.
Insects made of plant fiber, from Japan.
One of the museum rooms.
Ornamental balls from Japan, made by mothers as playthings for their children.
Dance rattles from Guatemala, made from painted gourds.
Yogurt churner from Nepal, and chocolate beaters from Mexico.
Pig, boar, and whistle, made of wood and from various countries.
The view from the sundeck!
Potted flowers on the sundeck.
Chunky tower, as seen from the sundeck.
View from the sundeck.
The sundeck is very attractive and sunny!
Tilework at the sundeck.
Christmas ornaments in the gift shop.
Colorful figurines in the lobby.
The gift shop is full of interesting things to buy.
Spanish fountain in the Alcazar Garden, behind the museum.
You can see the museum from the Alcazar Garden.
The museum's gorgeous blue and yellow tiled tower.
Girl riding a bike figurine, in the lobby.
Craft Cafe is a handy place to get lunch.
You can eat your lunch outside Craft Cafe under the arches.
Flamenco guitarist, under the arches outside Craft Cafe.
Tile mosaic climbey outside the museum. It's fun for kids!
The tile mosaic climbey called Nikigator, outside the museum.
Boys climb the tile mosaic climbey outside the museum.
The twisty trees you see from the public tables in the archways outside the museum.
Butterfly Flower Lemonade from Craft Cafe. A delight!
Pinatas on display outside the museum.
Storytime outside the Mingei International Museum.
Cookies at Craft Cafe.
Nikigator, a mosaic tile climbey that kids adore.
Mingei International Museum is in the Plaza de Panama, a beautiful square where people hang out.
The museum is on the left side of the photo, part of the Plaza de Panama square where everyone relaxes in the sun.
Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park is located at Plaza de Panama, 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101.
The museum is closed on Mondays. Hours are Tues-Sun 10-5 with extra hours until 8pm on Thurs and Fri.
Last Updated: Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:54:35 GMT
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