Museum of Redlands grand opening set Saturday, Oct. 24

A dream 26 years in the making will become a reality on Saturday, Oct. 24, when the long-awaited Museum of Redlands (MOR) opens its doors to the public for the first time. Located in the reimagined and expanded former Redlands Daily Facts building at 1 N. Center St., the MOR focuses on the history of Redlands and will be free to the public. A ribbon-cutting grand opening program will begin at 10 a.m.  

The project began in 2000 as a collaboration between the Redlands Historical Museum Association (RHMA) and the City of Redlands, via its A.K. Smiley Public Library. 

“The Library was thought to be the ideal partner,” said Library Director Don McCue, “as it has administered the City’s Lincoln Memorial Shrine museum since 1932 and has long maintained a collection of historical material in its Special Collections Division. We’re thrilled that we have been able to partner with RHMA and bring this asset to our community.”

 
For 14 years, a variety of sites were considered for the museum, but all were eventually found unsatisfactory. Finally in 2014, thanks to the generosity of philanthropist Clara Mae Clem, the former Redlands Daily Facts building was purchased and selected as the site. The architectural firm of Steve Johnson and Jim Favaro, which designed the Riverside library and West Hollywood library among other projects, was selected to redesign the building as a state-of-the-art museum.  

“Redlands people have a fierce sense of civic pride, and this museum is a testament to that,” said Charlotte Burgess, President of RHMA. “Eighty percent of the building has been funded independently, from small dollars to large dollars, by people who believe what we put into a community builds quality. This is our time and our legacy and just like those who came before us, we have given the City another great gift.”

 
RHMA undertook an extensive fundraising campaign which eventually raised $28 million from donors, big and small. Ground was broken in 2021, and the building was constructed in phases. Construction was completed and in 2025 the RHMA generously gifted the property to the City, to be administered by the Library. The Library’s curatorial team, led by Dr. Nathan Gonzales and Dr. Maria Carrillo Colato, has subsequently been designing and installing a series of 13 interesting initial exhibits, featuring artifacts, artwork and interactive displays. 

 
The entrance area features an interactive timeline of Redlands history and a large display wall of rotating portraits entitled, “I am Redlands.”  Visitors will be encouraged to submit their own family photographs to the exhibit. 

 
“Our South Gallery will focus on the importance of the citrus industry, which was vital to the economic development and culture of our community,” said curator Gonzales. 

The Clem Central Gallery is devoted to community champions. The Brown North Gallery has exhibits about Redlands Chinatown, the Redlands Fire Department, the watercolor art of Phil Dike, and Redlands in film among others. There’s even a flight simulator where “pilots” can attempt to fly over Redlands landmarks and land at the airport. 

 
The grand opening event will feature the Redlands Fourth of July Band and brief remarks from a variety of dignitaries. Guests will also receive a commemorative pin and a color postcard featuring a watercolor rendition of the MOR building by Pasadena artist Joseph Stoddard.

 
The MOR will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. For further information, please visit www.akspl.org or www.themor.org.