Information for Self-Guided Group Visits

Thank you for your interest in the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum & Cultural Center! We look forward to hosting your group. Please review our Group Guidelines & Responsibilities before planning your visit. Our policies for groups were created to provide the best experience for all guests, ensure the safety of museum staff and guests, and help maintain our museum for generations to come.

Before your visit

• Visit our online ticketing page to check for available timeslots and purchase tickets for your group. Group rates are available to groups of 10 or more guests with advanced notice. A group discount of 25% will automatically be applied to your cart at checkout.
• Please note that we allow 30 guests to enter the museum every 30 minutes. If your group contains more than 30 individuals, please split your group into smaller groups and select tickets for multiple timeslots.
• Review our Code of Conduct (see below) and share with your group.
• If you are traveling by bus, please contact museum staff to let us know in advance. Bus parking is available in our Visitor Parking Oversized Lot (#11 on our map).
• Plan to arrive a few minutes early so that your group may enter the museum at your scheduled time.
• Visit our website to learn more about what you can expect to see in our Cultural Park and Permanent Exhibit.

During your visit

• Food, beverages, and chewing gum are not allowed in the museum. Water is allowed. Guests may enjoy food and/or beverages in designated outdoor spaces. The museum does not store food or beverages for guests; please store food items in your vehicle until you are ready to eat. We encourage large school groups to visit our local county park located across the street for larger reservable lunch areas and playground equipment.
• Many aspects of the museum are interactive and encourage touching. For non-interactive areas of the museum, we ask guests not to touch and to refrain from leaning on walls, installations, and display cases.
• We do not allow sketching or painting in the museum. Guests may bring their own worksheets into the museum. Only pencils may be used in the museum (no pen or marker), and guests must use clipboards or notebooks when writing in the museum. Do not use walls, floors, installations, or display cases for support.
• Large bags (more than 13 x 12 x 4 inches) of any type are not permitted. The museum does not have storage space for any oversized bags; please leave large bags in your vehicle. We ask that permitted backpacks are worn on the front. All bags are subject to inspection. 

Accessibility

• Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for information about wheelchair access, service animals, and additional accommodations.

Photography

• Non-commercial photography is permitted, except where otherwise specified. The use of flash is prohibited within the museum.

Emergency & Evacuation Information

• Museum staff will provide guidance in case of emergency.

Additional Policies for School Groups and Their Chaperones

• Chaperones play an important role in a successful school visit. We require at least 1 chaperone for every 10 students, but we kindly request 1 chaperone for every 6 students with elementary school classes when possible.
• Chaperones must stay with their groups, including high school students, and are responsible for the behavior of their groups.
• We reserve the right to refuse or dismiss any group for an inadequate number of chaperones or misconduct.

Visitor Code of Conduct

• SYCM&CC will not tolerate inappropriate behavior, including, but not limited to, yelling, violence, intimidation, threats, harassment, aggression, swearing, damage, abuse, or sexual harassment.
• Individuals who are aggressive toward staff or other visitors will be expelled from the SYCM&CC and escorted off the property by our Public Safety team.
• Please always wear shirts and shoes.
• No rough housing at any time.
• No climbing on the premises.
• No weapons on the premises.

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information.

Thank you for visiting the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum & Cultural Center!