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Martial Arts History Museum

Museum
In Glendale, California
5.7 mi from Route 66

The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, CA, looks at martial arts through the art, music, culture and history of the places they come from. Founded in 1999, it sits about 6 miles off the old road. Its galleries are arranged by country and region, from China and Japan to the Philippines and America. It is an offbeat indoor stop for travelers, especially fans of action films and anime.

What is Martial Arts History Museum?

Rather than focusing only on fighting styles, the museum ties martial arts to the wider culture around them, including art and music. Exhibits are grouped into sections for China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and the Philippines, plus America, with Hawaii given a category of its own. A further section covers anime and media.

That mix suits visitors who come for the movies as well as those curious about the history behind them. It is a small, specialized museum rather than a large institution, so it pairs easily with other stops in Glendale.

Visiting Martial Arts History Museum: tips

Allow about an hour. Visiting details are not confirmed, so check the museum's website before making the drive. It sits in central Glendale, with food and fuel within about 0.1 miles and an EV charging site about 0.7 miles off.

Pair it with the Warner Bros. Museum, about 1.7 miles away, or the Travel Town Museum, about 1.9 miles off. Universal City Zoo is about 2.3 miles from the museum.

Practical info

Address: 201 N. Brand Blvd., B100, Glendale, CA 91203
Website: martialartsmuseum.com
Hours: We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Martial Arts History Museum

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Musso & Frank Grill
Los Angeles, CA · 4.9 mi from Martial Arts History Museum
Hollywood's oldest restaurant, operating on Hollywood Boulevard since 1919 and named for its two founders.
Diner & restaurant
Formosa Cafe
West Hollywood, CA · 5.7 mi from Martial Arts History Museum
A West Hollywood restaurant and bar from 1925, long a hangout for film stars from the studio lot nearby.
Diner & restaurant
Carney's
West Hollywood, CA · 5.7 mi from Martial Arts History Museum
Hot dogs and burgers served from yellow Union Pacific rail cars above the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.