Overview
Front view of Monrovia Historical Museum, Monrovia, California,
March 2023
The Monrovia Historical Museum Foundation acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Kizh-Gabrieleño People.
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The Monrovia Historical Museum was established in 1992 and occupies the building that once housed the city's Municipal Swimming Pool, known as the Monrovia Municipal Plunge or "The Plunge," which operated from 1925 to 1983. The former dressing rooms now comprise our two exhibit wings, covering more than 8000 square feet.
The Historic Monrovia Wing introduces the Monroe Family and the town they helped establish, including the famous Pottenger Sanatorium and the Pacific Electric Red Car. Exhibits in this wing depict life in Monrovia in the early 1900s, including faithful reconstructions of a turn-of-the-century kitchen and parlor, a 1907 classroom tribute to Monrovia's early grade schools, as well as exhibits featuring our high school, an interactive police department exhibit, a Lost Businesses of Monrovia exhibit, and our diversity exhibit unveiled in 2022 during our 30th Anniversary event. The Historic Collections Wing includes our World War I and II exhibit, Military, Foothill Flying Field, a Natural History section showcasing unusual creatures and oddities seldom seen in public displays, a special collection of vintage telephones and cameras, and our rotating art exhibit featuring local artists, courtesy of the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts. In progress are our Route 66, Monrovia Fire Department, and our Historic Homes exhibit which will feature Monrovia's History Through Architecture. Docent-led tours are available. |