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Because You’re a SOHO Member: Explore 50+ Museums for Free
The Big Exchange Returns May 1–18
May/June 2026
One of the many benefits of being a SOHO member is access to San Diego’s vibrant cultural community and this spring that benefit expands in a big way. From May 1–18, 2026, SOHO members receive free admission to more than 50 participating museums, historic sites, gardens, and cultural attractions across San Diego County through The Big Exchange.
Organized by the San Diego Museum Council, The Big Exchange is a way of saying thank you for supporting our region’s rich cultural offerings in varied settings. Whether you’re revisiting a favorite landmark or discovering a hidden gem for the first time, your SOHO membership becomes an all-access pass to a countywide celebration of history, art, and science, not to mention natural beauty.
Just visit any participating museum during the event's 18 days, present your current SOHO membership card at the admissions desk, and mention The Big Exchange. Each membership provides free entry for up to four people, making it an ideal opportunity to explore with family or friends. Go to The Big Exchange online for more information and a list of participating museums.
We're rolling out the red carpet for you at SOHO’s own historic sites to experience the exciting work we're doing behind the scenes. At the Marston House Museum & Gardens, you'll find our fresh interpretive approach, one that reflects how this gracious, 1905 home was actually lived in over decades, rather than simply how it may have appeared at a single moment in time. Step into a more authentic representation of the Marston family’s 80-year residency, presenting the house as a functional and evolving home.
At the adobe Warner–Carrillo Ranch House Museum in Warner Springs, you can travel back to 1857 and explore this National Historic Landmark and former Butterfield Stage stop, where the stories of California’s frontier past and Vicenta Carrillo’s matriarchal and entrepreneurial leadership come vividly to life. You won’t want to miss a tour with Museum Manager Kathryn Fletcher, whose decades of experience in our backcountry history and engaging storytelling make the history of westward migration and early ranching life especially compelling.
If you’re not yet a SOHO member, this is the perfect time to join. Memberships start at just $25, and the benefits begin immediately. In addition to free admission to all participating sites during The Big Exchange, members enjoy year-round free entry to the Marston House and Warner—Carrillo Ranch House museums. As an added bonus, new members who join during The Big Exchange will receive a complimentary Third Sunday Walking Tour—a $20 value. Plus, you'll be supporting SOHO's myriad preservation efforts and advocacy programs.
Join us this May in celebrating San Diego’s rich social and architectural heritage. We look forward to seeing you out exploring the museums.
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