Monrovia Historical Museum

Our latest exhibit spotlights the community's civic organizations and service clubs. From its earliest days, Monrovia looked to these dedicated groups to organize the energy of the townspeople into actions that helped build the city.

Three of those groups celebrate their centennial year in 2022:

The Rotary Club of Monrovia organized in June 1922, with Walter E. Keefe as the charter president.

The Monrovia Kiwanis Club, also organized in June 1922, initially held its meetings at the Aztec Hotel.

The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce started in 1897 as the Board of Trade, and reorganized as the Chamber in 1922. One of its first major projects was the construction of the Aztec Hotel, designed to be a tourism draw along Route 66.

Review our "General Information" page for Covid-19 protocol information and holiday closures. Keep up with our progress on our Facebook page.

Overview

Front view of Monrovia Historical Museum, Monrovia, California

The Monrovia Historical Museum occupies the building that once housed the city's Municipal Swimming Pool. 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 that researched cures for breathing disorders, and a Pacific Electric Red Car exhibit. Also included in this wing are faithful reconstructions of a turn-of-the-20th-century kitchen and parlor, a 1907 classroom tribute to Monrovia's early grade schools, and an interactive police department exhibit.

The Historic Collections Wing includes a Natural History section that showcases interesting and unusual creatures and oddities seldom seen in public displays. There is also a great collection of the telephones and cameras of the past century, an exhibit dedicated to Monrovia's service men and women, and much more.
Docent-led tours are available.

The Monrovia Historical Museum Foundation acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Kizh-Gabrieleño People.

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