Museum of Redlands opens after 26-year effort

REDLANDS, Calif. — After 26 years of planning, fundraising and construction, the $32 million Museum of Redlands officially opened its doors Saturday, Oct. 24, welcoming approximately 500 people to explore the city's history through artifacts, interactive displays and exhibits.

"Museums have been called the memory keepers and storytellers of the community and Redlands has a lot of powerful stories to tell," said Don McCue, director of A.K. Smiley Public Library, during the opening ceremony.

The museum features 13 exhibits exploring different aspects of Redlands' history, including its agricultural heritage, early communities, public safety and aviation. Historical artifacts, photographs and interactive displays offer visitors a look at the people, industries and events that shaped the city.

Among the attractions was an interactive flight simulator that proved popular with younger visitors.

Brothers JJ, 8, and Evan, 5, gave the museum a thumbs-up. JJ named the flight simulator his favorite exhibit and said he hoped to return.

Amber Birdwell, who moved to Redlands about a year ago, said she appreciated the opportunity to learn more about her new community through artifacts she had never seen before.

Andrew Wilson, who attended the opening with Birdwell, praised the museum's design and interactive exhibits, particularly an orange tree sculpture that greets visitors as they enter.

During the opening ceremony, Mayor Mario Saucedo said the museum creates an opportunity for residents to explore both the celebrated and more challenging chapters of Redlands' history.

"I think this is an opportunity for us to be able to have these open conversations about the history of Redlands, both good and challenging times," Saucedo said.

Among the exhibits exploring those histories is a display documenting Stuart Avenue, a historically Black neighborhood displaced during freeway construction.

Another exhibit explores Redlands' historic Chinatown, featuring ceramics, household items and other artifacts recovered during archaeological excavations dating back to 1968.

Museum collections specialist Katie Montemayor, who helped curate the exhibit, said the artifacts provide a glimpse into the lives of Chinese immigrants who worked in agriculture, railroads, domestic service and local businesses.

The exhibit includes ceramics recovered in fragments and reconstructed by archaeologists, along with displays designed to immerse visitors in the archaeological discoveries.

A community investment decades in the making

The museum project began in 2000 through a partnership involving the city of Redlands, A.K. Smiley Public Library and the Redlands Historical Museum Association.

During Saturday's ceremony, organizers credited private donors, public funding and years of volunteer work for bringing the project to completion.

Private donations accounted for approximately 80% of the museum's $32 million cost. Public funding included $1 million from the city of Redlands and a $2 million state grant secured with the help of state Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes. The city also provided a $1 million loan that has since been repaid, while the A.K. Smiley Public Library Board of Trustees contributed funding toward construction and exhibits.

The museum building was transferred to the city in 2025 and is administered through A.K. Smiley Public Library, whose special collections staff developed and installed the exhibits.

With its doors now open, the Museum of Redlands offers residents and visitors a permanent place to explore those stories and the generations that shaped the city.

Plan your visit: The Museum of Redlands, located at 1 N. Center St., is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit themor.org.