The Costa Mesa Historical Society Museum displays artifacts from 5,000 years of Costa Mesa history. The city also features public art installations, a sculpture garden, museum exhibitions, and cultural institutions. This range helps you choose a focus when planning your trip: Are you especially interested in historical periods, public art, or a particular program?
History in Exhibitions and Buildings
The permanent “Costa Mesa Timeline” exhibition puts local history in context through artifacts from the early Indigenous period as well as the mission and rancho eras. The periods represented range from 2500 BC to the 1870s. The history of the Diego Sepulveda Adobe is also part of the exhibition. This brings a broad historical span together with specific milestones.
The Diego Sepulveda Adobe is a restoration of the original adobe building constructed at this site in 1820. The exhibition and the adobe present history in different ways: the “Costa Mesa Timeline” places artifacts in chronological context, while the adobe centers on a building with a specific year of origin.
The Costa Mesa Historical Society Museum and Library are open to the public on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other visiting times are available by appointment; it’s best to arrange these in advance, as availability may change.
Art, Museums, and a Model Train Experience
California Scenario, also known as Noguchi Garden, is a 1.6-acre sculpture garden by Isamu Noguchi. The Costa Mesa Art Walk is a self-guided tour of public art installations in parks, plazas, and other locations around the city. The installations may change. The two names therefore refer to different forms of art: a named sculpture garden and a tour of public works at various locations.
The Orange County Museum of Art presents innovative exhibitions and programs with free admission; its exhibition schedule changes. Heroes Hall honors veterans from Orange County and others who have served the nation year-round. Its offerings include changing and permanent exhibitions as well as special educational programs. Heroes Hall is located in a preserved two-story barracks building from the former SAAAB.
A miniature train ride is another possible outing: the Orange County Model Engineers operate the 7.5-inch narrow-gauge Mackerel Flats and Goathill Junction Railroad in Fairview Park in Costa Mesa. The ride covers a nearly one-mile route. This offers a way to complement a museum- or art-focused visit with a very different kind of experience, without needing to seek out another exhibition topic.
Performances, Events, and Tastings
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is home to the American Ballet Theatre’s Gillespie School of Dance, Pacific Symphony, and Philharmonic Society. Visitors can take a free behind-the-scenes tour during the day, including a visit to the stage. As tour arrangements may change, it’s a good idea to confirm availability for your planned visit date in advance.
The summer OC Fair takes place in Costa Mesa. The 2025 fair, held from July 18 to August 17, welcomed 1,162,872 visitors. Dates and programming change each year, so check the dates for the edition that matches your travel period. The OC Fair & Event Center hosts more than 150 events per year, though the annual number may vary.
For a different kind of outing, the Costa Mesa Beer Trail offers craft beers brewed in the city for tasting. Participating locations may change. Highways 55, 405, and 73 run through or near Costa Mesa, helping you navigate your drive to the city.
Discover more destinations: Brea, Seal Beach, Irvine, Las Flores, San Juan Capistrano, Orange, Silverado, Mission Viejo.
Back to the main travel overview: Orange.
