Live Your Best Lives
Charles M. Schulz Museum Reviews
4.6
2 of 165 Best Attractions in Santa Rosa
Reviews
Delightful for both children and grown ups. We went with a seven year old grandchild who thoroughly enjoyed himself. We did as well.
This is fun. If you are a fan of peanuts or would like to be - you have found a home. Many changing exhibits and interactive exhibits. Don't miss the cafe or the scatting arena. Fun for all ages.
Had a very nice visit to this museum. Although my children are too young to appreciate the Peanuts, my husband and I who grew up watching Peanuts specials every Halloween and Christmas, as well as reading the comic strip, enjoyed reliving our youth for a bit. Aside from learning more about Schulz himself and his genius, the museum offers some nice photo opportunities and plenty of things to read, view (videos) and explore to make the admission price well worth it. For young kids like mine who might not have the patience to really view all the details of the exhibits, the museum has a nice area for them where they can color, draw, create their own comic strips and view snip-its of shows - i.e., a contained space where they can make noise and it’s totally acceptable because they’re not disrupting the experience for other visitors. Also, loved the architecture of this museum. Thought it was a very well designed space, both inside and out.
Wow, so the moment I walked in I was in awe. The staff was beyond helpful and very knowledgeable. Must go ice skating and eat at the cafe! Looking forward to my visit again!
Take time to review the progression of characters and Sparky's (Charles M Schulz) life. We that everything is spaced out. Plenty of room to enjoy the collection, see the replica of his office, and the actual wall he painted murals on for his children.
Charlie Brown (and Snoopy) are star attractions at this museum. Great layout, changing exhibits and interactive activities all add to its charm.
We drove from Sonoma to visit this museum and we weren't disappointed. Even if one of my teens thought snoopy was Snoop Dog! I had no idea of the history behind Charlie Brown I enjoyed in particular reading about Woodstock. I will always treasure the photo I took of the kids dressed up in the charlie brown props. My 11 year old enjoyed completing the free activity sheets as she walked around the museum.
This museum is a wonderful look into the beloved comic strip as well as its creator and his creative process. We will go back another time, since some of the displays change.
great afternoon, fun place to wander about and see the mind of Charles Schultz in print.
a great optical illusion at the entrance. a perfect picture moment. ate a reasonable price lunch at the ice skating rink
What a wonderful place. I've grown up loving Peanuts and had hoped to make the museum since I learned of it. I wasn't disappointed.
My son doesn't have the "Peanuts bug, but he enjoyed the time here also.
Give yourself several hours. There are a lot of cartoon strips to read and laugh at. It's interesting to see how the characters changed over the years.
How's your favorite character? I have to go with "Joe Cool" aka Snoopy.
I've always enjoyed Peanuts and still often read it to my husband on a Sunday morning. This museum is a great chance to see what influenced Charles Schulz and inspired him to create Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, and all the rest. The secret of Peanuts' success, it seems, is that all of the characters are Charles Schulz!
There is a lot of reading here, much like the Disney museum in San Francisco, but there's also a theater showing some Peanuts cartoons as well as interviews with Charles Schulz that show his work from his viewpoint, and there are also a few fun photo ops. Also, there are a couple of murals Charles Schulz painted for his children that have been restored and moved, wall and all, to the museum. Really fun to see!
We went shortly after CA opened up post-COVID shutdown, so the Warm Puppy Cafe was still closed due to a staff shortage.
Fun place more for older kids that can read. They do have a lab area when you can draw and color. Staff and volunteers we all very nice. it’s a cool place to see!
Great afternoon spent at the museum. Was not sure exactly what to expect, thought it was going to be simply about the comics. Instead, we learned a great deal about the man behind the comics. Very interesting and enjoyable. The museum staff was always around to offer additional comments about the exhibits.
Came here on a Friday afternoon in November. People were there, but it was not busy, so it was quiet. Parking is free in the adjacent lot. It's curated very well in Mr. Schultz's memory, and is a shrine to his beloved Peanuts characters. It's two levels, so give yourself 60-90 minutes to walk around and view everything without rush. Make sure to see the ice rink next door!
If you even only sporadically have read the Peanuts, and even more if you are a big fan of them, you'll love this place! Very well kept, fresh and full of enjoyable memorabilia, including the actual studio where the immortal Charles Schulz drew his immortal characters. On first floor there is a rotating exhibit and when we visited it was about Schulz's family and their role in shaping the Peanuts stories: fascinating! Staff prompt and eager to explain and answer questions. A large gift shop across the street has all the souvenirs you can think of. Plan on spending a couple of hours in total.All in all a very rewarding experience.
The museum experience depends alot on the current rotating exhibit. The gift shop didn't seem as extensive as it used to be the first few years the museum was open.
For Peanuts fans this is a pleasant and nostalgic place to spend an hour or so. A docent gave a short welcome and introduction, after which we wandered through our memories of our favorite comic strip. The museum is clearly an homage to Charles M. Schulz, but that's ok. We liked the way the comic strips were organized by themes relevant to the season. In August 2019 we saw the Camping strips, the Woodstock strips and some 50th Anniversary lore of that festival, and the Moon Landing strips and NASA lore. Young children who cannot read would be bored by the mounted strips, but the large interactive studio where they (and their adults) can make their own art was WONDERFUL! Next time we'll bring the kids.
Nice place to visit. Wonderful sculptures, info about Charles Schulz and comics everywhere! Informative, friendly staff. Walked across the street and had lunch looking out on the ice arena. Some lady was riding the Zamboni. Enjoyable afternoon.
Arrived at 1pm on a Friday during the holidays. Short wait to purchase admission tix. Lots of sculptures and murals of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang. Nice to see recreation of Charles Schulz office and timeline of his life.
The exhibits were not interesting to my 8 year old boy. However, my son liked the art room where he recreated Snoopy’s house in paper art. My son also liked the animated films in the auditorium.
My son also enjoyed the ice rink next to the museum (requires a separate fee).
I could have spent another hour in the museum since I had fun looking at old comic strips that I read. But I don’t know if a non-Peanuts fan, like my son, will enjoy the museum as much.
This museum isnt just for kids. So much history from childhood. It's a huge gallery that they change and update constantly. Just amazing.
I loved peanuts as a kid and it's lost none of its charm. My husband was pleasantly surprised too. Bears the test of time for a fun morning out
Excellent choice to revisit our childhood and love of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts crew. They have done an excellent job with this museum. It seemed more enjoyable for the adults. It’s not everyday you can visit a museum with an ice skating rink. I loved the story and history around the “little red haired girl”.
I've been wanting to come here for years and finally made it! We went on a Sunday and got there right at opening, as I do for most things in order to beat the crowds. It was a good decision as we had the place mostly to ourselves for a while.
I've been a Peanuts fan since I was born and practically learned to read with my dad's 50 cent Peanuts paperbacks. So you could say I already knew quite a bit about everything. What I really like then was learning so much about Mr. Schulz. Not just his life, but about his life there in Santa Rosa, the impact he had on the town and the things he did for the kids, and about his day to day life there while he was still producing the strip.
I think my favorite thing was the recreation of his studio. Just seeing the things he had in his office, the books he had on his shelves....everything. It just made you know more about him than you could read in almost any of the books about him.
I was really sure I was going to come home with a ton of things from the gift shop, but I didn't. I guess when the market is saturated with Peanuts items (both legit and not), it's hard to find something unique and different. I thought there would be more of that kind of thing there, but not really. I got a few things tho.
Loved all of the outside grounds as well...the statues and the kite-eating tree and such.
Stopped in between wine tastings. Glad we did! An informative museum where we learned about the life of Charles Schultz, but it was also very nostalgic, having grown up with Peanuts (like everyone over the age of 20 did). So many funny cartoons! It's not a large museum so you don't have to spend a huge amount of time there.
This was truly a learning adventure. I was amazed at how Charles Schulz's family paid tribute to him. There is so much memorabilia there and a walk that came from a home they used to live in that he painted for his children. If you want to learn go there!
Was a great experience. Did not realize how much influence Schulz had on our world.
Recommend that anytime in the Santa Rosa area to stop by an pay a visit.
I loved this museum. It gave me a flashback to watching the Peanuts cartoons and reading the comics as a child. The admission price of $12 is reasonable, but I found a coupon in a local chamber of commerce for bogo. I gladly paid for two of us to see the exhibits, though. You learn so much about Charles Schulz as a person, and the insight into his characters made me love them even more! The gentleman who provided us information prior to entering the museum was knowledgeable and friendly. Be sure to check out the gift shop across the street at the ice skating rink.
I am a lifelong Peanuts fan so this was right up my street. The mosaic wall is quite amazing. Absolutely loved our visit. It brought out t he child in me. So glad it was undamaged by the fire.
This was very interesting and a fun place to visit. They were in the process of redoing the ice rink so a little disappointed to miss the real deal but could still see it.
You don’t need children to enjoy this museum! Was a great time and fabulous story about the development of the peanuts over the years!
Learned a lot about Charles Schulz and spent a pleasant two hours reading the Snoopy comics and watching some video. It was a cozy experience!
My husband and I grew up reading these comics and it was so fun to see them all here in an environment that was carefully thought out and planned. There were characters that only appeared a few times which we had forgotten, but were so excited to see again. The cartoons are large and it is easy to see how they were drawn and just really appreciate them...sort of like seeing a Jackson Pollock painting in a book and then seeing one in real life. There is an introductory video under that stairs that you won't want to miss and another upstairs in Charles Schulz's office showing him drawing his cartoon characters. Take time to check out his bookshelves in the office to discover some interesting things about him. Tiffany, one of the employees, shared some behind the scenes information that was very interesting. You won't want to miss the big gift shop across the street beside the ice skating rink. The Warm Puppy Cafe has hot chocolate with peppermint syrup, whipped cream, and peppermint sprinkles on top...The Peppermint Patty Hot Chocolate. There is plenty of parking and people with mobility issues or strollers should not have any problems getting around.
We were visiting my brother in Santa Rosa so decided to try out this museum. My daughter is a HUGE Peanuts fan and my brother & I grew up on the Peanuts so this was made for us. There was so much information to read and look at - I would certainly suggest your child be able to read if you bring children - my daughter spent most of her time reading all the comic strips on display and how they evolved. She also liked learning how the characters were drawn and their evolution. We had a great time!
A side note: don’t waste time & money at the cafe by skating rink 🤮Use your money to shop in the store - great, classic items available.
I can't imagine a person in the world who doesn't love Peanuts - for me, it's always been Lucy and her 5 cent psychiatric advice and Snoopy and the Red Baron. I brought some East Coast visitors to the museum and regret that we didn't take a tour. Strolling through the museum by ourselves, it got to be a little boring at times since there was so much to read about. But, that was more than made up for by being SO CLOSE to where Charles Schultz actually worked. Definitely a must see.
Took my 3 1/2 year old grandson and family to the museum. He loves Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, etc. so he was enthralled. He tried drawing his own cartoons but enjoyed the skating rink more so we lunched while watching the skaters. There was interesting info about Charles Schulze and themed areas displaying the early years of the comics so the museum is for the entire family.
Just a fun spot to reminisce and explore. Gift shop has tons of classic Schulz and be sure to visit the Ice Rink nearby.
This is certainly the no. 1 site to visit in Santa Rosa. It's not really a children's museum, but there are children's activities available upstairs. For many people, this is a must-see. Many foreign (especially Japanese) visitors come here.
Check the hours -- sometimes they are closed on Mondays during the off season.
Very cute! Love the peanuts, the whole family was excited to learn! Mostly small children, but good for nostalgic teens. Make sure to check out the gift shop!
There was ample parking. If you are a Peanuts fan, it is very informative about Charles Schulz and his life. Lots of comics displayed from the very beginning. There was even a room for your children to color and create. There is also an ice rink and restaurant next door.
First visited five years ago, and was not disappointed. The exhibits change, so always something new to see. I promised see my husband that I wouldn’t be very long this time, but it didn’t quite work out that way ! As a life-long fan I find it totally engrossing. The ice rink, cafe and shop are really worth visiting too.
