Recognized as the preeminent historical and cultural institution of Ventura County, MVC has been a mainstay of the County for more than 100 years, making significant contributions to residents’ and visitors’ engagement and understanding of the regions’ art, history, and industry. Through its collections, exhibits, educational programs, and publications, MVC strives to promote interest in the region by collecting and preserving archives, artifacts, art, and ephemera bearing on the history of the region; documenting current regional events; and creating exhibits and programs that enlighten, educate, and engage the past, present, and future.

MVC serves over 40,000 Ventura County residents and visitors annually. Its education department serves more than 100 teachers and their classes annually, including dozens of Title I schools, where at least 80% of children/youth are eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program and are considered underserved. In calendar year 2024, MVC saw a significant increase in online engagement, attracting 76,013 visitors to its website. The organization is committed to providing the highest quality Museum experience and uninterrupted educational programs.

MVC is home to Ventura County’s archive collection and it also cares for a vast collection of 180,000 historical artifacts, art works, and agricultural machinery at two separate facilities (Main Street Museum in Ventura, CA and Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula, CA), as well as at MVC’s Research Library.