Pioneer's History

We have visited the Pioneer Museum with various friends before, so after meeting our new camper neighbours Ron and Darlene, we invited them to come and see this great collection of historic artifacts with us. And let me hurry and say that in this great place one will always discover new things again.

The museum is located on Aten Rd between the town of Holtville and the City of El Centro. A nice volunteer lady greeted us at the entrance and gave good advice where we could start our walk and where to turn to later. Besides of indoor displays, the outside shows a variety of old farm, implement machines and even a work train can be seen.

Mountain Lion (Wild Life Display)

Below: The many fields of the Imperial Valley

 We took the slowest elevator in the Imperial Valley and rode to the upper floor.

This guy was NOT very talkative and when I showed him my cell phone he didn't understand..

One of the displays shows a Model T FORD on the old plank road leading through the Imperial Sand Dunes.

   Painting below shows the plank Rd through the dunes

 

This odd-looking metal thing is actually a pantry as was used on the traveling chuck wagons.

The outside area shows a variety of very heavy crude machinery used for cultivating the land in the valley.

Even an old school building has been set up outside

The M-60 tank is a memorial of the Vietnam War

The Pioneer Museum, entirely paid for by Valley citizens who have dug deep into their pockets to keep history alive for future generations, is one of its kind in the country. 

The museum houses galleries honoring the different ethnic communities and their history of settlement in the Imperial Valley. It also has a place of honor for all the local young men and women who have served in this country's armed forces from the Civil War to present day. The Veterans' Gallery includes artifacts and uniforms from the different wars and a memorial outside to honor those who paid with their lives.

The Swiss people played an important role during first settlements in the valley, below we look at some big cow bells.

In the Ethnic section of the museum

Dolls in traditional costumes made of paper mache

Among the ethnic galleries at the museum you will find the Korean Gallery with its "Turtle Ship" made by Admiral Lee Soon Shim in 1592 and the Swiss Gallery with its musical instruments played by Swiss immigrants at their local gatherings and parties. Other galleries in the museum depict the everyday life of early immigrants from around the world and their unique contributions to this harsh and beautiful land.

                    Above: Mexican displays

             French display in the Ethnic hall

The museum also houses a well preserved history of the Valley's advances in agriculture and technology showing the progress in seed genetics, entomology, animal husbandry and farming equipment. The most important factor in the permanent settlement here came with the building of one of the most impressive irrigation systems anywhere in the world. Without water this land would again become a desert.

Vegetable sales signs and sales
booth (left)

 

Pioneers' Museum is a place where you can come and learn what it took to make this valley to what it is known for today.