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Museums/Historical
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Open: M-F 9am-4pm; Sat. 10am-4pm; Sun. noon-4pm
Location: Heritage Complex at International Agri-Center, 4500 S. Laspina St., Tulare
Phone: 559- 688-1030
Agriculture is the lifeblood and soul of this wonderfully rich area. This museum pays tribute to past generations of California farmers and dairymen – showing the tools and technology they used to create a garden from a desert.
By today’s standards, the early settlers used fairly primitive equipment. Horse-drawn farm tools, fully-restored antique tractors, steam-driven harvesters, old fashioned milking machines, a collection of barbed wire and homemakers’ tools are on display.
There is even a restored 1920s Crop Duster Airplane.
The Antique Farm Equipment Museum is easily accessible to all adults and children. Self-guided tours are as simple as reading the printed descriptions that tell the story of each piece on display.
Admission: $5 for adults; $3 for seniors; $2 for children younger than 18. Tickets allow access to the AgVentures! Learning Center. |
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CENTRAL CALIFORNIA CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER
Open: 11am-6pm M thru F and Sun; Sat. 11am-midnight
Location: 500 S. Akers Street, Visalia
Phone: 559-625-4545
Visalia is home to the Central California Chinese Cultural Center where the history of 19th century Chinese immigrants is documented. The building is constructed in typical Chinese style. It includes a Confucian temple and an exposition room housing cultural artifacts, paintings and rare architectural finds. It can be reserved for private parties, weddings and banquets. |
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Open: M, Thurs, Fri 10am-4pm; Sat. & Sun. 1pm-4pm
Location: Mooney Grove Park, 27000 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia
Phone: (559) 733-6616
The Tulare County Museum offers a large window to the past with five separate sections of historical artifacts. Another section for antique farm equipment is bequeathed and will be added in the near future.
A woolly mammoth tusk that could be 11,000 to 30,000 years old is on display, along with artifacts of early settlers and Yokut Indians, some dating back 1,000 years. Outbuildings include fully furnished homes that have been moved to the site, as well as a complete blacksmith shop, an old jail, an original log cabin and early school.
Children love to climb aboard an early 1900s Southern Pacific caboose behind the main museum building as they gain an understanding into the area’s well-preserved sense of time and place. |
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Open: Thurs-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 12:30-4pm
Location: 444 W. Tulare Ave., Tulare
Phone: (559) 686-2074
Not to be confused with the county museum, the Tulare Historical Museum is located in the city of Tulare and showcases the history of the city, while serving as a cultural center for the community.
Traveling exhibitions sponsored by the California Council for the Humanities, special exhibits and works by artists and authors of all disciplines frequent the museum. The museum gift shop offers unusual gifts and hard to find historical books.
Tulare is justifiably proud of producing two athletes who earned Olympic gold medals. Special collections honor the lives of Bob Mathias, Decathlon winner in 1948 and 1952, and Sim Iness, Discus winner in the 1952 Helsinki games.
Another special collection pays tribute to Tulare’s Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. who became Chief of Naval Operations in 1971, the nation’s highest ranking naval officer. A collection of military memorabilia bequeathed by Manuel Toledo is permanently displayed.
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ZALUD HOUSE
Open: W-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 2pm-4pm
Location: Southwest cor. Morton and Hockett Sts in Porterville, about 40 mi. south of Visalia
Phone: (559) 782-7548
Step into the imposing two-story brick Zalud House and you are immediately whisked backward in time. It is a delightful visit to yesteryear.
The house was built for John and Mary Jane Zalud in 1891. And it was occupied only by members of the Zalud family. It is one of only a few museums in the nation that display original furnishings. Décor is changed seasonally, just as it was when the family lived there.
Even more amazing, the home with its mansard roof architecture is as it was originally constructed. Unlike many from that era, the Zalud home has not been altered by over-zealous remodeling.
Even the 1930s garden is preserved, along with its famous roses which were written about in Home and Garden magazine. The garden can be reserved for wedding parties. |
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