Well curated collection of Charles Shultz Creation of the Peanuts gang. It demonstrated the development of all of the characters. On the day we visited it was well attended by all ages.
This was the best museum of our vacation. We weren't quite sure what to expect but we were pleased. The museum was fantastic, I haven't seen so much Snoopy in forever. The restaurant...The Warm Puppy was cute, family oriented, and delicious food. I would highly recommend to anyone, even if you not a Snoopy fan.
Very nice place to visit when you are in Santa Rosa.
Lot of a parts from cartoon movies.
This place give you back to your childhood.
😃😃😃😃😃
This was a very interesting place to visit for those of us that grew up reading Peanuts as children and into adulthood. Learning about the creator, Charles Shultz, was educational to me. As I walked through the museum and read many of his nostalgic comic strips and themes, it really reminds me just how fun, loving, friendly, and (yes, at times) cruel that children and adults can be as we all make our way through this adventure we call life.
Three of us visited the museum in June; two adults ($12 each) and one senior adult ($8). The volunteers were very, very helpful; without them we wouldn't have known where to start to maximize our experience. Their suggestions definitely provided the best path through the building. There are two great art installations in the Great Hall; the more you look the more impressed you will be. The comic strip gallery is charming, and the room showing other artists gives good insight into those who were Schultz's influence and inspiration. Upstairs is a reconstruction of Schutz's studio worth seeing. It took me a while to make sense of the "wrapped Snoopy house" art installation. Take the time to read the plaques, and you'll get it. Once I understood, I appreciated it more. At first I thought the Education Room was reserved for visiting school groups, but it's open for anyone to wander in and try their hand on the arts and crafts projects.
Allow about a half day for your visit; a morning or an afternoon.
Great display of Peanuts strips. Has a photo op where you can get in Snoopy’s dog dish. Building in progress for outdoor interactive area. Attempts made to keep kid friendly, but the four year old with us happy for about 30 minutes.
We planned two stops this day, and only allowed for 2 hours at the Charles Schulz Museum. I had no idea how big the museum is and everyone in our party agreed that we could have stayed longer. The building is beautiful, and thoughtfully designed. Although most of the exhibits are geared for adults, or older teens, there was a nice outdoor area where my small children could run and get their wiggles out. I would have loved to see maybe a child-specific room with more play based exhibits, or hands-on exhibits. My husband's love of Peanuts comics has become our family's love of Peanuts movies. My 4 and 6 year olds know the characters and love Snoopy. I felt there wasn't much for them here.
Of course you must go here if you're in the area. Amazing museum with history and lots to look at. The special exhibits change regularly. Don't miss it...
This place is amazing and such a tribute to Charles Schultz so very informative . They are going to be adding on but it was really great for all ages
This is a very informative and well-organized museum. The free docent-led tours are very good and all the volunteers seem to go out of their way to make the visit a pleasant one. I was somewhat surprised at how much my 8-yr old son enjoyed the museum. The museum even had a treasure-hunt for kids that helped focus his attention on the displays as he was looking to answer the questions. The theater also had some fun Peanuts cartoon clips and revealing interviews running. It wasn't very crowded on the Sunday we visited. I wish they would make the entry free so that more people can come & enjoy the museum.
This was an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon with three generations. Our group included ages 8-72 and we all had a very nice visit. Be sure to take your time and look in the nooks and crannies, even the bathroom had cartoon tiles. The outdoor garden area had several surprises, look closely when viewing the bird bath and take the time to look up in the trees. When you go upstairs, there is a very nice room with fun crafts - we made a snoopy dog house to take home. There is indoor ice skating, a large book and gift shop, cafe, and more photo ops nearby. The entire area is well done, attractive, clean, and not too big/not too small. At a leisurely pace, we spent 2 hours of enjoyment. If we had know about the ice skating, we would have planned for that too and stayed longer. The gift shop in the museum has different merchandise than the larger shop - be sure to check out both before making your selection. My cell phone did not work in the museum - so if you are expecting any important calls or need to stay in touch, you will need to step out to pick up a signal.
We thought we’d visit the Peanuts gang after having lunch and exploring the Santa Rosa downtown area. The museum was a treat. We heard Vince Guaraldi’s Linus and Lucy playing softly in the background. The syncopated beat was unmistakeable. There were lots of segments showcasing how Sparky (nickname for Charles M. Schulz) was quite the feminist. His cartoon segments belied not just his humor. He had a way of gently nudging ideas, politics, socio-cultural trends. That’s why his gang of characters have been so beloved. The 2nd floor showed his art room preserved for us to remember him by. There was a timeline of his life. I learned that Charlie Brown, Linus, and Frieda were named after coworkers in his art instruction school. And that the little red-haired girl was someone who turned him down.
The museum exceeded our expectations. It was well represented and tastefully done. It was actually quiet when we went through, but I think there was a tone of respect his work and art. We were a family of four with kids age 6 and 9. This was perfect. If they were younger, I'm not sure they would have been able to appreciate the work. The second floor was incredible and I'm still moved by the 50 years of Franklin exhibit. Actually, I'd say the upper floor exhibits were quite profound. When you are there make sure to stop in at the education room on the 2nd floor. We did a small craft project which was fun. Remember to watch the video on the first floor as well. Adults can enjoy this too.
Tips:
Plan a total of 3.5-4 hours to do this entire experience which includes:
2 to 2.5 hours at the Charles M. Schulz Museum (leisure pace)
30 min. at Ice Arena/Warm Puppy Cafe across the street. We ended up watching a short portion of a hockey game, then had a snack in the cafe. We saw the special "reserved table" which is adorable. There are many placed to take pics of right out side this as well. Lots of art and cement signatures outside.
30-45 min at the Snoopy Gallery/gift shop. Go upstairs to the gallery. It's a nice surprise.
I visited recently with a friend and her two small grandchildren. The museum is beautifully put together with an extensive cartoon history of Peanuts, et. al. Sadly, the two kids were too young to really enjoy it since neither could read. They loved looking, though, and will surely return when they're older.
While the entrance fee is inexpensive ($12 for adults), unfortunately you get what you pay for. It seems unclear on its audience. Not enough interactive displays for kids, but not enough analysis for adults. If you've read the excellent Schultz biography by David Michaelis, this will be a tremendous letdown in comparison. Oddly, the free gallery in the larger separate gift shop is somewhat more interesting, and there are fun items to purchase.
I have always loved Charlie Brown and when I found out I would be in the area I could not pass this museum up. All of the staff was so friendly and welcoming. If you are in the area make sure you go check this place out.
I am bigl Peanuts fan. This was return visit to a favorite museum. Make sure to start with the intro video. The cartoons and artwork is wonderful. I read almost every description and made it through in a couple of hors.
I have to remember to check out the amazing places close to home, too.
I took Thanksgiving guests to the Charles M. Schulz Museum. I expected it to be nicely done but WOW! it exceeded those expectations by a lot. Custom made tiles of Lucy pulling the football from Charlie Brown, custom wood carvings and the life of Charles M. Schulz and a replication of "Sparky's" office. We spent about 2 hours there and enjoyed every minute. Let the young kiddos go skating at the ice arena next door though - way too much reading to keep them occupied.
On our recent trip to Napa my wife dragged me to this museum. I had very low expectations, but ended up really liking it!
The museum itself isn't too big, and there's plenty of covered parking. Outside are a few sculptures, and then a sculpture garden once you get into the museum itself. Across the street is an ice rink with more sculptures and Peanuts related art.
Inside the museum, there's a pretty good sized theater that shows Peanuts movies (we watched a 20 minute movie from the early 80's about the "NASA Space Station" (aka, what became the ISS)), with different movies running all through the day.
Museum exhibits included a neat recreation of the Charles Schulz office, history of the characters, and special exhibits (we saw "Peanuts go to Camp" about going camping, and how "Woodstock" got his name). Displays are obviously largely comic strips with notes and stories about each one.
It was a good way to spend a few hours, and made Peanuts and Charles Shulz more accessible.
The old comic strips and sketch's of the characters are wonderful. Well designed history of the strip and the original books and toys. For me, the best part was this large wall of comic strips that with black and gray shades made up Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown, it was huge and created a very strong impact.
If you make a purchase in the museum's smallish shop the money goes back to the museum (yes!), whereas if you purchase in the skating rink's huge shop it's totally commercialized and does not benefit the museum !
The volunteers in the museum are very nice. There's even comic strip tiles in the bathroom.
On the way to the skating rink is Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and Snoopy on the cement walk that if you stand in between them and take a photo it positions everyone like the Beatles album cover. (There's directions on how to do this near the site.)
For all ages.
Love. Love. Love. Those who love the Peanuts will love this place. Those who don't know them may appreciate the evolution of one of the greatest stories around. Just a fun place to visit. And the gift shop is amazing!
Great way to spend a half day. This is a must if you are a snoopy fan! Nice walk down memory lane, videos as well as some exhibits outside. Some of the outside exhibits are under construction.
What a great place to visit if you were a kid in that era. It brought back so many memories and is a great memorial for a legend. We laughed our way round at the cartoons.
Well worth a visit.
Beautiful museum, modern structure.
Very friendly personell and helpful.
The staff knew everything of the museum and of the life of the author.
Perfect for kids and teenagers as well as adults.
Nice souvenir shop and ice skaiting palace of the Peanuts.
Even the grump in your group will find enough comics here to entertain themselves!! For others, there are some touching (and educational) displays. I loved the office display and hearing the recording...
Being relatively new to Sonoma County we first visited this museum when my mother-in-law visited. What a gem of a spot. We all thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
We spent a few hours here looking at the displays of the old and new ways that Peanuts were drawn over the years. It is really neat to see reproductions of his studio and facts about Charles Schultz life. For those of us who grew up reading the strip, it is a really nice place because everyone can relate to the things that Mr. Schultz penned in his strip.
Tip - make sure that you also go to the nearby Snoopy's Gallery & Gift Shop - there are lots of Peanuts related gifts and art there. It is as interesting as the museum!
Tip #2 - In between the two places is the Ice Skating Arena "Snoopy's Home Ice" which also is Peanuts themed. There is also a cafe called "Warm Puppy Cafe" where you can get a bite to eat - fast food style of eatery
This is any Peanuts fan’s dream come true. Love!!!! Be sure to take a “tour” with a museum staff member. So many interesting facts. There’s also a neat kids room upstairs where they are encouraged to experiment with cartooning. They have a small gift shop with exclusive items but a larger, more commercial gift shop is across the hockey center parking lot.
Great artifacts and interpretive materials. Any visitor could appreciate the stories and legacy of a true American genius!
Even though I'm a local and have known about the museum for years, it wasn't until this week that I actually went. I'm glad I did and sad that I didn't do it sooner! This is a muse-see if you are like me, a Peanuts fan from when I could read on my own. And Snoopy was my 2nd stuffed animal who I had for a very long time. There aren't a lot of exhibits. The building design inside and out is beautiful, meant to invoke a type of Minnesota minimalism since Schulz grew up there. There were several exhibits when I went: one on the "red haired girl," a great one on Woodstock, and another one on the theme of going away to camp in the strip. I appreciated seeing the hand drawn strips for myself and up close and learning a bit of the history. I spent about 3 hours in the museum because I really wanted to get a sense of the man behind the strip. Also, you can walk across the street to the Warm Puppy Cafe, the ice rink, and, in another building, a larger gift shop than the one in the museum. The large gift shop is worth checking out, it stocks things that are not available in the smaller museum gift shop. Also, there is a 2nd floor of items on exhibit, including clothes made by known designers for Snoopy and his girlfriend. I am so taken by the museum that I am planning to become a volunteer. Everyone who works there was so nice and pleasant. This is well worth your time to stop by.
The 20 year evolution of Snoopy's friend Woodstock is on display. Well worth the time to spend a visiting this display of Charles M Schulz's work.
