California Historical Society Museum

Get the lowdown on California history at this exhibition space devoted entirely to the state’s history. Portions of the mu­seum’s vast collection – think half-a-million-plus photographs, paintings by famous Californians and myriad ephemera and artifacts – are showcased in exhibits that rotate every 18 months. You might see Jack London’s flask or then-and-now shots of famous California sights in century-old paintings hung beside contemporary photographs of the same place. Bibliophiles: don’t miss the old-fashioned research library (noon-5pm Wed-Fri), which puts rare books, photos and manuscripts right in your hand. The library has the definitive collection on the American Civil Liberties Union and the People’s Temple, among other California-centric subjects. Call ahead if you want to research a specific topic so staff can pull the appropriate materials from the vault.