2. History of the Museum In the 1920s, an effort was made to establish a museum for Tulare County California. This effort failed. In 1936, a Visalia resident named Hugh Mooney left a $5000 donation to be used for the Mooney Grove Park. The committee decided to use the money to build a museum. The Depression and World War II delayed construction but the initial museum was completed in 1948. (http://www.tularecountyhistoricalsociety.org/Museum.htm)
3. Museum update Tulare County Museum operates on a county budget. The Tulare County Historical Society, non-profit organization. has been actively involved in the museum's growth--donating funds for additions and repairs, as well as members' time and effort to restore old structures. The Tulare County Historical Society was awarded a California Council and Historical Endowment grant for $1,450,000. These funds were used to construct a 17,000 sq. ft. two-story building at the Tulare County Museum grounds. Showcasing the county's rich history of farm labor and agriculture. The Construction was completed 2009.
4. Overland mail commemorative stamp, issued by the U.S. Post Office,October 10, 1958 Commemorative stamp , Butterfield Overland Mail Companhttp://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/museum/1d_Overland_Mail_Stamp.htmly Why A museum? The Tulare County Historical Society began in 1922, as a group of people interested in the historical preservation of the history of Tulare County California.
5. Why agriculture? Tulare County 44th Annual World Agriculture Show Visalia Times Delta (front page 2-8-2011)
6. TULARE COUNTY Teaching the importance of agriculture is especially important to the children of California. Every year more farmland becomes developed, leaving less land on which to grow food. Today's children will be voters and policy-makers in 2025, and they must understand the importance of conserving farmland. Teaching the importance of agriculture is especially important to the children of California. (http://ucanr.org/repository/cao/landingpage.cfm?article=ca.v054n05p40&fulltext=yes) Tulare County is the second-leading producer of agricultural commodities in the United States. (http://www.co.tulare.ca.us/)
16. Winds of change Tulare County Office of Education and Tulare County Historical Society will hold a public celebration commemorating the opening of the Tulare County Museum's newest exhibit: "Winds of Change: The Dust Bowl Migration to Tulare County" from 2:00 pm 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 20, 2010. The celebration will be at the Tulare County Museum of Farm Labor & Agriculture, located in Mooney Grove Park in Visalia. Showing until April 2011.
17. Cultural contributions The New Agriculture Museum blends cultural heritage of the people who farmed the Central Valley during the past half-Millennia.
18. Educational tours Tulare County Office of Education has incorporated student involvement and tours into the new Tulare County Agricultural Museum.
Excerpt from the protest of a taxpayer who objected to the purchase of Mooney Grove ~ "Now, will the people of Tulare County patronize the park, located as it is four or five miles from Visalia or Tulare, away from car line or any means of transportation except private ones? It is safe to say that not five percent of the people of the county would visit once in five years."Visalia Daily Times, August 2, 1909; Los Tulares #35, May 1958http://www.tularecountyhistoricalsociety.org/Museum.htm)
Beginning in the mid 1800’s people from all over the world came to Tulare County seeking fertile ground for farms and ranches. Like the native Americans who had lived in Tulare County for thousands of years they discovered through hard work and ingenuity- that the land produced abundantly. Some immigrants came in wagons brought on by catalyst like the gold rush, the civil war and the great depression. Others ventured as refugees looking for safety from poverty, persercution and genecide. For many, they carved out a life for themselves and their families working in agriculture as growers, farm laborers, ranchers, or in an agriculture service industry. Through their perseverance, they left their indictable mark on the landscape and made Tulare County the second largest agriculture producer in the world. The blending of the immigrants unique cultures makes Tulare County a wonderfully diverse and historically rich part of California