Heartily recommendation to all to visit. This a lovely museum with outstanding comic strips and history of Sparky, Mr. Schulz. The art is displayed on two levels and outside where statues of the Peanuts gang reside. Even a golfer will find as did I a bit of golf history on display.
we took a 7 and a 13-year-old and they loved it. so did we. the displays are wonderful and fund to read and learn about CMS, linus and snoopy.
My wife and I were visiting Santa Rosa and had some extra time. We found this museum and it seemed pretty interesting to try, although we are not huge Peanuts fans. It really is a great small museum that you can easily spend two to three hours. We took one of the docent tours and I would suggest doing that for a 30-minute overview. You can then go through and leisurely look at the exhibits in more detail. Amazing how much we discovered about Charles Schulz and you will leave there with a smile on your face.
If you are a fan then this place is a must do. It’s a cleverly laid out museum and lots of fun interactive exhibits.
I can thoroughly recommend a visit to the museum. There are many of the original cartoons and you get insight into the life of Charles M.Schultz.
My visit brought back many fond childhood memories of waiting eagerly to see what the Peanuts characters are up to each week.
Absolutely delightful museum. Shows just how Charles Schultz originated his beloved Snoopy and all of his friends. Has many original works of art, Schultz’s actual office, and classes given daily for children to learn the art of animation.
Next to the museum is the ice rink,where Charlie played hockey almost daily.
A really wonderful way to spend the afternoon.
A lovely building with well done exhibits of the life and work of Charles Schultz and his Peanuts gang, but a little bit goes a long way. Though I'm a Peanuts fan of long standing, I really don't want or need to know so much. What I enjoyed the most was a video playing on a small TV set in the area showing Schultz's actual work space. It was fascinating to watch him draw as he spoke -- his confidence and fluidity and idiosyncratic style. I like the way he talked about his characters -- each fully realized in his own mind, even knowing what they would be like as adults -- I'm sure that's one of the reasons they seem so real to us. Schultz's work is gentler and more subtle than the comic characters of today, and I wonder if kids these days are interested in them. Most of the other guests were on the older side, as were we.
Attractive spacious though not large museum of Charles Schultz and Peanut memorabilia including 2 galleries of originals of themed cartoon strips. Interesting to see how the drawings developed over time.
This is a beautiful museum...but it is a museum. My impatient teenager and husband did not share my enthusiasm. Give yourself time, a lot to read, but if you love Snoopy you'll be glad you went. The gift shop is fabulous and has a mini-gallery which was the perfect museum experience for those who would prefer a shorter experience. Tons of great merchandise. The cafe food and service are not great, it's crowded and pretty slow (make sure you get in line before the zamboni or you'll be there forever), but charming and it is fun to watch the ice skaters!
Much cooler than imagined. Informative and fun.
A true labor of love, this museum helped me have a greater appreciation of Charles Schulz. It's hard not to come away liking the PEANUTS gang a bunch more after stepping through these doors.
DON’T MISS: The gift shop next to the hockey rink just across the street. Really cool stuff to browse.
This is for everyone with a love of the Peanut's gang. With a gallery with revolving exhibits, currently about food in the comic strips, to a recreation of Shulz's studio, to exhibits about his life in general it maintains the memory of man who changed comics with his characters. In addition to the Museum itself, there is the ice rink with cafe and separate gift store next to it. Snoopy's playing ice hockey was the result of Schulz's love of the game.
We didn't know this was in Santa Rosa when we visited and decided to check it out. Will definitely put a smile on your face.
If you are a huge fan, you would probably enjoy it. It's small and I would say, for children. It has a nice gift shop and a bigger one across the street
I had visited the Santa Rosa area before and saw the Museum but didn’t have time to visit. But we made another trip there, with the Charles M. Schulz Museum on our schedule to see. I had read and enjoyed the strip for more than 40 years and I had such a great time getting to know Charles Schulz. The museum is very well down and the show and tell of his beloved characters he created and the legends they have become. One of the greatest things to see was the really large mural mad up on nothing but the story board strip from all the years. And then to stand back and see Lucy and Chuck playing with the football. It is definitely worth seeing and spending the time to really get to know where and how the entire Charlie Brown characters came to be.
I was in town for a wedding and looking for something to do besides touring a winery. This small and very specific museum about the artist who created the Peanuts cartoon strip was perfect. I only had an hour to spend there and that was enough to take in everything although one could linger longer, reading every description and comic strip in the exhibition. The big mural made up of comic strip tiles was fun to see and a small band of cartoon tiles was even present in the bathroom stalls. Loved the activity room where you could draw your own comics. No children with me but that would be a great place to park them while exploring more of the artist's history in other rooms. A small gift shop for Snoopy themed gifts sold a limited range of merchandise-- rather refreshing in its modesty.
Peanuts fan here so hope I don't sound too biased! Great and must have expirence for any fan of Charles Schultz's work! I went when they had just opened the kite eating tree exhibit a great addition to the museum. Some things such as the bedroom mural, the iconic Lucy and Charlie mural, and Charles studio were an amazing site. There was a outside area with the kite eating tree and statues aswell as a education room on the inside with fun activities. Overall loved it wanna visit again but its 5 hours away :,)
I've been wanting to go to the museum for years since my children moved here to go to school. So glad I went solo so I could take my time with my first visit. Learned a lot about "Sparky." Seeing so many of his plethora of comic strips he produced. The awards he received. The characters that developed and the elusive little red headed girl who was a real person in his life. I recommend making the stop there. It is a special place and tribute to a man that brought a lot of joy to all of us.
I have loved the Peanuts comic strip for as long as I can remember, so when in Sonoma Valley my husband and I visited the Charles Schultz Museum. What a treat! The exhibits brought back memories of watching Charlie Brown's Christmas and reading the comics. It made me feel like a kid again. The people there shared stories about Charles Schultz and lots of them knew him since he was visible around town. We were steered to an art room where we were taught to make Snoopy and his doghouse. The Red Baron is a favorite of mine so he came home with me to. Next trip I will be sure to visit again.
My second visit after many years. There is always a rotating selection of exhibits featuring original Peanuts strips. There is a theater showing Peanuts specials all day! I was excited to see the recent additions of two original murals removed from a house they lived in years ago. The new owners took care of them for decades! They have crafts for kids too. Die hard or casual Peanuts fans will enjoy this place. Don't forget the ice arena next door!
This was a bucket list item for my wife and was very enjoyable. Worth the major detour we took to get there. Saw Snoopy. Go see it.
What a fun experience telling the life of Charles Schulz and his beloved characters. Ice rink is currently being renovated but it is fun to see the handprints and signatures of famous skaters (Robin Cousins, Dorothy Hamill, Debi Thomas, et al). The story of how he developed his characters is very interesting. Definitely worthwhile
I had forgotten that the Schulz Museum was in Santa Rosa. So while scheduling a trip to the wine country, we gladly bounced one of the wineries we had on our list and substituted in the museum.
Outside, a statue of Charlie Brown greets visitors with two admission tickets in his hand. There's another one with Snoopy on top of his doghouse.
It gets better inside. There's a huge wall using cartoon strip tiles that when assembled show Charlie Brown running toward the football that Lucy is going to pull away at the last minute. You know that's coming.
There are old strips, newer ones, one in color showing Lucy in her psychiatric booth. Help for a nickel. The museum features Schulz's office, including the desk where magic happened.
There's even comic strip tiles inside the bathrooms. No, there really is. And you can tell the men's room because of the stripes made popular from Charlie Brown's shirt.
It's a wonderful place and one that anyone who has laughed at a comic strip should visit.
What fun this museum is!! I loved reading the Peanuts gang books and comic strip growing up. It felt my love of this gang came full circle as I read stories of how the characters were created, and saw his office where these stories came alive. It has a small gift shop and across the street is another (larger) gift shop, a cafe and a skating rink. It was a fun and fabulous way to spend our morning!
I’ve been a Peanuts fan for many, many years. Being able to see some of the original beginning comics was so exciting. Seeing the film on Charles Schulz and eating in the Warm Puppy Cafe where he used to go was amazing. Seeing the “kite eating” tree was so fun. There is something for all ages here!
We had a few hours to spare and spent them here. Lots to see if you're a fan. Worth the price of admission.
As a fan of Charlie Brown and Snoopy this is an amazing place and would recommend all to visit. The man was a genius and you cannot help but smile while you are walking around reading all of the story cartoons on display. We did go over to the Gallery and gift shop outside of the museum but was disappointed that the gallery was closed. But the museum was quite amazing. Even if you are not a Snoopy fan it is still worth a visit.
What a fun place to visit, even without children - This brings back memories of the enjoyable time spent reading the Peanuts comics, and reading his earlier strip as well as his life story.
It's full of Peanuts strips; I suspect it has every one of the strips. Many of the most famous ones as well as the ones that were his children's favs are there. If you are a fan of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang this is a great place to go.
The gift shop in the museum is very limited, but much more if you go across the street to the larger gift shop. Unfortunately, it did not have the toy my daughter loved (but that was 35 years ago) but something similar was found for the grandson. Take a trip to the coffee shop/ice rink next door, have a bite, and imagine when Charles "Sparky" Schultz went there most days for lunch at his favorite table near the window. And yes, the "gray hairs" are still playing ice hockey!
Nice afternoon for those young and young-at-heart.
This is a sweet and understated museum that has a good collection of original artwork from Charles M. Schulz and other memorabilia including most items from his studio. It is located just next to the ice rink and the Warm Puppy cafe so you can easily fit visiting all those in half a day. Unmissable for Peanuts fans.
If you have not been hear in some time, please visit. It has been wonderfully renovated.
Lots of fun trivia abounds. Charles M. Schulz genius and Jeannie Shulz's generosity abounds.
We took a detour to stop at this museum. We are big fans of Charles Shultz and the Peanuts. Take your time in this museum and learn the history of why he made this area his home.
Spent an afternoon here, and it was a lovely experience! As a lifelong fan of the Peanuts gang, I loved reading the abundant comic strips and learning more about Charles Schulz’s life, career, and inspiration. Currently, they are featuring Woodstock and Camp Snoopy exhibitions through March 2020. Would highly recommend if you are a fan of Charlie Brown and the gang!
Cute Museum explaining the life of Charles Schultz and his work as an illustrator and creator of Peanuts.
75th Anniversary of the 1st published Peanuts comic strip in 1950.
We heard this was a "must se"' and everyone was so right about that. We had an amazing time. We expected to spend an hour and a half at most and two and a half hours later we were just leaving.
My husband and I went to the Charles Schultz Museum in Santa Rosa Cal. I guess you could say that we were reliving childhood memories. There seemed to be a lot of adults there reliving their childhood memories. We believe this is what keeps all of us young, and the museum puts a smile on your face and on your heart.
The whole experience was very enjoyable. The people who work there are nice and knowledgeable. They all seemed to enjoy their jobs.
My husband and I recommend everyone to go to the museum.
First visit to the museum, and it did not disappoint! We loved learning about Charles Schulz and the creation of Peanuts. I am a casual Peanuts reader and do love the holiday animated specials (but I am not an expert). Half the fun of the visit was hearing other guests' thoughts and insights (especially those who are super fans).
The Charles Schulz Museum may seem like it is just for kids, but I assure you it is for adults too, brings out the kid in you.
We got there just after they opened, and discovered it was a real gem. The exhibits rotate and with it being September the main exhibit was back to school. There are so many comic strips to read, unique displays and so much history of Charles Schulz the man. Around every corner there are photo ops, more comics and unique artwork. We laughed, learned and were taken back to our childhoods. You will love it, and will leave you feeling happy the rest of the day.
There is plenty of parking next to the ice rink where you will find the Warm Puppy Cafe, and a large gift shop.
Truly a gem in Santa Rosa and a must for all Charlie Brown and Peanuts fans.
I have always loved the Peanuts gang, and especially Snoopy. It is a small museum but it is nice to see all the memorabilia, awards and accolades that Charles Schulz received. Gift shop is quit small.
A very well done museum highlighting the life of Sparky. They have a recreation of his studio plus many art works that were dedicated to him. Make sure allow enough time. We got here kind of late so we did not see the Ice rink or the Warm Puppy Café. Make sure you watch the video in the museum because it explains these and gives a little insight into his life.
