Guide to Charles Schulz Museum
02/23/21Explore the Charles Schulz Museum and gain insight into the life and work of the cartoonist behind iconic characters, including Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the Peanuts Gang.
History of the Museum
Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz was an American cartoonist best known for creating the famous Peanuts comic strip, which first hit newspapers in October of 1950. Since the '50s, the cartoon has evolved from a 3-character comic strip to an entire empire featuring dozens of characters, storylines, shows, movies, and more. What began as an innocent illustration of Schulz's childhood memories quickly became an American staple and household name. Although Schulz dreamed of being a professional cartoonist his entire life, he had no idea that the artwork he produced at just 27-years old would cause such a global impact and see this kind of longevity. Schulz's work and legacy now live on at the Charles M Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA, for visitors of all sorts to experience and enjoy.
Exhibitions
The Charles M. Schulz Museum features three changing gallery spaces and six permanent exhibitions, meaning visitors have access to the museum's classics as well as new things to see each time they visit. Check out the drawing board Schulz used for nearly his entire career, snap a photo of his desk, and view photos and memorabilia from the cartoonist's incredible life when you explore Schulz's Re-created Studio exhibit. Then step into a journey of self-discovery and joy when you enter the Snoopy Labyrinth, designed by Lea Goode-Harris of Santa Rosa Labyrinth Foundation. We also recommend stopping by Japanese artist Yoshiteru Otani's two phenomenal art installations, featuring the Peanuts, both located in the museum's Great Hall.
Unfortunately, due to health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19, the museum is temporarily closed and offering online displays in place of its physical exhibits.
Hidden Treasures: Unseen Originals from the Collection is a virtual exhibition based on a 2019 presentation that allows its viewers to take a deep dive into Schulz's pen strokes, margin notes, and other fine details. Those who choose to participate will also gain access to behind-the-scenes commentary from the wife of Charles M. Schulz, the Museum Curator, the Editorial Director, and a Senior Artist from Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates.
Tours
Join in on an immersive experience when you take a tour of the Charles M. Schulz Museum. Visitors can get acquainted with Schulz, his winsome cast of characters, and the museum's collections during a guided tour of the building and its grounds. Tours vary in length and interest and require a 3-week advanced booking to guarantee availability. Guests can choose between several unique tours, including the Basic Schulz Museum Tour, a Day-In-The-Life Tour, the Research Center Tour, a Museum Director Tour, and more. For more information and to book, visit the museum's website.
Classes & Workshops
The Charles M. Schulz museum offers a handful of interactive classes, camps, and other activities to get the community involved and connected in a creative space. Kids can learn how to draw popular cartoons, come up with their own characters, and develop their own style with the help of the creative educators when they sign up for one of the museum's classes or workshops. There are also plenty of online resources and virtual activities on the museum's website to check out, including crosswords, coloring books, create-your-own comic strip worksheets, and virtual workshops.
Peanuts Apparel
Museum guests and Peanut enthusiasts can find Schulz's celebrated artwork on an entire collection of apparel and other merchandise in the museum's gift shop and on their online store. Decorated items such as patches, mugs, shirts, and more make for a perfect gift or souvenir to remember your Charles M. Schulz Museum experience.
There are plenty of things to see and do when you spend the day exploring the Charles M. Schulz Museum or participating in virtual activities. From cartoon coloring sheets to strikingly detailed exhibitions, celebrating the life and work of Charles Schulz is a must for all Long Beach locals and visitors.