J. A. Cooley Museum - Museum in San Diego - 4233 Park Blvd, USA

What an awesome place! Lots of vintage cars here from 1895 to 1914 or so. I would guess this one of the largest collections of cars of this era in the San Diego area. Also, a collection of model trains, cameras, dolls, irons for clothes, and much more. Visiting this museum is like a journey back in time.

2023: hidden in plain sight on Park Blvd in Universiry Hts. Lots of vintage cars, maybe 30, and I mean really vintage. $10 entry. They also have collections of trains, cameras, clocks as well as other things. The lighting could have been better they tend to store extraneous stuff in the back seats if the cars. This is mom and pop level shop. Positive experience though because they have a very unique collection of vehicles.

Great collection of late 1800's and early 1900's cars. Many rare antique toys, radios and other collectibles. A must see if you are in the area. Carmen the owner was very informative. A+ visit

AMAZING! I highly recommend this museum. It might be small but it's jam packed with so many artifacts. Not only one of a kind cars, but so much more! We literally spent a couple of hours looking at all the displays and cars and I'm sure that we only noticed 10 percent of the things available to see. A return visit is definitely in order, not only to see what we might have missed but to see the awesome family that runs it! I left feeling like a part of their family. J.A. Cooley himself reached his eternal reward a year ago, but his faithful daughter Carmen, her husband and her mom, the matriarch of the family keep things running. Carmen's knowledge and enthusiasm is unmatched. She told us the story of each car and gave us hands on demonstrations of the old Edison Phonographs, compete with the vintage, crackly sound of technology 100+ years old. Everything in this museum has a story and there's more "everythings" than you can shake a stick at. Finally, a word about the train store located on the premises. Secretly it's been my dream to have a model railroad layout. Looking at all the vintage trains and accessories available for purchase made me feel like a 56 year old kid in a toy store. I couldn't resist buying a few things just to display on a shelf. I hope you go and let the stories unfold before you. Cue up the old soundtrack to the Twilight Zone, you'll be transported to a different time and a different place.

When in San Diego make sure to visit J.A. Cooley Museum. We had a blast yesterday with Carmen who has a wealth of information about the cars to a multitude of other collections not to be forgotten! This family owned treasure should be your next fun day out! Looking forward to our next visit! You’ll easily pass a few hours without knowing it! Thank you Carmen for all the 21st Bday special’s🎊

A true gem hidden in San Diego in the University heights area. It has an awesome collection of old cars, phonographs and cameras. Some cars are so rare, you won’t find them anywhere else in the world. Loved our visit!

The best car museum in San Diego, and they have way more than just cars! Cameras, toy trains, phonographs and other turn of the century technology. I love visiting here!

What a wonderful hidden gem of very rare vintage cars! Very different than auto museum in Balboa park.