This place is so amazing. Itll bring the little kid out of everyone. They have this huge wall with all the Peanuts characters. If you have kids and your in the area, you have to go...... honest.
Being a Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang fan, exploring the whole museum was every inch a heaven for me. This place is not just for kids, but for adults as well. Make sure you're not in a hurry if you plan to go there.
My son & I didn’t really know a lot about Charles Schultz other than Charlie Brown Christmas special we watch around Christmas. When we left this really knew a lot more about him his early years drawing, then with little luck he became a star, two years after his death they were still running Peanuts comic strip in the newspaper. He was really amazing guy drawing his comics & even made some movies. This was one of better museums we went to lately.
Just lovely. The museum is not large. I spent 1 1/2 hours and saw everything. I was tempted to enter the cartoon drawing room but that would have taken too much time. It looked fun though.
We enjoyed the lovely trip down memory lane. I was pleased to notice that the museum includes educational programs for young people. Worth a visit.
We went to this museum on the 16th September and joined the tour at 11. Our guide was an older retired gentleman and I regret not remembering his name, he was really interesting and made the trip for us.
There are so many things to see, and of course endless comic strips to read, and it’s all set out in a very accessible way.
We loved it.
We have been counting the days till we visited the museum. My hubs is a huge Peanuts fan and he was like a kid looking at everything. It’s a small museum but very informative with great places to take pics of your favorite characters.
Lots of little details on the walls...look around for lots of fun! Also loved the recreation of Charles Schulz's office and work space. Great place for Snoopy fans to visit!
While we enjoyed our hour+ at the museum, our overwhelming feeling was that it was a lost opportunity to make a GREAT museum. There’s so much wasted space inside and so few exhibits. Nothing interactive, super small gift shop, and really nothing for kids other than a room where you can draw/color or read Peanuts books.
My children's favorite (at the Dog House in the Ice Arena) - hot dogs in a dog bowl, chili and more. Very Fun! The Museum is an international tourist destination and a wonderful experience.
The museum is large, artful, and staffed by VERY personal men and women eager to help in any way. A wide range of wall art traces the evolution of the cartoonist's career in a most engaging way. Exhibits are changed often and some relate to social issues and to calendar holidays. Next door is a great ice rink and snack place (with a Charlie Brown theme) , and you can eat there and watch the skaters through large glass walls. Combining the museum with the rink/snack bar makes for a wonderful upbeat experience for young and older alike.
The Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa is a real gem that the community is very proud of. If you are a Peanuts fan, this is the place for you. Beautiful, modern building showcasing the work (in large format and multimedia) of Charles Schulz in chronological order. Movie theater, gift shop, hands-on art studio for kids and adults to try their hand at cartooning. The ice skating rink on the property is reminiscent of an old Swiss chalet and takes the visitor back to a bygone time. The Warm Puppy Cafe in the rink is where Schulz had lunch every day and is a great spot to watch skaters and enjoy a quick meal (fast food style). The big, wood-burning fireplace lends ambiance on a cold day. The Charles M. Schulz gift shop (not the Museum gift shop) carries all things Peanuts and is fun to browse and shop. Very fun way to spend the day with the Peanuts and heading down memory lane.
Grown up with Peanuts you'll love this place. a number of strips on the wall, all made be smile, we all have our favourite you won't be disappointed, Mine is Snoopy & Woodstock
We thoroughly enjoyed this museum! Learned so much more than expected! If you weren't a fan of Charles Schulz before, you will be after spending time here!
We spent about 2 hours visiting both floors of the museum and then checked out the gift shop!!
For those that grew up on "Peanuts", this is a must do. There is a lot of reading of the various comic strips but also placards that discribe the exhits.
Don't forget to look and take pictures with the statues of the characters. Also, go outside to the courtyard. See how long it takes you to find the kite.
Then walk across to see the hockey rink. I used to play so I had a different appreciation for the building. We weren't able to go into very large gift shop but looked through the windows.
If you are in the area I would make this a definite stop.
This is a really cute museum to visit with your family. They staff is really friendly and there's a lot of interactive activities for you to do with your kids.
You have the opportunity to color, do puzzles, watch short films, and learn how to draw cartoons. This is a must see place to visit!
I would have liked to have seen more of the works of his on display. They do have a nice area for children to learn how to draw.
If you’re in Santa Rosa, this museum is really fun. You get to learn more about Charles Schultz and laugh at so many of the comics on display. Only took about 1.5 hours to see the museum which gave us time to drive out to see the redwoods too.
We grew up with Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. This museum is the history of the creator, Charles M Schultz - his legacy. Well worth seeing. And perfect for a rainy day!
This was fabulous and for such a low cost. This was my favorite cartoon growing up and it was fun to see some of the old ones and just see the history of the strip. It was cool to see “Sparky”’s old office and learn his routine. Highly recommend.
Got close to Charles schulz. Nice souvenirs and a cafe with all peanuts theme. Kids can seat and do colouring stuffs or ice skate in the skating ring next to it.
Peanuts strips from its beginning and all through the years. Each character given equal space to learn their personality and gift to the viewer. The actual office of its creator Charles Schulz is on display. The Comic strips wall is awesome.
Great if you like snoopy and the gang. Lots of cartoon characters and newspaper funnies from the famous Mr schulz
More of a happy place than I could have ever imagined. Wish I could have stayed longer than our 2 hour visit. Thought I knew a fair amount about Charles Schulz but no, there was so much more. All parts of this museum was awesome for all ages.
Not a large museum. Only the first floor has the majority of comics Sparky created. Would recommend going only if...(read the title) :)
This is a must see if you are in the Santa Rosa area
It follows the life of Sparky Schulz and left creating one of the most beloved group of Comic characters.
Don’t miss this if in the area.
What a wonderful experience!! If you grew up loving all the Peanuts comic strips and the TV specials it is a required experience. Learning first about Charles Schulz who are able to enter the world of "Sparky" (aka Charles Schulz) and see his life experiences from which he drew his inspiration. Fun, informative, spiritual.
One of my favorite places on Earth!! :) love it!! People from all over the world come visit, very recommended. I am lucky to live in town and have been a volunteer with the museum for 14 years!!
Being from Minnesota where Schulz spent much of his life, we had to go to the museum! It was very interesting and well done. Could've they done more with the museum, yes! There is lots of areas that they could expand upon but it was still well done. I would've liked to learn more about Charles M Shultz' life and more explanation on the charachters other than just the "Little Red Head Girl" story.
Good place to see the history of Snoopy and Charles Schultz. Not the most exciting place in the world, but you need to see it at least once
the museum is more interesting for adults but the ice arena is great for all plus next to the ice arena there is a cute gift shop!
Anyone who passes through Santa Rosa and does not visit this museum is wrong. This is a very thoughtful, professional and fun museum, and fun for all ages.
Brought the family to the museum but I am the only fan so we only took pictures outside. After that we walked around the surroundings - a Peanuts theme skating rink & gift shop. Being big shoppers, the two girls spent a good 30mins shopping in the gift shop.
We had an afternoon to kill before our flight left, so decided to stop in. It is a beautiful facility and we learned so much about Schulz, his life and his talents.
For us longtime "Peanuts" fans...this is THE place! The folks who manage this Museum have done a stellar job!
Great museum for Peanuts fans, but it offers so many interesting exhibits for all ages.
While you are there, go across the street to see a Snoopy ice show, have a snack at the Warm Puppy Cafe!
As a lifelong Peanuts fan, I had high hopes about this museum. It was even better than I expected! From the minute you walk up, Charlie Brown is welcoming you and Snoopy is lying on his doghouse, which has been artfully painted with odes to the many iconic items in the strips. The exhibits are eye-catching, joyful, and bring out subtleties that even hardcore fans may not have seen. If you are a fan of Charles Schulz and his amazing characters, visit this museum. And be sure to grab a bite at the Warm Puppy Cafe and check out the zamboni. You will be so very happy you did!
Lots of good choices for Snoopy clothes and decor. We love it in here. It’s small. With limited inventory, but it seems something is always new. Don’t miss the second floor!
One gets to revisit a lot of early peanut strips, bring your reading glasses. The exhibit of CS work area and books was favorite. Leave time to stop off next door and visit the ice rink.
Interesting lots to see and office of Charles M Schultz. Nice yet thought there would be more considering the prolific material available. He was a reserved and private person guess that is why the place seems a little stark. Its may be good to visit once
Visited as we are great Snoopy fans, found it interesting spent most of the laughing at the various cartoons.
It was well laid out perhaps not as many exhibits as I expected but it did not disappoint.
We stopped here to kill some time and wow, we’re so glad we did. We spent the afternoon in this amazing building dedicated to Charles M Schulz, cartoons and especially Peanuts. It was a blast from the past for my husband and I, but there are two new Snoopy fans in my children. We could have stayed all day. The interactive parts are great for the children and we all loved learning how to draw the characters and make origami Snoopy houses in the art room. Sadly it was too hot outside to explore the Kite Eating Tree. I wish we’d have had time to explore the ice rink and Warm Puppy Cafe too.
What a great tribute to Sparky. Entrance fee was reasonable and the gift shop was not overpriced either. Thoroughly recommend.
I have been to numerous children's birthday parties here and taken several children for playtime (I do Childcare). The children love it! I brought my granddaughters ages 8 and 2 for the snow day and they had a blast! I would however recommend removing the stethoscope from the doctors area, if a child has an ear infection and pops that into their ears the next child to pop that into their ears could potentially catch the ear infection. My two year old granddaughter wanted to release the mechanical butterflies from their covered containers, she was absolutely hilarious although when it was time to leave she was not happy .
We enjoy coming every year. Mr. Schulz and the Family has made the Museum a great place to honor and cherish not only Mr. Schultz, but The Peanuts. It's fun for everyone! You can't have a bad time. You'll walk in and walk out with a smile there's two gift shops. There's a cafe called the Warm Puppy. Ice Skating Rink. Each time I've been there, there's a new exhibit. Staff, who are mostly volunteers, are very helpful and knowledgeable. I will continue to support the Museum. A True Fan!!!
I have loved the Peanuts Gang since I was a tiny child. Our family dog was even named Snoopy. As I wandered around the museum it brought back so many childhood memories of reading the comic strip in the Sunday newspaper and gathering around the television with my brothers to watch the Peanut holiday specials - Charlie Brown Christmas and the Great Pumpkin being my favs! A must see for any Charles Schultz/Peanuts fans.
I spent several hours wandering around the museum, art gallery, and gift shops. Learned so much about Charles Schulz and his impact on the area, animation, and other animators. I grew up with the simplicity of his animation and to this day, I still love and can relate to it.
Whether you are a peanuts fan or not thus museum will impress you. The history is fantastic and brings back the little kid in you. We travelled from Scotland to visit and it was worth it. The staff are fantastic and very knowledgeable. Cannot recommend this museum enough. Tonnes to do and will fill your day for sure. Well done!
This museum is great! Whether you’re six or sixty six it’s got something for you.
The exhibits are well thought out and can be easily seen by children. You can move at your own pace. The docents are friendly and helpful.
And the shop - lots of great Snoopy stuff for all of us who know that “Happiness is a warm puppy. “
Even one day visitors should not miss this!
I found this place to be very informative. What they made out of comic strips. Make sure you go outside n see the sculptures n the large trees. It had a film on Mr. Schulz and his life as you enter the museum.
Excellent small museum which shows all aspects of the Peanuts characters. Also includes his studio and special exhibits. Very friendly staff.
This museum was so much more than we expected. The grounds and the buildings were well maintained and chalked full with history and whimsy. The main museum, where we spent most of our visit, had a lovely combination of both permanent and rotating displays that really immersed us into the classic Peanuts stories. It was a delight to see not only the artistic work of Charles Schulz but to also learn about his history in the community of Santa Rosa.
The activity centre upstairs was fun for us (all adults!) and so I imagine it’d be a fun place to spend time with kids. They have crafts, colouring and a wide variety of learning materials centred around cartoons.
