Brea: Art and Oil History

Brea brings together the history of the Olinda oil operation and the city with contemporary art and performing arts. Its facilities and offerings highlight different aspects: historic traces, museum exhibitions, a sculpture program, and performing arts. When planning your trip, you can choose the theme you want to shape your stay.

Oil History, Art, and Theater

The Olinda Oil Museum & Trail features the original Olinda Oil Well Number One. The Field House once served as the office and headquarters of the Olinda oil operation. Together, they offer a look at different aspects of oil history: the oil well and the operation’s former organization.

At the Brea Museum, exhibitions tell Brea’s story from its founding in 1917 to the present day. The Brea Art Gallery is a 6,500-square-foot space for contemporary art and hosts four major exhibitions throughout the year. The city’s history and rotating presentations of contemporary art, each with its own focus, are presented side by side.

Since the Art in Public Places program was established in 1975, more than 185 sculptures have been created as part of the program. The Curtis Theatre complements the cultural offerings as a 199-seat performing arts venue.

Trails and Landscapes

The Olinda Oil Trail is a two-mile, moderately challenging loop with panoramic views of Orange County. In Carbon Canyon Regional Park, a 1.1-mile nature trail leads to the Redwood Grove. The routes differ in length and character: a moderately challenging loop with views and a shorter trail leading to a named natural landmark.

Chino Hills State Park can be accessed via several trailheads in Brea’s foothills. Its visitor center is located at 4500 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea, CA 92823. The Discovery Center offers educational activities and exhibits about the park’s unique ecological diversity.

The Redwood Grove in Carbon Canyon Regional Park is the only redwood grove in Orange County and covers three acres of coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens). The same park also has a four-acre lake with two fishing piers. This park brings together a fishing lake and a grove of coast redwoods.

Swimming and Events

The Brea Municipal Plunge is currently closed for the season; reopening is planned for summer 2027. Check the latest facility updates before visiting.

Brea Fest has been held since 1986 and showcases food and drink from the surrounding region in celebration of the arts in Brea. This adds a culinary dimension to the arts experience. If you plan to include the festival in your trip, check the latest event dates in advance.

Explore more destinations: Garden Grove, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Tustin, Laguna Hills, Newport Beach, Los Alamitos, Yorba Linda

For the broader travel overview: Orange.