San Bernardino County Museum

San Bernardino County Museum is a regional museum located in Redlands, California, showcasing the natural history, anthropology, and fine arts of San Bernardino County. The museum is part of the San Bernardino County Parks and Recreation Department and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It has been recognized for its contributions to the California Museum Association and the Western Museums Association. The museum's collections and exhibits have been influenced by the works of John Muir, Ansel Adams, and Georgia O'Keeffe.

● History

The museum was established in 1965 as a result of the efforts of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, with the support of the California State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. The museum's first director was James E. Ericson, who played a key role in shaping the institution's early years, inspired by the Smithsonian Institution and the Field Museum of Natural History. The museum has undergone several expansions and renovations, including a major renovation in 2001 funded by the California State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The museum has also collaborated with other institutions, such as the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences.

● Collections

The museum's collections include over 100,000 objects, including fossils from the La Brea Tar Pits and dinosaur fossils from the Badlands of Montana. The museum also has an extensive collection of Native American artifacts, including items from the Chumash, Cahuilla, and Serrano tribes, as well as works by Frederic Remington and Charles Russell. The museum's fine arts collection features works by Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Vincent van Gogh, as well as California Impressionism artists such as Guy Rose and Alson S. Clark. The museum has also acquired works from the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

● Exhibits

The museum's exhibits include a dinosaur gallery featuring a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, as well as exhibits on the natural history of San Bernardino County, including the Mojave Desert and the San Bernardino Mountains. The museum also has exhibits on the history of aviation in Southern California, including the Wright brothers and Amelia Earhart, as well as the California Gold Rush and the Transcontinental Railroad. The museum has also hosted temporary exhibits from the National Museum of Natural History and the Field Museum of Natural History, featuring works by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

● Education_and_Programs

The museum offers a range of educational programs for children and adults, including workshops, lectures, and tours. The museum also offers summer camps and scouting programs in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA. The museum has collaborated with other institutions, such as the California Science Center and the San Diego Natural History Museum, to develop educational programs and resources, inspired by the works of Marie Curie and Albert Einstein. The museum has also received funding from the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

● Facilities_and_Operations

The museum is located on a 20-acre campus in Redlands, California, and features a range of facilities, including exhibit galleries, a museum store, and a restaurant. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, and is closed on Mondays and holidays. The museum is operated by the San Bernardino County Parks and Recreation Department, and is supported by the San Bernardino County Museum Association, a non-profit organization that provides funding and volunteer support, inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Getty Museum. The museum has also partnered with other organizations, such as the California State Parks and the National Park Service, to promote cultural tourism and heritage preservation in San Bernardino County. Category:Museums in California