This museum highlights the three distinct cultures expressed throughout Carpinteria's long history - Chumash, Spanish and American.

Exhibits are arranged generally as vignettes, with unique household objects, tools, and various larger antiques - such as a car - that give a taste of what life was like for the people involved.  There is an interesting exhibit on the asphaltum mining operation that was important in the early 1900s.  

Each month there is a Flea Market held on the grounds of the Museum with the booth fees contributing to the Museum.