Oakland Museums Near Emeryville: How to Choose a Visit

The best fit depends on whether you want to focus on African American history, video games, California, or pinball. The first three options are in Oakland; the Pacific Pinball Museum is in Alameda.

For African American history and research resources, consider the African American Museum and Library at Oakland. The MADE suits a visit centered on playing games, while the Oakland Museum of California offers another museum option. Pinball is the focus at the Pacific Pinball Museum.

The African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) preserves and shares the historical and cultural experiences of African Americans in California and the West.

AAMLO is at 659 14th Street, on the corner of 14th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Its reference library supports the archives and museum, and includes a special non-circulating collection for use in the library.

The building has multiple stories and an elevator. The 14th Street entrance has a ramp, power-assisted doors, and a rail; accessible bathrooms, water fountains, and parking are also available. Parking options include a pay lot for patrons, nearby garages or paid lots, and street and metered parking.

For a closer look at the museum’s focus and practical details, the African American Museum and Library at Oakland visit guide covers planning a visit.

The MADE is a playable video game museum where you can play thousands of games on original hardware.

At 921 Washington Street, the museum also offers classes, community events, and volunteering opportunities related to gaming culture and creation. General admission is $20; admission is free for members.

If hands-on gaming is the main draw, compare its scheduled hours with your plans before setting out. The guide to visiting The MADE in Oakland has more on what to expect.

Two other options broaden the choice: the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland and the Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda.

Oakland Museum of California

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is open Wednesday–Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with Friday hours until 9:00 p.m.; it is closed Monday and Tuesday. All-inclusive admission is $25 for adults ages 18–64, $22 for seniors 65 and older, and $18 for youth ages 13–17 and students and educators with valid ID. Children 12 and under enter free.

OMCA offers $1 admission for EBT card holders through Museums for All. Galleries and Great Hall special exhibitions are free on the first Sunday of each month.

Parking is $5 per hour, or a $20 early-bird flat rate for visitors who enter before 10:00 a.m. and leave before 5:00 p.m. From Oakland’s Jack London Square Station, OMCA is a 15-minute walk or a 4-minute rideshare.

Pacific Pinball Museum

The Pacific Pinball Museum is at 1510 Webster Street in Alameda. It is closed Mondays for game repairs and is open Tuesday–Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

Unless otherwise advertised, it is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Hours and admission differ by museum, so verify the details for the place you choose before arranging your day.

AAMLO is open Monday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Friday, 12:00–5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; it is closed Sunday. The MADE is open Wednesday and Thursday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

For current Oakland museum hours, admission, parking, and any changes, check the official site before you go. Confirm details with the relevant museum: the Oakland Public Library for AAMLO, and each museum for its own visit information.

Start by choosing one museum whose subject fits your plans, then check its hours and admission before deciding whether to add another stop. AAMLO and The MADE have different opening patterns, so check both schedules if you are considering them on the same day.

From Nights Inn Motel, AAMLO is about 6 minutes by car; rooms at this Emeryville motel are available for the overnight part of your visit.

Which Oakland museum is focused on African American history?

The African American Museum and Library at Oakland focuses on discovering, preserving, interpreting, and sharing African American historical and cultural experiences in California and the West.

Can you play games at The MADE?

Yes. The MADE describes itself as a playable video game museum where visitors can play thousands of games on original hardware.

Which museums listed here are outside Oakland?

The Pacific Pinball Museum is in Alameda. AAMLO, The MADE, and the Oakland Museum of California are in Oakland.

Is the Pacific Pinball Museum open on Mondays?

No. It is closed Mondays for game repairs.