Across the street there is the ice rink and the special cafe (if you go to the museum you’ll learn the history of both!).
There is a gift shop inside the museum, and one next door to the ice rink. The museum employees recommended checking out both, as they carry different items.
All the staff we encountered were friendly and welcoming, we loved seeing the staff enjoying their time at work.
A fabulous visit, and a place we will surely revisit in the future.
Plan to spend hours relaxing and smiling while you tour the museum. There are films, artwork and activities.
Great place to view “Sparky” Schultz’s wonderful Peanuts legacy. Historical and with endless Peanuts strips from all the years. Excellent hands-on room for kids.
While it is on the small side as museums go, this is a wonderful place packed with all things Peanuts and Charles Schulz. The exhibits change regularly so for a local like me there is something new to see on most every visit. The outside space is a particularly nice feature as it gives a break from being inside. I'm a fan of the gift shop as well as there are usually one or two new things seasonally and some great things for the holidays. Well kept, easy to visit and almost always something new to see and learn.
We had a wonderful time touring this wonderful tribute to brilliance of Charles Shultz. We were amazed at the huge Peanuts Tile Mural. We enjoyed Sparky’s Studio and the special exhibit “Reflections of Family and Friends”. We spent a couple of hours leisurely walking thru and enjoying this marvelous museum. We came away smiling ear to ear.
As the name suggests, this museum mainly exhibits items related to Charles M. Schulz. Of course, there are also Peanuts comics and Snoopy in space. Perhaps because it was a weekday, most of the visitors were adults. There was a corner where you could take pictures and play, and an education room where you could enjoy coloring and tracing pictures, and my 10-year-old daughter enjoyed it without getting bored. We spent an hour and a half walking around at a leisurely pace.
The gift shop is very small, but you can only buy museum goods here. They sell books, T-shirts, magnets, postcards, etc.
The staff are all kind and friendly. If you join a guided tour of the museum, the guide will give you a detailed explanation about Schulz.
Across the road, there is a skating rink created by Schulz and a cafe attached to it (snacks such as cocoa and hot dogs are available), and next to that is the Snoopy Gallery & Gift Shop.
This time, we rented a car to Santa Rosa from San Francisco. It took an hour one way, and there was only one road, so it was easy to get there without getting lost. I rented a car in the morning and made a few detours on the way back, and was able to get back to San Francisco by evening. I'm a big Peanuts fan, so I'm glad I went.
You can't taste wine all the time, and it's not recommended to start too early. This place will kill an hour or two before lunch is a wonderful, whimsical way.
The museum was surprisingly quiet, as it was mainly just exhibits of Charles Schulz’s original Peanuts drawings, some panels explaining how certain cartoon strips were inspired (as we visited, the character of Franklin was being given a big profile) and how, over the fifty years of Peanuts run, his drawing style evolved. My mother at first did not recognized the Snoopy in the 50s/60s style at the entrance of the Museum! For anyone expecting something active/interactive, it is a let down, but those of us who grew up reading Peanutes cartoons would absolutely love it. We also tried Warm Puppy Cafe next door, where we ate a simple lunch from ‘Snoopy’s Supper Dish’! We loved it.
My sister and I were visited today. This is a wonderful museum. It’s a self guided tour. It was very interesting and informative. The museum is a must for any fan of Good Ol’ Charlie Brown.
I had not been here for a number of years. Brought friends from MN who were very interested in visiting. They were not disappointed. Loved the ice rink, outdoor area - with the kite eating tree, comic exhibits, video giving background of the museum..Everything was well done.
Something you really need to see. If you are a Peanuts fan reach out to see how Charles worked and how he developed this great property over centuries. Great with kids as there is a lot of interaction - ideal daytrip to combine with a winery visits so there is something for the whole family-from San Francisco approx. 1,5 hours to drive.
Wonderful ‘rainy day’ activity and entertainment for young ones. Kids loved the interactive areas! Saturday can be very busy - get there early. Also, bring you’re own snacks!
This museum gives a real sense of who Charles M. Schulz is - you see his office, his hockey equipment, the wall he painted for his daughter's room. You see his art and appreciate Snoopy and the Peanuts gang all over again.
I surprised a friend and stop here on our way home. She was excited. Neither of us had ever been here and had only read about it. Small fee to get in but worth every penny. Lots of history on Mr. Schulz and obviously tons of cartoons. Some toon storys start at the ceiling and go down to the floor. split level 2 stories of stuff to look at, movie theater, and a stageing area where you can use some props and look like the Red Baron while someone takes your picture. Across from the Museum is the Peanut's ice skating rink and resturant too, we didnt get to those. The museum could take you days to read, look and watch everything.
Who doesn't love the Peanuts? They've been around for decades! This is a must do for children and adults, alike, and only costs you time and money if you have to have something (of course everyone's going to want something)! Lots of Kodak moments available and gift ideas from the shop to make it memorable!
If you remember reading the Peanuts cartoons, you will love this place! I could have spent hours there!
I can’t say I was disappointed, but I can say I thought there would be more. But overall, we weren’t disappointed. It was a beautiful day in Santa Rosa, and we had travelled from Lodi, stopped at the Jelly Belly museum on the way to the Schulz museum. I know or at least heard that there were statues of peanut characters throughout SR, but we weren’t able to go look since we did have to head out to go back home. I’m not sure if there’s a map for the statues, if not, it’d be a great idea to have. Anyway, the museum & ice rink are across from each other. What I really liked about the museum besides all the peanuts art, was that the upstairs had a corner of Sparky’s office. That was the coolest part for me.
I wish I had stopped at the gift shop in the museum because it seemed like they had different things then the gift shop by the ice rink, although the gift shop at the ice rink was much larger. They have a second story in which is like a mini museum, they had some of the history of the ice rink, more snoopy dolls from around the world, movie posters. Very much took you back to the 70/80s when you step in that gift shop.
This is a wonderful museum, dedicated to celebrating and preserving the work of Charles Schultz. There are tons of his strips in the museum. You learn a lot about his life and work. Videos are available, including some of the Peanuts TV shows. There is a small gift shop in the museum, but there is also an ice rink he helped fund, and a bigger gift shop next to the ice rink. Very entertaining. Highly recommend.
Some people travel to Wine Country, Sonoma, Napa and Santa Rosa to visit wineries for the weekend, but if you're me, you build your trip around a visit to the Charles M. Schulz Museum. As a fan of Peanuts and Snoopy, this museum has been on my bucket list for quite some time, and it did not disappoint.
The museum is an entertaining walk through the history of Peanuts, Charles Schulz, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang. Located in an unassuming neighborhood in Santa Rosa, the museum is easy to locate, has plenty of parking, and is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon. There are tons of quality exhibits to look at and learn about everything from Charles Schulz's beginnings to the development of the comic strip and characters. The museum is great for all ages, and will leave you with a smile and another level of appreciation for the Peanuts Gang.
We had an outstanding volunteer that gave a tour and provided insightful details about Schulz. Great displays in the main area and more Peanuts strips than you can read in an hour. Reconstruction of his studio and discussions on his life and accomplishments top off this great museum.
This museum offers a comprehensive look at the life and cartooning career of Charles M. Schulz, a brilliant artist and generous philanthropist for his adopted hometown of Santa Rosa, where he lived and worked for many years.
We really enjoyed this visit to the museum. It is small, but it’s great to learn more about the work of Charles M Schulz. The cartoons can still raise a smile after all these years. It is also a pleasant distraction from the main reason for visiting the wine region of California
Having grown up on Peanuts cartoons and TV specials as well as having worked a bit with Sparky early in my career, it was a great treat to visit this museum that chronicles his life, military service and career. You learn about his start and see early strips while chuckling to yourself reading iconic strips displayed throughout the two-story building. The place is filled with joy and whimsy from the “actual” kite eating tree in the shady courtyard to the classic image of CB trying to kick the football. A couple hour visit is sufficient to take most of it in and it was helpful having one of our party cite from Wikipedia as we drive up for our visit. You really get a feel for this gentle and talented man who never let his wealth of fame go to his head.
We sure to walk across the street and poke your head into his ice arena or have a bite at the warm puppy cafe.
The Museum is built right next to Charles "Sparky" Schulz's home, and you really get a sense for the place and the family. I had no idea about his connection to the ice arena just across the street. The museum is a fantastic collection of his work, laid out in an imaginative and engaging manner. I came away with a much richer appreciation of Peanuts, it's creator and his family.
The museum is fairly small - you'll see it all in a couple of hours, but it is curated with such love and affection for Sparky and the gang of characters he created, that you'll come away refreshed and invigorated.
Came on a whim during a recent visit to Santa Rosa and we were not disappointed! The museum has many original Peanuts comics and other work by Charles Schulz. There were some fun, interactive exhibits and opportunities for drawing and cartooning. They also had a whole exhibit on what influenced Schulz as a cartoonist and awards he had won. The price of admission was $12 for adults. The staff was incredibly kind, friendly, informative, and helpful. Would definitely recommend for visitors to the area - but it would probably be best for kids ages 8 and up.
This was a great stop if you are an afternoon arrival into Sonoma County and can't do a wine tasting. I had no idea that Charles Schulz loved sports and hockey so much. He built an ice rink for the community in the late 60s that is still operating today. The museum is really well done and you can see everything from his influnces to how he created something that people throughout the world enjoyed.
Also, if you are penny press people, there are machines at the museum, the ice rink and the gift shop.
Well presented look behind the curtain of how the Peanuts cartoons were created and developed. I never noticed how artistically emotion and motion were portrayed in simple pen strokes until visiting this museum. Woodstock is the exhibition now. Repeat visit for us, will come again.
Here is everything you ever wanted to know about the entire clan and their creator.
From a recreation of his office to his entire life story Schulz comes alive,allowing one to get a feel of the man.
Especially loved the display talking to his friendship with the famous artist Christo, who wrapped Snoopy’s doghouse- priceless
So with a 19 year old in toe around the wine tasting in napa and Sonoma poor lad he could not do any actual tasting and as uk driver he could not ferry us around - so we succumbed to his pleas to visit this museum and drag us around. Well how wrong was I - the museum lovely big modern place with light and open space and plastered with comic strips from the paste - in no time at all we were I laughing all the way around the museum. I reminded me how bad at reading I was until I discovered peanuts then it encouraged me to read - and brought back great memories.
The guys working there were all so enthusiastic happy (guess you would be if you read all those comic strips), and great guides giving a tour and overview of Schultz's life and quirky nature.
Great find and to be frank nice alternative to wine tasting - which we got back into in the pm.
Thanks to the guys who run the museum great job and really nice talking to you and sharing your knowledge and love of Peanuts gang.
This is a visually fun place to vist. There are many larger than life size statues of the 'Peanuts' both inside and on the grounds as well as across the street. Many interesting facts about the man that created it all. There is a recreation of his office and how his drawing process took place
As a fan of peanuts since I was small this was an ambition fulfilled. It is such a happy , joyous place. My husband and daughter were with me and not such huge fans but liked Charlie Brown and Snoopy (who doesnt) Anyway, they really enjoyed it too. We joined the tour and the lady who took it was actually a neighbour of Charles M Schultz, it was lovely to hear the personal stories and feel the affection she had for him. The museum has lots of wonderful artefacts and exhibits which are super easy to wander around at your leisure and take endless photos off. They have typewriters that you can type on with Snoopy headed paper. I loved every single moment there and it transported me back to childhood. The tour was really informative so I would say if you have time take it, then go around again at your leisure.
This place is informative and a highlight for my trip to Santa Rosa. Luckily I stayed close to the museum so I can take a walk about 30 mins only. Perfect for family day out.
Nice museum, able to watch shows (including a Charlie Brown Christmas ) - read lot's of strips, see his inspirations - sit at Lucy's Therapy Booth and take a picture - see his workspace - Good gift shop (Ice Rink gift shop is bigger) - nice way to spend a couple hours.
So much to see and do. My favorite activity was cartoon drawing. Kids enjoyed it so much after ice skating and a cup of Cocoa. The archives were awesome and revealed much about the artist's back story inspiring the rich notes of each beloved character and the many complex friendships among the relatable Peanuts neighborhood.
