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The stranger stands next to me at The Peanuts Museum. We are staring at the piece of art. Laughing out loud at the same time, we simultaneously say,
“It’s still funny.”
This art is timeless. This humor is timeless. Hopefully, this museum will be timeless.
The small city of Santa Rosa, California, embraces what it is known for. It is known for its wine and being the home of artist Charles M. Schulz. Even if you aren’t familiar with the comic strip, you most likely have fond memories of the enduring animated holiday special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Charles M. Schulz is the creator, artist, and author of The Peanuts. His museum is officially titled, The Charles M. Schulz Museum, but many refer to is as The Peanuts Museum.
Breakfast
Santa Rosa’s love for the beloved cartoonist is evident as we walk to breakfast. Lucy is in front of our hotel.
Charlie Brown and Snoopy are featured in a city park. Even the coffee shop we visit, A’Roma Roasters, represents.
A’Roma Roasters is a great way to fuel up before spending the day with Lucy, Sally, Linus, and Peppermint Patty. The staff are friendly, the vibe is chill, and the croissant sandwiches and coffee are delicious.
As we sit at the window, watching the locals out for morning walks, I’m sad we don’t have more time to spend in this charming downtown.
The Museum Entrance
Charlie Brown greets visitors as soon as they approach The Peanuts Museum.
Everyone stops for the obligatory picture with this Block Head.
The Charlie statue has a large head. Getting a selfie with the statue is a challenge. It’s easier to politely ask a fellow visitor to exchange picture-taking.
First Floor
Changing Gallery
As soon as we walk through the door, I’m complimented on my Beagle Scout t-shirt. It’s the opening day of a new exhibit in the Changing Gallery. Everyone assumes I themed for the exhibit. I love theming, but this is a complete coincidence. I liked the shirt and bought it. I had no idea it was opening day of a Beagle Scout exhibit.
Perusing this exhibit at The Peanuts Museum, I realize my lack of Snoopy knowledge. I mainly know Charlie Brown and Snoopy from the television specials, but their world is vast. The exhibit includes screens with animated shorts, Beagle Scout cartoon strips, displays of toys and merchandise,
and a cute interactive play area.
The Photo Op
The Changing Gallery leads into the Strip Rotation Gallery, then ends at the Gallery Lounge with the famous Photo Op.
The Photo Op area is brilliantly designed. Visitors can sit in front of or behind Lucy’s psychiatrist booth.
Near the booth are a variety of word bubbles that magnetically attach to the booth. It is such a
whimsical addition to a museum. It brought visitors of all ages, cultures, and nationalities, immense joy.
The Tile Mural
Opened in 2002, The Charles M. Schulz Museum has a bright, sunny, open design. Nothing shows off the beautiful architecture more than The Peanuts Tile Mural. The mural was created by Japanese artist Yoshiteru Otani.
Up close, the tiles display individual comic panels. As you back away, the tiles converge into one, massive work of art. It’s fascinating. We stand in wonder for a long time.
The Theater
There are animated shorts, features, and documentaries that show in the theater throughout the day. As a visitor, one could spend their entire Peanuts Museum day in the theater. The film schedule is posted at the theater’s entrance. We choose two documentaries focusing on Charles M. Schulz and a documentary about how prolific The Peanuts were in the 1970s.
There is also a small theater area on the first floor that shows a documentary on the creation of the museum. This movie is on a constant loop, and it’s a nice place to sit and give your feet a rest.
Second Floor
While the first floor highlights the silly, heartfelt, wise-beyond-their-years characters, The Peanuts Museum’s second floor focuses on the artist who created this treasured world.
There are exhibits that trace Charles M. Schulz’s life from childhood to adulthood. There are pull-out drawers filled with memorabilia. You could spend a whole day in this area of the museum.
The Nursery Wall Mural
The second floor features a mural that Charles M. Schulz completed for his children’s nursery room.
It gives a glimpse at Charlie Brown and Snoopy, before they were famous.
The Studio
My favorite part of a biographical museum is the recreation of the artist’s studio. Studios give insight and inspiration.
I usually encounter writing studios, like John Muir’s Scribble Den or Ernest Hemingway’s Studio. It’s a nice change to see an artist’s office filled with colorful brushes, paints, and markers.
Education Room
As soon as I enter the Education Room, I wish areas like this existed in all museums. The Education Room offers a variety of hands-on Peanuts art activities. There are pictures to color, origami Snoopy dog houses to fold, and comic strips to create.
Since Linus is my favorite Peanuts character, I take up a spot at the tracing table. What an excellent way to interact with a museum’s art
Warm Puppy Café
Though Charles M. Schulz loved his life in Santa Rosa, California, he yearned for pieces of his life growing up in Minnesota. One passion he missed the most was playing ice hockey. To satiate his longings, he built an ice rink in Santa Rosa. Now, some famous individuals would keep their rink private, but being a lovely human being, Schulz and his wife opened, Snoopy’s Home Ice to the public.
Located next to The Peanuts Museum, visitors and locals can take a spin on the ice.
Inside of Snoopy’s Home Ice is The Warm Puppy Café.
The story goes that Charles M. Schulz aka “Sparky,” ate a tuna sandwich at the café every day for lunch. On the menu, the tuna sandwich is fondly called “Sparky’s Favorite.” The café menu offers a range of options from salads to a hot dog (served in a Snoopy dog dish) to a garden burger.
Because it’s inside of an ice rink, the café offers a selection of character themed hot chocolates. We choose The Pigpen, crushed Oreo hot chocolate.
Suckers for theming, we get the astutely named snack, the Charlie Brownie.
I didn’t have high expectations for this touristy café, but the hot chocolate and brownie are delightful.
Know that if you visit, while the Zamboni is smoothing the ice, the café line gets long. Once skating resumes, the crowd disperses.
The Gift Shop
The last building to visit is the Gift Shop.
The second floor of the gift shop has its own museum.
There is more art, special Peanuts-themed displays, and a Lego version of the museum.
If for some reason you can’t visit the entire Charles M. Schulz Museum, at least take a quick peek inside of the gift shop, grab a hot chocolate at The Warm Puppy Café, and get your photo with the Charlie Brown statue.
Conclusion
Museums are one of our favorite travel activities. Many of our museum visits involve history, artists with difficult pasts, and/or heavy subject matter. Though that type of learning is important, sometimes it’s nice to give your mental health a break. The Peanuts Museum is a breath of fresh air. The museum is bright, happy, positive, and heartwarming. I laughed out loud countless times while engaging with the exhibits.
The insights and lessons Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy, and gang teach are timeless. The museum shows that art museums can be fun, joyful, and interactive. If I lived in Santa Rosa, California, I would have a season pass to the Charles M. Schulz Museum. If I had a bad day, a visit would instantly lift my spirits.
Between the museum, Snoopy’s Home Ice, The Warm Puppy Café, and The Gift Shop’s upstairs, you can spend an entire day on this Santa Rosa property.
The Peanuts Museum is one of the top ten museums we’ve visited on our travels. Whether you are an art fan (yes, cartooning is an art), a massive Peanuts fan, or you just know The Great Pumpkin arrives every fall, this museum is a must-visit.
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