The newly transformed Oakland Museum of California reopened their doors in May, 2010, so if you think you’ve seen this museum before, you really should take another look at the changes a $58-million renovation and reinstallation can provide. New exhibits include the Dorothea Lange archive, with thousands of photographic prints like “Migrant Mother.”

“The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) brings together collections of art, history and natural science under one roof to tell the extraordinary stories of California and its people. OMCA connects collections and programs across disciplines, advancing an integrated, multilayered understanding of this ever-evolving state. With more than 1.8 million objects, OMCA is a leading cultural institution of the Bay Area and a resource for the research and understanding of California’s dynamic cultural and environmental heritage.”

WHAT’S THE DEAL: Oakland Museum of California Free Days.

WHEN: First Sundays of every month. (reg. admission $12; $9 seniors/students; $6 youth 9-17; free children 8 and under.

WHERE: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street at 10th St., Oakland, CA 94607

[Image: Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, Nipomo, 1936. Gift of Paul S. Taylor.]

MORE FREE DAYS:

• California Academy of Sciences – free days & discounts, San Francisco
• Berkeley Art Museum – free days & discounts - Berkeley
• Asian Art Museum – free days & discounts, San Francisco
• Coyote Point Museum – free days, San Mateo
• Tech Museum of Innovation – free days, San Jose