The purpose of the Malki Museum is to increase cultural awareness of the Cahuilla Indians and other Southern California Indian tribes. It promotes research of Native American culture and founded an academic publishing press in 1963. The Malki Museum is the oldest non-profit museum on a California Indian reservation and is not tribally owned or sponsored. It is supported by sales, donations and memberships.
It has three annual festivals: a Fiesta on the Sunday of Memorial Day week-end; an Agave Harvest and Roast on two Sundays in April; and a Fall Gathering in late October. All events have demonstrations of Indian arts such as Cahuilla bird singing, basket weaving, acorn leaching and grinding, pottery making and flint knapping.
Dinosaur Gallery is a mineral market. It carries minerals, fossils, rocks and precious gems, jewelry, art, toys, gifts and local souvenirs. Included is its prized Versteinerter Crab from Toscana, Italy, which was awarded first place at the San Diego Country Fair.
For kids under 10 and their caregivers, the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo is a hands-on science class. The zoo has more than 50 animal species including bobcats and hedgehogs, and the museum has 14 interactive exhibits to teach concepts like gravity and motion. It also hosts birthday parties in a private room for kindergarteners and up, and have educational programs for schools and community groups.
Olompali is a sacred site for both Native Americans and hippies from the Haight-Ashbury days. The park is located three miles north of the Novato city limits on the eastern slope of Mount Burdell and only accessible from southbound Highway 101. Evidence of the presence of the Coast Miwok tribe, called the Southern People (Olompali), dates to 6,000 B.C. The tribe lived here until the 1850s and their descendants are still a recognized and organized group in the North Bay area. Many artifacts can be seen at the park as well as at the nearby Marin Museum of the American Indian. In the late 1960s, the Olompali land was privately owned and became a cultural gathering spot and commune. The Grateful Dead played here regularly. A fire at the house led to the commune's closing in 1969. Many artifacts were saved but have yet to be put on display. The park was opened as a state historic park in 1990. Today it features a small museum, a bookstore, picnic tables and hiking trails.
Riverside Metropolitan Museum captures the city's rich cultural heritage and gives visitors of all ages a look at Riverside's natural history and anthropology. The museum is responsible for three historic sites: Heritage House, a Victorian house museum; Harada House, a National Historic Landmark; and the museum itself, which is listed on the National Register. Museum-goers can view more than 100,000 artifacts in various collections, as well as 2,000 linear feet of archives. The museum houses both permanent and special exhibits, as well as educational programs, school programs and special cultural events.
Best and worst time to go to Riverside Metropolitan Museum
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours on the first Thursday of each month for its Arts Walk. Heritage House is only open limited hours between September and June, and Harada House is not open to the public. The best time to visit the museum is almost any time, especially when a new exhibit or collection is revealed. However, because of its location in Downtown Riverside, it would be best to avoid the local highways near the museum's closing time (5 p.m.) or on Fridays after 2 p.m. when weekend traffic is at its worse.
Must see/do at Riverside Metropolitan Museum
The Riverside Metropolitan Museum has something for everyone! First Sundays Family Day is the first Sunday of each month and offers free events at various cultural sites around the city. Another favorite is the Riverside Arts Walk on the first Thursday of each month. Finally, a tour of Heritage House gives visitors an intimate look at the once affluent homes that graced this area of Riverside.
Admission to Riverside Metropolitan Museum
Admission to the Riverside Metropolitan Museum and Heritage House is free, although a $5 donation is recommended to help with their upkeep. Guests are asked to visit any time throughout the day, but at least 45 minutes before closing to be able to view all the exhibits and collections. Most special events are free.
Parking and public transportation to Riverside Metropolitan Museum
Garage parking is available on Orange Street, between Mission Inn and University Avenues. It is free for the first 90 minutes. There is curbside parking along Mission Inn Avenue and a metered lot behind the museum (Lot 160. Check posted signs for cost and time limitations. Parking is free weekdays after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Various bus routes lead to the museum. Exact times and dates can be found on the Riverside Transit Authority's website.
Food at Riverside Metropolitan Museum
Because of the nature of the museum and corresponding sites, food and drink are not allowed.
Insider tip for visitors to Riverside Metropolitan Museum
If you are visiting the museum with children during the hot summer months, make plans to check out the 2nd floor nature exhibit. These hands-on activities will keep youngsters entertained and busy for hours.
Author's bio: Mary Beth Adomaitis is a freelance writer from Southern California. She loves to visit exciting and new places with her family. In the summer of 2014, she drove cross-country from California to Ohio (and back), visiting 14 states in two weeks.
The Roseville Utility Exploration Center is situated inside the library complex of Maheny Regional Park. Here, visitors can view exhibits about water conservation, solid waste disposal and energy conservation. The drop-in exploration center was the first city building to earn LEED certification. It offers school field trips, tours and workshops on green technologies for homeowners, business owners or anyone in the community with an interest in environmental issues.