The Ventura County Museum of History and Art at 100 East Main Street does the job of a good regional museum: it tells you what this place actually was before it became a beach town. The permanent collection covers the Chumash people who inhabited the coast and hills for thousands of years before Spanish arrival, the rancho era when vast cattle estates defined the landscape, the oil industry that dominated the county in the early 20th century, and the slow development of the agricultural economy. The George Stuart Historical Figures collection — a trove of three-dimensional miniature figures depicting historical characters — is a quirky highlight that has developed a dedicated following.
The art galleries rotate and tend toward local and California artists, which is either a feature or a limitation depending on your taste. The museum is compact enough to do in 90 minutes without feeling rushed. It is a short walk from Mission San Buenaventura, and the two together make a reasonable half-day introduction to what Ventura is actually about.