This year, the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the city of Redlands! The museum is the largest cultural and natural history museum in the region and has worked with countless institutions and partners throughout its long history and aims to highlight these relationships with the newly announced Holding History: 50 Years in Redlands exhibit opening on Sunday, May 19.
Since its inception, SBCM has educated, entertained and inspired visitors of all ages and asked them to challenge their assumptions and contribute to our common future. Supported by the Board of Supervisors and the Countywide Vision, the museum is excited to continue celebrating the arts, science, culture and natural history of the county, and improving the quality of life for residents and visitors.
“This exhibit is not only a look at the last 50 years, but also aims to set our sights on the future. What can we learn from our predecessors? Where can we adapt? Where have we transformed and pioneered change, not only here but across the nation? Ultimately, we want to hear from our community and elevate the voices of local residents,” stated Museum Chief Deputy and Curator of Anthropology Tamara Serrao-Leiva.
Museum Director David Myers shared, “Museums create stronger communities by cultivating a sense of shared identity and history. We are proud to be the stewards of this museum, which has done so much to contribute to the quality of life in the region, and recognize the contributions of so many staff, volunteers, partners and friends.”
SBCM was founded in 1952 by the San Bernardino County Museum Foundation (SBCMF). It opened to the public in 1957 and was donated to San Bernardino County in 1961. The facility moved from Bloomington, California to its present location in Redlands in 1974. The museum continues to be an active curation facility and, as such, has an indispensable function for many industries.
The museum oversees additional branch sites including the Victor Valley Museum (VVM) in Apple Valley, the Yucaipa Adobe in Yucaipa, the Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery in Colton, the Yorba-Slaughter Families Adobe in Chino, the Oro Grande Cemetery in Oro Grande, and the María Merced Williams and John Rains House in Rancho Cucamonga.
If you would like an exclusive viewing of the exhibit before the public opening, we invite you to join us for our annual Bucky Ball Gala hosted by SBCMF the evening prior on Saturday, May 18. For more information about attending, donating or sponsoring, visit SBCMF’s website or call (909) 798-8626.
SBCMF is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the SBCM in Redlands and its branches, including VVM in Apple Valley. The fundraising event supports the museum’s mission of developing appreciation and sparking curiosity in regional cultural arts, history, and natural and earth sciences through exhibits and educational programming.
The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California St. exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and members are admitted free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.
For more information, visit museum.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.