Founded in 1918 as the Laguna Beach Art Association, this museum, the oldest cultural institution in Orange County, is a recognized center for the study and exhibition of American art. The striking, contemporary museum building was renovated in 1986, and the museum itself was merged administratively with the Orange County Museum of Art in 1996. The permanent collection features American Impressionist paintings, 20C photography and works of installation art. Changing exhibits focus on historical and contemporary trends, with particular emphasis on the development of modern art in California.