A visit to a museum can be rejuvenating for the soul and the mind. It can be an enjoyable and educational diversion between wine tasting and noshing at some of the many fine restaurants in the Napa Valley. As for cost, most museums are free or ask only minimal entrance fees.

Napa Valley has more than the three museums mentioned here, notably the Sharpsteen Museum in Calistoga. The Napa County Historical Society in downtown Napa has a trove of local information, historical documents and photos.

Each is worth its weight in gold. Check them out and enjoy a piece of Napa Valley.

Napa Firefighters Museum

The Napa Firefighters Museum is a history book on the city’s fire department, which has been around for 151 years.

Anything and everything that has to do with firefighting can be found at the museum: Fire hydrants, extinguishers, clothes patches, toys, alarm boxes, helmets, uniforms, a photo collection and newspaper clippings of the Napa floods of 1986 and 1940-41 all are hits with the public.

Along the back wall of the museum is an aerial photograph of Napa in 1936, revealing details of historic landmarks that are still standing.

Two fire engines and a fire truck are on display inside the museum, along with a hose cart from around 1870 that was used at the Sawyer Tannery. All the equipment has been painstakingly restored by Napa firefighters.

Near the front door stands a red fire hydrant made in Napa. Visitors who look closely will notice that the “N” in Napa is backwards.

Mounted on one wall is a piece of old city water line that appears to be made out of redwood.

Some parts of the collection are not on display, including a 1904 steam-powered pumper being restored by volunteers.

Quietly manned by volunteers, the museum has been at the corner of Main and Pearl streets for 15 years. Built in 1937, originally the structure was home to the Purity Grocery Store.

The Napa Firefighters Museum, 1201 Main St. in Napa, is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and an occasional Sunday. And it’s a great buy — admission is free.

Napa Valley Museum

The Napa Valley Museum was founded in 1972 at Vintage Hall in St. Helena. The museum moved to the campus of the Veterans Home of California at Yountville on Jan. 17, 1998.

The building was designed by Fernau & Hartman of Berkeley and incorporates a concern for landscape and interiors with attention to details. The 45,000-square foot building includes two gallery spaces, offices and a museum store.

 The museum provides permanent and changing exhibitions with educational outreach programs that inspire residents and visitors to learn about the art, history and environment of the region.

The current exhibit at the Napa Valley Museum is entitled “Corpus Perspicuus: Body Transparent.” It runs until Nov. 18.

Gallery exhibitions change about every six weeks. Yet some of the best-known work of the museum is seen in its trunk shows, in which volunteers cart materials about geologic and human history — from volcanos to the Wappo tribe — to classrooms. Permanent displays also highlight the history and the artists of the valley.

Special events provide a variety of entertainment and cultural enrichment opportunities. The museum site is available for rental and features a kitchen with oven, range, microwave, refrigerator, tables and wine glasses.

The museum is at 55 Presidents Circle, on the grounds of the Vets Home. Admission is $4.50 for adults; $3.50 for students and seniors ages 60 and over; children ages 7-17 are $2.50 and children less than 7 years and Vets Home residents are admitted free.

The museum gallery is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tuesdays, major holidays and one week prior to a new exhibition.

 For more information, 944-0500 or www.napavalleymuseum.org.

Silverado Museum

The Silverado Museum, in St. Helena, houses one of the world’s most distinguished collections of Robert Louis Stevenson’s writings, with about 11,000 items.

The Upvalley museum opened its doors to the public on Dec. 14, 1969 — commemorating the 75th anniversary of the death of the author of such classics as “Treasure Island” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

In 1880, Robert Louis Stevenson honeymooned in an abandoned bunkhouse at the old Silverado Mine on Mount St. Helena. The book “Silverado Squatters” is his account of his stay in the Napa Valley. The book was published in 1883.

Scholars and researchers have made pilgrimages to the St. Helena museum while pursuing their academic interests.

The St. Helena museum recently acquired a previously unknown letter Stevenson wrote to his mother about his vacation when he was 20.

A new exhibit at the museum spotlights Father Damien, who was chastised in a letter by a Reverend Hyde about his work with lepers on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. Stevenson was so upset about the attack, he wrote a rebuttal defending Damien’s work.

The ivy-covered Silverado Museum is next door to the St. Helena Public Library at 1490 Library Lane in St. Helena. It is east of Main Street and north of Adams Street.

It is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. And, best of all, a visit to the idyllic museum dedicated to the classic author is free to the public.