From Orange Tustin Inn in Orange, the Hilbert Museum of California Art offers a look at art shaped by California, from painting and illustration to animation and Hollywood studio work. It’s a museum outing in Orange with free admission and regular Wednesday-to-Sunday hours; online reservations are recommended.
- Location: 167 N. Atchison Street, Orange, California
- Regular hours: Open Wednesday to Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday
- Admission: free; online reservations are recommended
What to expect at the museum
The Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University focuses on California art from the late 19th century to the present. Its subjects include California Scene art, illustration, Hollywood studio art and animation.
The Hilbert Collection contains more than 5,000 works, spanning oils, watercolors, drawings, illustration, animation art and movie production art. That range gives the museum a focus beyond traditional painting, with work connected to both fine art and the film industry.
How do you get to the Hilbert Museum?
The museum is at 167 N. Atchison Street in Orange, and you can reach its entrance by car, train or bus. From Orange Tustin Inn in Orange, the drive takes about 5 minutes; walking takes about 36 minutes. Pair the visit with time in Old Towne Orange.
The Orange train station is served by Metrolink’s Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines. OCTA and Chapman University buses stop at a roundabout near Streamliner Diner, with flat sidewalks from the stop to the museum. You can also be dropped off or picked up at the main entrance.
Admission, tickets and opening hours
Admission is free, and the museum recommends making an online reservation. Visitors without reservations may be admitted if space permits. A reservation is valid from your selected arrival time until 5:00 p.m. and allows same-day re-entry, space permitting.
Make reservations through the museum’s online booking page, not by phone or through its contact form. Groups of 10 to 20 must reserve in advance by calling 714-516-5880; the museum cannot accommodate groups larger than 20. Chapman University students, faculty and staff can enter without a reservation by showing a valid Chapman ID at the door or front desk.
Hours, reservation availability and holiday closures can affect your plans, so check the official site before you go.
Opening hours
- Wednesday to Sunday: 10 AM–5 PM
- Monday and Tuesday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Exhibitions and visit planning
Plan your time around the museum’s collection of California art, which includes painting, illustration and animation-related work. The collection’s more than 5,000 works range from oils and watercolors to movie production art.
The museum is on one level and is ADA-compliant. Its main entrance is level with the parking lot and sidewalk, and all restrooms are accessible. ADA-defined service animals are welcome; pets and emotional support animals are not permitted.
Food and beverages aren’t permitted in gallery spaces. Staff may ask you to leave oversized bags, backpacks, umbrellas or other bulky items at the Visitor Services Desk, where complimentary storage is available when space permits.
Parking and nearby places
The museum recommends the free Old Towne West parking structure at 130 N. Lemon Street. Free two-hour street parking is often available on the museum side of N. Cypress Street, behind the museum. The small onsite lot has spaces marked “RESERVED HILBERT MUSEUM”; disability placard parking is available in all three parking areas.
Old Towne Orange makes a natural addition to a museum visit. The museum’s address places it in Orange, and its free recommended parking structure is on N. Lemon Street; the Orange and Old Towne Orange guide puts the neighborhood in context.
FAQs
Is admission to the Hilbert Museum free?
Yes. Admission is free, and online reservations are recommended. Walk-ins may be admitted as space permits.
What days is the Hilbert Museum open?
Open Wednesday to Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday.
Can you take the train to the museum?
Yes. Orange station is served by Metrolink’s Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines; the Orange Station arrival guide explains what to expect when arriving by rail.
Is the museum accessible?
The museum is ADA-compliant and on one level, with accessible restrooms and an entrance level with the sidewalk and parking lot.