Bowers Museum & Bowers Kidseum

We Are One Activity Tours (Grades K-3): Our thematic areas are filled with multicultural treasures that can be touched and played, including musical instruments, costumes, toys, games, and masks. The Activity Tours are ideal for younger school-aged children but can span up to 3rd or 4th grade. Teachers and chaperones are encouraged and expected to participate in group activities and help the children gently explore everything in our environment. For an even more in-depth exploration consider extending your stay with one of our art classes!

The First Californians (Grades 3-4): Our extensive collection of Native Californian art and artifacts demonstrates the culture and history of the California Indians. Explore the ways that Indians of the region used materials found in their natural environment to survive, to make a living, to fashion art, and to shape their various cultural identities. (Art Classes: Clay Pinch Pots, Kachina Headdresses and Masks, Sand Painting.)

Missions and Ranchos (Grades 3-4): The Missions and Ranchos Gallery illustrates the rich, diverse, and colorful history of the people who settled the West Coast and Orange County. It begins with the colonizing of California during the Spanish Mission period (1768-1822) and carries through to the Mexican Rancho period (1832-1848). (Art Classes: California Indian Sand Painting, Cattle Brands, Orange Crate Labels)

California, the Golden Years (Grades 3-4): Study California history and geography through the museum’s spectacular collection of Plein Air and Impressionist paintings. Over fifty landscapes, portraits and still lifes created by California artists between 1875 and 1955 highlight familiar views from the seashore to the San Gabriel Mountains. (Art Classes: California Impressionist Painting in Watercolor or Acrylic)

Vision of the Shaman, Song of the Priest (Grades 3-4): Pre-Columbian art from Mexico and Central America displayed in a series of galleries communicates the power and sophistication of the mysterious cultures that rose and fell in ancient America. Emphasis is placed on the ceramic and stone arts of West Mexico, Costa Rica and Panamá. A gallery devoted to the famous "Limestone Tomb of Lord Pacal" includes a life-size reproduction of the elaborately decorated and highly symbolic limestone sarcophagus excavated at the pyramid in the Mayan City of Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico. Other works of art from the ancient Mayan civilization complete the exhibit. (Art Classes: Face Pots, Jaguar Masks, Tooled Mythical Beasts)

Ancient Arts of China: A 5000 Year Legacy (Grades 5-12): Spanning centuries and dynasties, this tour provides a rich cultural context for the many dynamic archaeological and art objects of China. From ancient bronze bells and vessels to exquisite jade carvings, pottery and painted scrolls, these artifacts showcase the amazing technology of China and the ingenuity of a culture. (Art Classes: Water Color Scroll Painting; Signature Seal Prints; Chinese Clay Pots)

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