This place is a must for Peanuts fans. You will learn a lot about Schulz's life and his art work, the genius behind the charming comic strip. Lots of good art work on the walls. Also a place for hero worship.
The museus is awesome! Although it’s small, the visit pays off as you can see a lot of cool
Things like statues and phrases. I took a lot
Of pictures! The hole complex is nice, since there is a ice-rink, store and coffee shop. It’s
The best break from the wineries.
Lots of interesting details about Schulz's life and career in Santa Rosa. Included an entire wall from an apartment he lived in in MN. A drawing room for kids.
My wife wanted to visit for her birthday, so we grabbed the grandkids and headed out. The signage could have been better you want to take the second entrance to get close to the museum if you have mobility issues. The first entrance is near the gift shop and ice rink. The museum is amazing even for the less Peanuts enthusiasts. The exhibits change about every 6 months so don't fear seeing the same thing everytime. Students get in for $5 with student ID even when in college. Pretty good deal. Normal admittion was $12.
We were trying to entertain our kids while we were in Sonoma. This was great fun for the whole family. They had a scavenger hunt for my girls to do that kept them busy. Then they had a lot of fun in the art room making cartoons.
Great museum with a great staff. My husband and I were staying in Occidental for a weekend getaway. I wanted to go to the museum so my husband agreed. The admission cost was only $12 for each of us. We spent about 3-4 hours there including the Warm Puppy Cafe and gift shop. The admission clerk was gracious enough to take a photo of us by Woodstock. The volunteer at the front gave us a map and explained it would be best to start with the mini movie in the back of the museum. It was a great film with Mrs. Schulz sharing information about her husband. The comics and narratives were great. I read every one of them. My husband was equally as pleased with the museum. He was surprised at how much he enjoyed learning the history of Charles M. Schulz. I would definitely recommend this museum for any Peanuts fan. Be sure to visit the Warm Puppy Cafe and gift shop. There is more museum memorabilia at both locations.
Been a Peanuts reader for a very long time so it was fun to learn more about Sparky and the gang. Appreciated the insights and what drove the strip. Well worth the stop.
An amazing tour through Charles Shaw's life as an artist.
Took two of our grandchildren and was in there for four hours. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
Well, it's worth the time to stop and take a short journey at the capsule of Americana through the life of the legendary Charles Schultz, the creator of Charlie Brown and Peanuts.
The museum captures more than the life and times of a wonderful cartoonist but also takes you through the previous century by way of artwork and journal notes from the pen of Charles Schultz and others who had influenced and helped develop his legendary style.
I would highly recommend this place to anyone with children from ages 10 to adulthood!
They do offer an "art class" for younger children and to anyone who might desire to learn how to draw their own characters.
Happily surprised to learn about his place. The museum was smaller than I expected but very nicely done. The admission is a little steep but nothing to stop a true Peanuts fan! I really love all the statues around Santa Rosa (Lucy in a Candy Striper dress by the hospital is my favorite so far) so that gave me a taste of what the place would have. I did not know about the skating rink and the Warm Puppy Cafe. So fun. And the history makes it even more enjoyable. It was hard not to laugh while reading the comic strips.
If you're familiar with Charles Schulz and the Peanuts gang (whose not) you'll enjoy this museum and exhibits.
Of special note is the mural that Schulz created for his children's bedroom wall. Exhibits primarily focus on the illustrative work and panels of the cartoonist. Fun to walk over and have a beverage and watch people skating at Snoopy's Ice Rink next door. Gift shop has some wonderful things that are otherwise overpriced.
This was a great museum to visit on a rainy day...or any day. It brought back lots of memories of the Peanuts comic strip and provided a very good history of how Charles M Schultz became a cartoonist. There was a theater to watch Peanuts movies and a recreation of CMS's office. The atmosphere was very relaxed and allowed for a self-guided tour, yet there was always staff around to answer any questions. The price was very good, as were prices in the gift shop. Price for seniors was $8 and $5 for students. Not sure how young people (children) feel about what is in the museum, just a lot of memories for those of us who grew up with Peanuts. Maybe more hands-on activities for children would be worth a look.
This was my second visit, the first one being in May 2010. It is a great place to go that is just the right size for the topic - not too long and boring, but long enough to rekindle your love for the Peanuts gang. There are a whole variety of things to look at and it really does lighten your day and make you smile and laugh. There are a few fun things to do too.
I didn't feel like the shop had as much merchandise as before, but I still managed to find several lovely pieces to buy.
Unfortunately, the Warm Puppy Cafe wasn't open. We were told that it isn't open on Fridays.
From the moment I walked into the museum I began smiling. Seeing the characters, comic strips, etc made me so happy. The staff was very friendly. I enjoyed seeing his studio. The mosaic wall was amazing!
We enjoyed our visit to the museum. It's very nice with lots of great comics and information about Charles Schulz. It provided insight into how he got started and how Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang evolved. The museum itself is beautiful with lots of light and open space.
Enjoyed the museum! Family friendly and ideal for children of any age.
The entire area is a beautiful place to visit with lots of places to shop and eat.
I was in town for a music festival and knew I had to make m way to this museum! I am a long time Peanuts fan and heard great things about it, it did not disappoint!
There is wonderful background about Charles Schulz, how he grew up and how the peanuts came about. There’s multiple play areas for kids, movie area, an outdoor maze and comics everywhere!
The cafe’ and gift shop were also delightful stops.
Lovely museum with a little bit of everything--a short video introduction, beautiful and calming decor, replica of Mr. Schulz's office, and of course tons of comic strips on display with insightful commentary to match. Loved it!
We went several years ago when we attended "Beaglefest" and stopped in again on our way down to the Desert. So worthwhile and thoughtfully done to commemorate the work/art that Charles Schulz left the world. He was a true artist that many of us grew up with viewing his column every day in our local paper. Myself and my husband appreciate all the love and wise words he left for everyone. He is so missed, but definitely not forgotten. Wonderful museum for ALL ages.
Great place to spend a Saturday afternoon browsing around the Snoopy artifacts and the history of the comic strip. Afterwards can take in a skate next door at the ice skating rink!
Love the short movies they have as well. Definitely a hit with kids and adults alike.
Staying in the town of Santa Rosa in Sonoma California we decided to visit this museum showcasing the life and career of Charles M. Schulz . He lived and worked there for many years prolifically writing and drawing his Peanuts cartoon strips featuring his classic characters such as Charlie Brown and Snoopy .A modern building Very well lyes our with excellent exhibition layout full of brilliantly funny cartoons from throughout Shultz’s career and also , artworks responding to his achievements ( a wooden sculpture, wall mural and a Christo wrapped dog kennel!) . There are also lots of examples of merchandise, memorabilia and personal artefacts , including a reproduction of his office with original items of furniture in it .
In all this a very worthwhile , entertaining and informative museum that is great as an introduction to Schultz and has lots of things for the more knowledgable consumer of his work . Definitely highly recommended.
Great to see that Charles was honoured with this museum !!!!
Perfect place to escape the mid-day heat and be kid again.
Loved every bit of this museum! The overview video narrated by Schultz's wife is a perfect place for adults to begin. Young children may prefer the more interactive parts of the museum. With such a huge inventory of material to share, the museum has thoughtfully created two displays that change regularly. One took us through the development of Woodstock - that beloved character of indeterminate avian species - and all the cartoons in that room were about Woodstock's adventures. A similar room was dedicated to Charlie Brown 'going to camp'. We were in a bit of a time crunch and had to move on before we had had our fill of this delightful 5-star museum.
Fun museum. Be sure and go on the guided tour as the docent has lots of information about the different sections of the museum. Staff are very nice. Parking is easy and the gift shop is cute.
We had such a lovely experience at the Charles M. Schultz Museum on Mother's Day. Moms had free admission which was a nice perk! We met a docent who actually knew Mr. Schultz and gave us a lot of insight and information. We enjoyed watching the introductory film narrated by Charles Schultz's wife. There were so many priceless exhibits that featured the famous cartoonist's interests and passions including ice hockey, philanthropy, service to others, and reading. It was amazing to see his office, cartoons, books, and the Warm Puppy Cafe.
A must see for anyone who loves Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang. The Museum store is a fantastic place to pick up your favorite memorabilia. Wonderful selection of gifts for your Charlie Brown loving friends!
We stopped here primarily to kill time between checking out from one hotel and checking into another one but it was worth a visit. It is a combination of a shrine to the man and a nice collection of cartoons and memorabilia. FYI- it you are a member of a North American Reciprocal Museum you can receive free admission which we didn’t realize until after we had paid the entrance fee.
This was an absolute delight of a museum. It was interactive and engaging for my 6 and 9 year old boys, but also very interesting for the adults. I loved the art space for families to create together. We loved learning more about Charlez Shulz and his love for his art and community. I recommend coupling this with a stop in downtown Santa Rosa for a bite, beverage or ice cream.
Interesting museum for anyone who loves Charlie Browm. Theater with showing different videos all day, ck the schedule. This is all things Charlie Brown, comic strips, reproduction of Charles M. Schulz's working office. The Ice rink is being rebuilt sh the arena is all dirt, out front sit on a Zamboni ice resurfacing machine and the gift shop is all things Charlie and company
It was a great visit with my darling wife who it the biggest Snoopy fan she has been wanting to see the museum for years. She was highly delighted the shop was full of Snoopy stuff came away with lots of Snoopys well recommend this lovely place
Charles Schultz lived and worked among those in Santa Rosa. We in Santa Rosa are proud to call home to Snoopy and his friends.
My children and I stopped her. Many unique items on display and for sale. Was raised watching peanuts, good old days of cartoons. My mom collects these items. Nice to share my childhood with my children.
A must do if you’re a Peanuts fan. It’s cool to know you grew up with something so special. Staff very helpful. Lots to see on the property. Beware of children.
I've been a Peanuts lover since a child. This museum was a bucket list item for me and it didn't disappoint. It was a nice stop on a west coast roadtrip. Highly recommend spending 2-3 hours here.
We visited the museum on a recent trip to Northern California. The Charles Schulz museum was indeed a highlight. Everyone loved wandering around and reading all the old comic strips and taking pictures with the Peanuts gang. Our whole group spent over an hour just in the craft room upstairs sketching the Peanuts characters and making origami snoopy dog houses. It was a very fun way to spend an afternoon and I would definitely go again if I’m ever up that way again.
We usually think of Santa Rosa as a pass-through point on the way to wine country. But hidden on a small side street is this gem of a museum definitely worth a visit. The thought, the care, the attention to detail that went into the development of the museum and display of Schulz’s work reflects the care and attention he gave to his strip. Even if you don’t want to delve into his psyche and accomplishments, just walk around, read the strips, take a picture at Lucy’s Psych Help booth, and enjoy a film or two in the theatre. Bet you’ll be smiling when you leave! (And be sure to check out the bathrooms!
Very interesting, small museum. Although I didn’t bring kids, it has a lot of interactive activities for them. Lots of cartoon panels to read, almost too many.
Plan to spend more time if you watch any of the shows in the theatre. We began watching a show that was 90 minutes long about Snoopy choosing his former owner or Charlie Brown. I didn’t even remember this 90 minute cartoon. It would be fun to go to the little cafe near the museum for lunch but we had already eaten
This is a nice tribute to the talented Charles "Sparky" Schulz, gives a look into his background and has some interesting videos about him and the museum. I could easily spend at least 3 hours here reading all the comics and the history and seeing the videos.
It was a small but lovely museum. There is the 'warm puppy cafe' near the icerink where you can have a snack and watch the skaters. This time (August) the rink was in maintenance.
Plenty of good photo opportunities in and around the museum. There is Lucy's stand, and several peanuts characters in and around the area. Enjoy!
