Museum of Making Music

Interested in introducing your family to the music and musical instruments of the 20th century? Then the Museum of Making Music is a must-see for you!

Located in beautiful Carlsbad, California, right next to Legoland, the Museum of Making Music is a hidden gem. Tucked away in an office complex, it's easy to miss, but don't make that mistake!

Organized into five galleries, MOMM begins with American music at the turn of the 20th century. Each subsequent gallery covers two decades of American music and the history that inspired it. Period instruments, on loan from manufacturers and collectors, line the walls. Interactive displays allow visitors to hear what the instruments sound like, as well as music from the era. Marketing, distribution, and innovations of each era are covered, giving a complete sense of the development of the American music scene.

But, best of all, each gallery has at least one hands-on instrument for visitors to play. What a terrific way to engage children in the sounds and experience of music. In Gallery Five, the museum has at least a dozen hands-on instruments, as well as an interactive wall-sized computer screen for visitors to learn about World Music.

Entrance to MOMM is very reasonable, and they accommodate school, homeschool, and scout groups.

For more field trip ideas,
check out GHF's Virtual Field Trips page.

In addition to the galleries, MOMM hosts regular music events, some of which are free. Check online for details.

If a visit to the museum isn't in your future, still take the time to check out the MOMM website. It is filled with information geared toward education.

MOMM is one of those museums that we didn't know we needed until it was built. Now, it is a reason, in-and-of-itself, to visit Carlsbad.