Group photo (from left) are:  Adriana Perez, representing Assemblymember John Harabedian;
Councilmember Edward Belden; Vicky Hansen, Museum Board Member and Exhibit Chair;
Councilmember Dr. Tamala Kelly; Mayor Becky Shevlin; Councilmember Larry Spicer;
City Manager Dylan Feik; and Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Jimenez
Also being acknowledged is Michael Andrews, Museum Board Member
and Route 66 Exhibit Designer (not pictured)

On April 30, the Monrovia Historical Museum proudly celebrated the grand opening of its newest exhibit, 

​Is this a great city or what?
​We truly could not have done it without you.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our community partners, friends, neighbors, volunteers, and supporters for the incredible assistance and encouragement during recent Route 66 commemorative events.

From the April 30th "Engines of Change" and the special "Route 66: A Road Through Time" exhibit grand opening to the extraordinary May 3rd Route 66 Centennial celebration, car and trailer show, performances, live music and festivities, the outpouring of community spirit and support was second to none!

​PRESS RELEASE ~ April 8, 2025

Monrovia ChangeMakers

Contact:
Sandy Burud
[email protected]
(626) 675-8323

​Long-serving Monrovia City Council Member Gloria Crudgington passed away in September, 2024. Ms. Crudgington was 75. The members of the Monrovia Historical Museum Foundation’s Board are saddened by her passing and wish to spend a few moments remembering her and just a few of the many things she accomplished.

If you have ever hiked in the Monrovia Wilderness Preserve, you can thank Gloria. She ran the campaign for Measures A & B that saved approximately 1400 acres of our beautiful hillside from development. In September, 2024, the City dedicated an existing building near the Cloverleaf entry to the Wilderness as a visitor center named Crudgington Station.

​Monrovians have much to celebrate this year. We did it again! The National Civic League recently announced the winners of the 2024 All-America City Award (AAC), and the City of Monrovia was among the ten communities who received the recognition! Check out NCL's website to get the full story <link>. 
 
Our City Manager, Dylan Feik, wrote about this in a Special City Manager’s Update. Join us in thanking him and other civic leaders and staff who work tirelessly to serve and represent our beloved community!
 
​"This achievement reflects the City’s pride, integrity, inclusivity, and work ethic. We, at the Monrovia Historical Museum, are very pleased and proud!"
~ Mark Harvis, MHM Vice President

See the City of Monrovia Announcement by clicking this link: Award Winning City

​The Monrovia Historical Museum wishes to give special acknowledgment to our dedicated City Manager, Dylan Feik. Throughout Monrovia, Dylan is hailed as an outstanding leader who consistently engages with the public on various fronts. 

In addition to his regular responsibilities of overseeing city employees and managing policies, budgets, and personnel, Dylan tirelessly addresses a wide range of issues—from organizing special events to managing weather-related disasters, responding to inquiries, addressing concerns within the unhoused community, and even handling complaints on social media platforms. His commitment to problem-solving knows no bounds, and he goes above and beyond the call of duty. This unwavering dedication has made a significant impact on our community, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation for everything he has done for our organization and the beloved city we serve.

​
​To all our veterans,
THANK YOU, for your service!
 
Memorial Day is a special day for all Americans to remember and pay tribute to the men and women in our armed forces who gave their lives in service to our country. Since Monrovia was founded as a city 137 years ago, many Monrovians responded to the call of duty, and many paid the ultimate sacrifice. And so Memorial Day is a fitting tribute to them and to those who returned home to help pick up the pieces and work together as a community, to make this country, this town, this city, a better place to live -- the beautiful and picturesque Gem of the Foothills community we all enjoy and love!
 
On Memorial Day, many activities, parades, and events are held around the country to celebrate, honor and thank our veterans and heroes. In Monrovia, there will be the annual Memorial Day Ceremony, held at 10:00 am at the Live Oak Cemetery. At the Monrovia Library Park, you will find markers dedicated to the memory of those Monrovians who sacrificed their lives in the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The images of old newspaper clippings* shown here are just a few examples of how we, as a community, have honored and celebrated our own heroes through the years.

​The Monrovia Historical Museum announces the addition of Ms. Ili Lobaco as our newest board member. Ili had served on the museum board from 2016 through 2021, but continued on as a temporary volunteer on an as-needed basis. This month, the museum board invited her back and we are thrilled to have her! Welcome back, Ili.

Ili has a long history with the City of Monrovia, where she lived and attended Monrovia schools from 1964 to 1975. She has fond memories of swimming at The Plunge, which has been the museum’s home since 1992.  For fifteen years, Ili worked for the City of Monrovia as a city planner and oversaw the historic preservation program, among other planning duties. She retired from the City of Monrovia in 2015, but returned to her roots in city planning when she joined the City of Monterey Park in 2021 on a part time basis. In December 2023, Ili retired again to “have more time to assist the museum,” she says. With her previous affiliation and affinity for our city, it was only fitting to ask her to rejoin the board!

Ili and her husband, Scott, are Glendora residents, but in her heart, Ili is a bonafide Monrovian!