The museum is a living field guide of the California Central Coast showcasing local native plants, animals, geology, and cultural histories.

Naturalists of this era, such as John Muir and Louis Agassiz, began a national tradition of hands-on science education and nature preservation.

The museum's exhibits provide a field guide of the California Central Coast: birds and wildlife, plants, geology and cultural richness.

Guests to the museum are greeted by "Sandy," a life-size sculpture of an adult female gray whale designed and created by artist Larry Foster.

The whale was purchased in 1982 through a creative community fund raising campaign with the assistance of the local American Cetacean Society and is dedicated to the Children of Monterey County.

The museum provides science and cultural education for the California Central Coast and currently serves Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Stanislaus counties.

[4][5] A two-week Chautauqua assembly was held here every summer, featuring lessons, exhibits, lectures, picnics, and concerts.

The association devoted itself to developing the museum, presenting winter lectures to members for free, and a spring exhibition of natural history and local art.

In 1902, through the influence of Miss Kate Coffin, the Pacific Improvement Company presented the association with the half-block of land where the modern museum stands, along with the buildings which already stood there.

However, the museum was poor during this time, getting by from small membership dues, few donations, the selling of some plants, and the giving of entertainments.

The majority of the money needed for this project was donated by Chase, and the building was opened to the public on December 21, 1932, her ninetieth birthday.