Pleasant Valley Historical Museum & Garden

Visit us and experience our history

The Museum Building Expansion Project Phase 1 has begun and is In Process

To accommodate the Expansion Project the Museum, and the Botanical Garden, are NOW CLOSED

New 'Let's Pick Up' BBQ & 'Lets Dine Out' Event Date

October 15th, 2024

New: The Echo Updater - For Those Who Are "In The Know"

- Expansion Project Videos -

To Museum Expansion / Andy's Home / Our Shared Story

About Us

Founded in 1964, the Pleasant Valley Historical Society opened the museum in 1988. It is dedicated to serving the community by preserving and presenting the history of the Pleasant Valley area, and sharing our rich heritage with all who visit. The Pleasant Valley Historical Society is a 501©3 nonprofit organization. Federal Tax ID#77-0053272. Please visit and join us today

Where We Are Located

720 Las Posas Road, Camarillo, California

The Museum Building Expansion Project: Phase 1

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Above:  Soil below the footprint for the new expansion building pad was extracted to create an area for newly compacted soil. Compacted soil provides a stable, unified base for the new expansion building pad and foundation.

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Above:  The newly compacted soil has been installed and verified.  With the pad framing and rebar added, and provisions for water and power, the pad foundation concrete is ready to be poured.

As you may see from the photos above, we are in “construction.” Four years of our “paper” efforts to expand the museum have been completed and we are building. Phase I is digging a hole, filling it and compacting it, creating the base for the concrete slab that will be poured. The pad will include the electrical and plumbing base for the addition to the water company building, our previous museum. All this will take about 4 months. We have all the funds in place for this phase.

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Above: The original building preparation continues with removal of the tile ceiling and the obsolete interior walls.

Phase II is the retro-fitting of the original building. The City had the asbestos cleaned from inside of the building. Our volunteers have removed the ceiling tiles and all the wood that framed the bathrooms and office. This saves us some money.

Everything is in place for Phase II and we need your help for the funds to cover this phase. We have been soliciting the funds that are needed to construct phase II. We have board members who have stepped up with additional giving and we have established payment plans. We need your help. If you can, and or know of someone who would, help with the costs of the retrofit, please let us know.

Our Expansion Project

WHY NOW?

The “past” is not what it used to be…1900 and earlier. Today the “past” refers to the entire 20th century!  The museum has grown to include the history of the living as well as the “forefathers.”  We had been able to offer special children’s programs as well as our Speaker Series, but no longer have room for those programs.  We have been asked to provide programs for schools, in both history and science.  Space for those programs is critical to sharing history.  Our planned expansion will increase the original 1,555 sq. ft. of our display/meeting area with another 1,153 sq. ft.  Also, the present building will be renovated/retrofitted.  The outside will reflect the craftsman style of the early Pleasant Valley and will include a landmark tower to increase visibility from Las Posas Road. A larger museum will provide:

• Classroom space for interactive school programs and field trips
• Protection/storage for our collections
• A dedicated space for The Fulkerson Library
• Improved parking and accessibility
• Exterior donor wall and bulletin board

Approximate amount to complete this project = $1.5 million

See Expansion Project for more details

Our Expansion Fund Donations

Progress toward our $1.5M goal

1100K

Personalized Bricks, part of the Expansion Project's Fundraising Program:

Personalized Bricks Purchased: 253 and growing

~ Visit the "Personalized Brick" page: click/tap the "Go To Personalized Brick" button  ~

Events

101 Historical Highlights of Camarillo and the Pleasant Valley