Welcome

Discover awe in the company of the creative and curious. Experience bilingual exhibitions, unique events, educational resources, and community collaborations.

Exhibitions

On View

Silica Si O2 Northern California Ceramics 090826 008

Silica / SiO2: Northern California Ceramics

This exhibition honors the deep legacy of ceramic art in Santa Cruz County and the broader Northern California, while celebrating the new community of ceramists producing amazing work.

Santa Cruz Guitar Company 50 Years 062026 022

Santa Cruz Guitar Company: The First 50 Years

Upcoming Events

Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 1pm - 5pm

Santa Cruz Community Peace Day Celebration

Join the MAH and the Wisdom Center of Santa Cruz for a family-friendly peace celebration in recognition of U.N. International Peace Day! Experience live performances, lectures, soothing experiential workshops, and more!

Queerstory Self-Guided Walking Tour

Queerstory

In celebration of Pride Month, the MAH is excited to announce that our Queerstory Self-Guided Walking Tour is now available at our front desk!

To participate, visitors can pick up a tour brochure in the MAH Atrium and begin the walking tour of pivotal downtown Santa Cruz locations in the history of the local LGBTQIA+ community. Featured stops include the former site of Herland, a lesbian bookstore operating from the early '90s to the early 2000s; Commerce Lane, home to the first Santa Cruz Lesbian and Gay Community Center; and the Blue Lagoon, a spot still operating in its original location that was once known to be a gay bar.

To accompany the launch of the tour, Kian Hladky has shared a look into his archival research and process behind this project.

Thank you to the Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz Pride, the County Office of Education, and other community partners that honor, support, and promote LGBTQ+ perspectives. With support from the Fund for the City of New York on behalf of its fiscally sponsored project, the NYC LGBTQ Historic Sites Project.

Special Projects

Queerstory

Explore the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community in Santa Cruz County in the Queerstory digital archive and Queer Santa Cruz exhibition.

Stay Connected

“The MAH is a hotbed of community building and creativity. Working with the MAH means bringing exciting ideas and projects not only to life, but also to the broader Santa Cruz County community.”

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Steve McKay, Professor of Sociology and Director, UCSC Center for Labor and Community

Become a Member

Members get free admission, special perks, exclusive programming, and so much more.

Attend MAH Events

Indoors, outdoors, offsite, or online, connect with your community at upcoming events hosted by the MAH.

30 MAHvelous Years

Support the MAH

Consider making a gift or becoming a member to ensure a sustainable and resilient MAH. Your contribution directly supports these educational resources and connecting our community through these uncertain times.