If you are a Charlie Brown/Snoopy fan, you want to go out of your way to go here. You'll hate yourself later if you miss it. Well worth it the cost and memorializes Shultz very well. It was not overly crowded, you could enjoy the exhibits with ease. There internal gift shop is very tiny compared to the tons of Snoopy merchandise that exists. However, go next door also to visit the ice rink that Shultz had built, you can go inside and see how huge it is and skaters andsit on the bleachers if you want. It's modeled after swiss german architecture inside, very ice, and also eat at the Warm Puppy restaurant inside (warning it's crowded). Continue across the street for a much much bigger Charlie Brown/Snoopy gift shop. Prices are quite reasonable and I found some very unique snoopy gifts. The museum also shows in its theater some episodes of Charlie Brown. When I was there they had a special It's Christmas time Charlie Brown exhibit which was very nice.
Reveals the life of Charles (Sparky) Schulz and the development of his career as a cartoonist. Reveals the source of all is characters. Also the Ice Rink he built and played on. Great, inexpensive place to visit.
My daughter and I are big fans and we decided to take a weekend trip to see the museum. If you are a fan this seems like a must. We were not disappointed. We both thoroughly enjoyed the museum.
It is not huge, but we took our time and read almost everything as we went through the museum. Some of my favorite parts were how the comic strip characters were apart of so much actual history. The current Lucy exhibit was a great example.
The grounds are great. We walked over to the ice rink and cafe. It was closed to the public, but there was practice going on the ice. The gift shop by the ice rink is very cool with lots of items at reasonable prices.
We also walked to see the ball field, tennis court and the studio. We spent almost four hours enjoying it all.
Again, if you are a fan I think this is a must to visit.
This is a very nice museum filled with Mr. Schulz"s Peanuts characters, comics and history. You can purchase clothing, books and other items. Stop in after ice skating or watching a performance or hockey game in the ice arena.
Loved our tour and all the displays about Charles Schulz and all the Peanut characters! The short films were great, it was all great!
For the lovers of the Peanuts comic strip, this is the best thing to do in the region. You will learn the history and evolution of the strip and a lot about Schulz, the creator, who lived right here in Santa Rosa. Some good art, lots of good trivia. A happy experience.
Whether you are a child and want to try your want at drawing or an adult who has been reading the amazing Snoopy strips for years, there is something to hold your interest here. Special exhibits around themes (such as the Presidents) and standing exhibits all show the creativity of Schultz (known as Sparky to his friends.) Adjacent to the museum is an ice rink where kid of all ages can skate and a cafe where one can get an age-appropriate snack (grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, etc.). It is a fun & interesting place to bring visitors of all ages.
This is a well laid out museum providing a good understanding into the background and insight on Charles Schulz. I was amazed to see a documentary showing how he drew Charlie Brown with a single swoop of that ink pen he used. Superb talent and also excellent info on Woodstock the concert.
We stopped by for a couple of hours while travelling in the area. They have several very nice exhibits - the introductory video is a really great way to get the a perspective on Sparky's life. Adults will appreciate the themed areas with large format strips of Peanuts panels. Upstairs there was lots of interesting history of Sparky's life and how he got his start. A great way to spend an hour or two.
Charles Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa is a gem. Exhibits are easy to read and informative. Most of us have grown up reading Peanuts comic strip in our daily newspapers. Here you get to know its background stories. I also enjoyed reading more about the characters introduced in the strip, The one I especially enjoyed was introduction of Franklin (little black kid) into the family of characters in the strip. You will enjoy it. May be also pick up a stuffed toy from the store for someone you want to make happy!
Great museum. Lots of history there. Ice rink right next door. All about Snoopy, Lehneis, Charlie Brown, Lucy, peppermint Patty.
When I looked at the website for this museum, I wondered whether there would be enough to hold my interest. Turns out, there wasn’t. Even at the discounted Senior rate, it was too pricey in my book. The recreation of his office was fun to see, and the timeline of his life somewhat interesting to read, but that was about it. I really can’t believe kids (or adults for that matter) would find a reason to spend more than 30 minutes at this museum. I was done in 15. The gift shop in the museum is very small; there is a larger one across the street. But I was looking for a t-shirt for my 2-year-old grandson and they had about three from which to choose—and I don’t mean three styles; three t-shirts. This museum was a huge pass for both me and my husband.
This is a wonderful museum. It's full of Peanuts history with lots of hands on things to do. If you are a fan of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang this is a great place to go. While you're there be sure to pop over to the coffee shop/ice rink right across the street. Charles Schultz went there most days for lunch and there's some fun things there too.
Definitely something you'll want to do if you're in Santa Rosa.
The artwork & memorabilia on display was really cool. I liked the theater showing Peanuts shorts on rotation all day. Your admission is for ALL DAY & you can leave & come back later. The outdoor/patio area is beautiful with shade, seats & a big Redwood tree. Fun for the whole family.
Charles Schultz and his Peanuts characters are mainstays of many of our childhoods, and with Schultz being a former longtime resident of this area it makes sense that the museum is housed here. It's primarily a collection of his comics, some rarer, and some very early and which trace the history of the Peanuts characters. With it being the anniversary of "Woodstock" (the concert that is) the main exhibit traced Peanut's character Woodstock's history. Very interesting to see the changing character. Upstairs there was another exhibit on magic (meh) and a recreation of Schultz's office workspace. If you are in the area, it's definitely worth a stop.
Easy parking, great history, fun for the family, you can learn so much, a real true artist. Will go back
This place is so random I love it! Loved the big fun gift shop & the little upstairs loft area with some facts about the Peanuts (there is a big ramp to get to the upstairs so it’s wheelchair accessible) I personally thought the upstairs loft area was the museum & was perfectly content with that. The ice skating rink was closed & maybe doing renovations. The museum itself was very modern looking & spacious like an art gallery. They do have another smaller gift shop next to the registers to pay to go in. Admission was $12. I think this was a little pricey given what the museum had to offer but still worth checking out
What an absolutely charming museum. Just for kids? On the contrary. Even though children might enough some of the Peanuts cartoons, the museum shows the development of Schulz' craft and the Peanuts characters. It also has an a thorough biography of Schulz. The museum is quite beautiful in itself.
This is definitely a place to visit when in the Sonoma Valley area… it’s in the Santa Rosa community, not far from the STS airport. Admission is inexpensive at $15 per adult and the museum is actually pretty decent in size and has plenty volunteers there to help provide info and stories along the way.
The exhibits are nice and the curation is very professional and perfectly set up. Everything will help tell a story about the life of Charles Schultz, as well the Peanuts characters.
We enjoyed our visit!
I am not a museum fan at all but this was a fun and interesting place to visit. It is a very small museum so you can get through it quickly. It is a tad overpriced for what it is.
The Charles M Schulz Museum was a huge surprise. I was expecting a few pieces of memorabilia and a handful of original strips, but was I ever wrong! The museum includes a campus of three buildings - all built through the generosity of Charles M Schulz. The museum itself is extremely well-designed and presents the life and story of both the artist and the strip in several interesting and informing displays. Be sure to include the museum on your next visit to Santa Rosa.
Spent an afternoon with a group of friends seeing the Charles Shulz Museum. The afternoon brought back such good memories and what a charming place. Staff were very warm and welcoming. We spent a good 2 hours watching the videos and reading all the strips. Good for Peanuts admirers and interactive for youngsters. Excellent gift shop and right next door to the ice arena Charles Schulz built for the community. This man and his creations are American treasures.
This museum is a treasure. We spent over 2 hours here. Strolling through the rooms with eyes wide open taking in all the memorabilia. Visiting the office set up as it was and even enjoying the outside area..we did it all. The layout is perfect. We visited the extra shop across the complex and we WISHED we had not just eaten or we would have enjoyed the Warm Puppy Cafe. Darn! Next time! :)
Charles M Schulz Museum is totally worth a visit if you are a fan of the adorable Snoopy, Charles Brown and their friends.
It took us about 1.5 hours drive which was quite bad from San Francisco to Santa Rosa. There were also some famous “farm-to-table” restaurants that you should plan to visit at the same trip.
The admission is $12 for adults and tickets for seniors and students are also available. We were there for about 2 hours including watching a short Peanuts movie.
The exhibition is great with interesting information like the history, manuscript and vintage merchandise. Visitors can take lots of photos with character statues standing around the museum.
The souvenir store is amazing as well with a variety of products and the most memorable part for me was they had a collaboration T-shirt from other countries including my hometown Taiwan.
It was a very pleasant surprise to find this museum during our brief visit in Santa Rosa. It gave us an overall feeling for Charles Schultz world. Exploring the museum and easy and perfect for a quick tour. We have fond memories of his work and still enjoy his cartoons. We recommend to anyone who likes the Peanuts cartoon to visit it if they are in the area.
I fell in love with Peanuts as a child. It started when I was old enough to read the comic strip, and then saw A Charlie Brown Christmas. I enjoy it as much now as I did 50 years ago. The complex includes 3 buildings, a gift shop, an ice rink, and the museum with a separate gift shop. The museum is amazing. One of the many things to see is a recreation of his office, including the drawing board, chair and many of his favorite books. You get to see the evolution of the characters and many comic strip.
Fortunately, my husband and I were able to go here one week before the fires and smoke damage. The museum is currently closed, but they hope to reopen in 2 weeks.
Well worth a visit.
LIfe Long Fan (now 65) Was in San Fran for 3 days and had to go to the museum. only about an Hour Drive. Modern Clean Museum with Plenty to see. Lots of Cartoons on the walls and plenty of Life Size Statues for Photo Ops. I was intrigued with the exhibit of Foreign Peanuts Covers. I am glad I came here with my family who also enjoyed the visit
If you are a Peanuts fan you will enjoy this museum. The presentation of Mr. Schultz’s passion is done very well. The tile mosaic is a wonderful piece of artwork and the history of the strip and Mr. Schultz is well done. A must see in the Santa Rosa area.
Loved the museum. It is geared more for adults. Lots of strips to read and memorabilia to look at. They had his drawing room too. I spent 2 hours and in that time I could read and look at everything. I checked out the ice rink which is nice. I happened to be hungry so I went to the Warm Puppy Cafe (inside the rink lobby). Very nice table area and a fireplace. Had chicken strips and fries for $14.00. Good value big portion. Worth a stop if you’re a peanuts fan.
SNOOPY! WOODSTOCK! OMG! My father-in-law, would have loved this museum. My wife, fell in love with it! Our Little One did a scavenger hunt and enjoyed herself.
The recreation of the drawing room with with a panel from the wall with the scratches on it, the chair, and the desk that Charles worked at, were awe inspiring. If you go to Santa Rosa for anything, this is an absolute must stop and visit along the way!
During our visit, the museum was celebrating Woodstock through the ages. Very informative, very engaging. If we return to Santa Rosa in the future, we will definitely be making another visit.
What a great place to visit. Seeing all the old Peanuts cartoons brought back memories of younger days. The really neat part was gaining an understanding of the meaning and the origin of many of them. Also great biographical info on Charles Schulz.
Great overview of Schultz’ life, work and influences. Loved the recreation of his studio and the mural made from comic strips!!
I took my 4 and 7 year old grandsons to the Snoopy Museum. I loved seeing all the old comics and Snoopy memories. There were fun activities for my grandsons to participate in, including a treasure hunt. We had lunch next door at the Snoopy Ice Rink. It was a fun day for all!
Who would have thought 75 years ago that the comics about a few problematic loser kids from an American suburb and a philosophical, dreamy Beagle dog could become such a worldwide success story? But the life-smart stories of Charles M. Schulz provide such an identification platform that the Peanuts have remained everyday heroes for many people to this day. In this museum you can learn a lot about the history of the author and comics and also get creative yourself. Therefore "Happy Birthday, Peanuts!" - may many fans visit you here!
A delightful surprise to find this museum in Santa Rosa! You will learn the story of how the Peanuts characters developed plus a thoughtful and informative tribute to Charles M Schulz, the creator!
This is a very memorable place to visit. The history and archives in this building are amazingly preserved. We didn't ice skate or eat, but we did check out the museum and gift shop. They had it all decorated with the Christmas trees, real and aluminum. Don't miss this!
My daughter and I had a great time at the museum. Our tour guide Craig was very knowledgeable and entertaining.
