Museums & Galleries in and near San Jose, CA

Whether you’re a tourist or a local looking for a kid-friendly day of fun or a contemplative afternoon on your own, San Jose museums have a lot to offer—including some fascinating backstories. The San Jose Museum of Art, for example, is housed in a beautiful former library that was threatened with demolition. Practically across the street, the San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation occupies a similarly picturesque domed building that devotes 132,000 square feet to Silicon Valley’s rich history and activities that inspire the innovator in everyone. And from there it’s less than a 15-minute walk to the San Jose Discovery Museum, the children’s museum for learning and creation.