The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center is dedicated to the art and legacy of Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip. The Santa Rosa, California museum was opened in 2002, two years after Schulz sadly passed away from colon cancer. The museum has seen nearly 2 million visitors from around the world and is home to the largest collection of original comic strips. Before you go inside, stop at the Snoopy Labyrinth maze outside that’s shaped like Snoopy’s head!
Schulz began his comic making at an early age, beginning with the 1937 publications of Spike, his personification of his family dog. Before the arrival of Peanuts, Schulz drew many other comics that were featured in national publications. The first Peanuts strip appeared on October 2, 1950 in several newspapers nationwide. Originally, Snoopy began as your everyday Beagle standing on all four legs. As his popularity grew in the 1960’s, Snoopy evolved into a two-legged, imaginative, playful, and significant character. For his works, Shulz has received Emmy awards, national recognition, and even NASA space crafts named after his characters.
The museum has two floors, with the bottom floor featuring many comic strips and Peanuts inspired art installations. The second floor is dedicated to Shulz’s life as a biographical gallery. In addition to three changing gallery spaces, there are a number of permanent installations that can be viewed year round. Japanese artist Yoshiteru Otani created two unique installations: The Peanuts Tile Mural and the Morphing Snoopy.
The mural is a whopping 17 x 22 feet composed of 3,588 tiny individual comic strip images revealing the larger image of Lucy holding a football for Charlie Brown. Morphing Snoopy is 43 layers of beautiful maple wood that captures the evolution of Snoopy from his beginnings as Spike in the 1950’s, all the way up until his current form that surfaced in the 1990’s.
On the second floor, guests are greeted by the Colorado Nursery Wall that Schulz painted for his daughter Meredith in their Colorado Springs home circa 1951. It features some of the earliest images of Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Just around the corner is a recreation of Shulz’ studio where all of his work was done. The work space features Shulz’ desk, drawing board, and personal knick-knacks like photos, books, and gifts.
Schulz was a fan of the environmental artworks of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, even paying tribute to the artists’ Valley Curtain artwork in a 1978 Peanuts comic strip. Twenty-five years later in 2003, Christo created the installation Wrapped Snoopy House, a life-sized doghouse wrapped in tarpaulin, polyethylene, and ropes that is now on permanent display.
The museum is open 11AM – 5 PM on Monday and Wednesday through Friday, and closed on Tuesdays. On weekends the museum is open from 10AM to 5 PM. Tickets must be purchased upon arrival. The prices are $12.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors, $5.00 for youth, and free for children three and under. Beginning July 1 of this year, ticket prices will increase by a few dollars: adults ($15), seniors ($10), students and youth ($7). All comic and Peanuts fans alike will appreciate the time and artistry that has gone into creating such a wonderful space for Shulz’ art.