If you travel in Santa Rosa you can’t miss it. Great experience for Schulz lover , lots of original strips of the peanuts
Tourist shop is a little ridiculous but we already knew that right? Original drawings are great. Not sure what deal with skating rink but I guess have to come back in winter!
First time visiting and loved it. Love reading all the comic strips, seeing the kite tree and the evolution of Snoopy.
Not going to jump out at you like a trip to Disneyland, but an interesting place to learn about Peanuts and the man who created Charlie, Snoopy and co.
I always loved Charlie Brown growing up and I'm still a fan. I brought my 9 year old daughter here and she loved it. A charming small and managabe musuem to visit. I also found Charles Schultz to be an interesting, down to earth guy. Ice ring next door was closed for maintenance/renovation. Gift show there was good too.
We loved our visit and left with smiles on our faces. Docent Rosie was a hoot, and she regaled us with many great stories. Fun for the young and the young at heart. So glad we visited!
The Peanuts gang is a cultural phenomenon and rank among the most easily recognized cartoon and comic strip characters. The man behind Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and the rest of the gang is Mr. Charles Schulz and his life and work is commemorated at the Charles Schulz Museum.
Charles Schulz was a man destined to create comic strips and animated cartoons and the Charles Schulz Museum uncovers many facts about Schulz and displays countless exhibits that detail his life in the industry. The museum is contained on two floors and as you walk from the first floor through to the second, you are presented with a chronological flow of Schulz’s career, starting in Minnesota and ending in Santa Rosa, the place he called home for decades.
What I like best about the Schulz Museum is its attention to historic detail. Visitors get to learn more about Schulz, his inspiration behind the different characters, his position as a cultural influencer, and much more. I thought I already knew a good deal about Schulz and the Peanuts members, but after walking through the museum, it was obvious that I, in fact, knew very little. The videos about Schulz and his life are among the most useful in the museum and, along with the different exhibits, they effectively convey what life was like for a man and his comic strip.
The Charles Schulz Museum has a gift shop, as expected, a play and craft area for kids on the second floor, and even an ice rink. Serious studiers of comic strips will love the research center, which is available only by appointment but contains a wealth of knowledge. Parking is plentiful and the museum is kept clean and tidy.
I admit, I ‘m not a huge fan of the Peanuts characters, but I certainly have respect for the man who created them and I enjoyed learning about Schulz and his life here at the Charles Schulz Museum. It’s a cool place for children and adults alike and a must for fans and others who grew up reading the Peanuts comic strips and watching the animated cartoons.
It brings back memories and warm feelings about Peanuts and Charles Schulz. They have actually put his real studio and drawing table in the museum. And lots of actual Schulz originals. And don't miss the snack bar in the ice arena across the street. You can still see the table reserved for Schulz and where he ate lunch every day. And don't
A beautiful, well-organized museum which is very user-friendly for the entire family.
The auditorium is where you can sit and watch excellent videos related to the artist Charles M. Schulz. The Education Room is well supplied w/ drawing materials, etc. for all ages. The Gallery holds an incredible collection of the artist's famous brush stroke denoting his classic characters. The outdoor area is where the fanciful Kite-Eating Tree and majestic redwood hold sway with Charlie Brown's teacher Ms. Othmar's art instruction classrooms at the West end. The labyrinth in the outside East area is also a must-see w/ Snoopy's collar and nose as the prominent features.
We all know Linus and Lucy etc. but we don't all know their history and that of their creator. This was a fun, quick interesting museum that is best appreciated by adults who can read all the history.
Went in mid-September, in time to see the "Snoopy the writer exhibit. Been here several times over the years and love it more each time. Schulz and the Peanuts gang are American classics and the museum does a great job sharing all their happiness. Don't miss the ice arena next door for more Peanuts cartoons and stuff.
This museum is a wonderful place to see lots of items relating to Snoopy. They have a great variety of things to buy and I just love going there.
As a lifelong fan of the Peanuts comic strip I had to stop off and visit during a California road trip vacation. We were very warmly welcomed by the staff and volunteers. We enjoyed the 45 minute tour of the museum by a really enthusiastic and knowlegeable volunteer who took the time to answer my wuestions at the end. Another volunteer took our photos and chatted with us. I enjoyed the Peanuts comic strips on show and the recreation of Charles Schulz’s office. I was also able to buy a soft toy Snoopy in the gift shop. We also visited the Warm Puppy Cafe for lunch. Brilliant!
It was really fun learning more about Charles Schultz. Seeing many of the Peanuts comic strips again took us back in time. He led an interesting life.
If you are really into Peanuts you will love this place.
Even though I loved the holiday cartoons on TV i was never a comic strip person. My son and his family wanted to go so I went along. Maybe I am not the best person to review this place.
It was OK. Interesting. I liked more about the man than the Peanuts characters who I could not name but for Charlie and Lucy and Snoopy..
The history of the creation of Franklin was one of the most interesting displays. As was Christo's interpretation of Snoopy's doghouse.
It's in Shultz's old neighborhood with his ice rink, open to the public.
Lots of cartoon strips on display.
We got there before 11 when it opened so we went across the street to the ice rink. The workers were very friendly invited us in and told us about the morning skaters. We watched all the activity before heading back to the museum. Learning the history behind all the Peanuts characters was my favorite part. Older adults could easily spend 3 hours reading everything. There are activities for children on Monday mornings they would not find the exhibits interesting.
The place displays Charles M. Shultz studio and many of Peanuts comic strips since its beginnings to its lasts publications. I regret, however, that there is not enough space to other loved characters, like Peppermint Patty and Marcia.
This museum is just right in terms of displays offered and in its size. "Peanuts" fans, Baby Boomers in particular, will adore what they can learn and see here. Younger generations can discover the delights of the comic strip Charles M. Schulz created over five decades. It's almost a "Schulz World" complex, with the Redwood Empire Ice Arena a few steps away and the big gift shop a little farther beyond that. I have to say I was impressed by the stand of redwood trees on the campus; that makes this a true Northern California attraction.
We love this cartoon and spent an enjoyable afternoon here. While the wineries and redwoods were wonderful, this is a worthwhile stop in the area. It is small enough to include a lot of memories, but not so overwhelming that you can’t see everything. There is an interesting film on the museum which makes a good starting point. The cartoons are nicely displayed. You can see his desk and other memorabilia. There’s a room which tells you about his life. You can relax and see some of the films.
It is masterfully created. I liked “Peanuts”, but after coming here I have a much greater appreciation for Mr Schultz’s works. He was a master.
I have to admit I was skeptical going here without my kids, but my wife and I had a fantastic and informative visit. You really realize just how much these characters have been a part of your memories for so long. Certainly worth the visit. Gift shop is actually reasonably priced as well!
We were passing through Santa Rosa on our way from Napa Valley to the coast, and decided to stop to see the museum.
We were very impressed! The staff were courteous and knowledgeable. The facility was clean and neat. The guided tour was very good.
The museum is not limited to the works of Charles Schulz, and includes a display of works from other comic illustrators, including many that influenced Mr. Schulz. There is also a library of comics which are available for serious research, though that was beyond the scope of our visit.
It was a bit strange finding a museum dedicated to the author of a comic strip that one grew up with. One ends up feeling a bit . . . ancient. But that aside, the Schultz museum was a pleasant revisit of the early Peanuts comic strip and a fine tribute to its author Charles Schultz. While much of the museum seems geared toward young visitors, there was still enough to keep us adults engaged. There appear to be rotating themed exhibits: in mid-October, the gallery was displaying a collection of 1960s original strips. There's also a recreation of Schultz's office on the second floor, and another room that chronicles his life and displayes many of his posessions (your reviewer had not known before that Schultz served in Europe during World War 2).
There is a courtyard out back with a young sequoia tree, as well as an enormous pumpkin in a booth (a seasonal display for October, no doubt). There is a small gift shop/nook and a auditorium that plays Peanuts films. Restrooms are by the elevator on both floors.
Finding the museum was a little tricky. We at first thought that the ice skating rink a block to the east was it. Then we saw a sign to the museum, but were unclear on where to park. It turns out that the lot on the north side of the building, under the banks of solar panels and entered from Hardies Lane, was in fact the parking area for the museum and leads right to its main entrance.
If you are a Peanuts' fan, then you have to visit here. Two floors of Peanuts' original strips and a theater running Peanuts' related videos continuously make this the place to be for any Peanuts' fan. The lower gallery is changing exhibits. When we were there, the exhibit was of family favorite strips. Each strip had a family story that went with it. Plenty of room between exhibits, so no need to feel rushed or crowded. The upper gallery had Schultz's office and exhibits showing how he was influenced by earlier cartoonists. The theater was showing documentaries and Peanuts specials. We watched the A&E documentary on Schultz's life which was excellent. There is a small gift shop in the museum. There is a larger gift shop across the street by the ice rink and café.
I've been a Peanuts fan since I was a child. I was very much looking forward to this museum. I was travelling from the UK. Unfortunately, the museum was extremely boring. The building is nice, new and clean but the museum has absolutely no joy.
There is far too much empty space.
Other people have written reviews saying it's a great place for kids but I completely disagree. The museum is definitely targeted towards adult fans. The kids I saw there were bored and had little interest in Peanuts. The adults looked serious and bored too.
Even the outside of the museum is dull. We almost drove past. The place should be bright, colourful and fun ! Why haven't you got statues of all the main characters outside ? You only have a couple right beside the entrance. What a missed opportunity.
The wall from Charles' daughter's bedroom was good, as was the recreation of Charles' study - but nothing else was interesting at all.
One room upstairs is a lab dedicated to the "science of Charles M. Schults" ! Are these people for real ? Peanuts is a lovely cartoon and Charles definitely had talent but he didn't find a cure for cancer, did he ? He drew cartoons for a living! It's a perfect example of how boring and serious they have made this museum. There is none of the fun of the Peanuts gang.
Why don't you display some Peanuts merchandise from throughout the years ? Fill some of that vast empty space. Even the majority of cartoon strips on display were black and white.
Unlike other museums where people (and kids) are expected to be quiet, a museum dedicated to a man who drew a fun cartoon strip should be exciting, fun and full of smiles.
I would not recommend a visit to this museum. The museum takes itself far too seriously and is seriously dull as a result.
This was an excellent place to rediscover childhood memories and learn about the contributions of Charles Schultz to his community and to the world. In looking at his work you begin to really see with new eyes the humor that is timeless. This is a great family destination and for anyone who has enjoyed Mr. Schultz work and his service during WW2. This is great Americana!
My boyfriend loves the Peanuts so we decided to visit the museum after the Bay to Breakers run and it was amazing. It brought back fond childhood memories and there was so much information, memorabilia and exhibits. It is a must for any Peanuts fan.
All things Peanuts!
Of course it should be. The museum is on the left as you face the park. The Ice Rink is in the middle and the two story gift shop is on the right. The whole complex is backed by parking lots and tucked into a residential neighborhood. A part of the Ice Rink building serves as a cafe.
The upstairs of the museum is not to be missed. The upstairs of the gift shop is also a museum of sorts. It lists every television show Schultz ever made. And it is quite a list.
In my family we watch the Great Pumpkin and the Christmas show most every year.
I was a little disappointed that one or two of the books I had from the 50’s was not available. What they did have were displays of Dell pocket books of which I owned several. Those sold for less then a dollar back in the day.
The complete collection by time frames in years is available. 1950-1952, etc. be prepared to plunk down 29.95 plus California tax for those works.
Well worth the 12.00 admission to get in!
Really enjoyed seeing the various exhibits and learning about my favorite comics. Very fun for kids and families.
Had an awesome time walking around and seeing Peanuts and how Charles Schulz influenced a generation of cartoonists. The art installations are superb and the recreation of his home studio is like walking into a time capsule.
Popular Attraction Reviews
Peanuts rules at this museum of the works and life of Charles Schulz.
It is fun learning about Schultz's life, career and family.
The displays are excellent. It is fun to follow all the characters, hearing how they came about and how they lived on in the media.
Well worth an extended visit.