Families on a budget will surely appreciate the fact that everything is free on Sunday, May 21, Museums of the Arroyo Day – free admission to six museums, free events and free connecting shuttles between museums.
But consider the day more than just a freebie – it’s a gift of culture that is priceless.
There’s great art and architecture, historical discoveries and fascinating stories from the past to be uncovered in one Sunday afternoon.
Hear about life in the 1900s from “Agnes” a devoted servant of the stylish Fenyes Mansion that resides on the grounds of the Pasadena Museum of History. See the home that Charles Lummis built by hand out of arroyo stone. Check out “For the Love of the Arroyo,” at the Autry’s Southwest Museum, an exhibition from local artists who have visually interpreted their deep connections to Northeast Los Angeles. Learn about the early days of the LAPD at the Los Angeles Police Society where folks from the L.A. Coppers will be on hand in vintage uniforms and with vintage vehicles. (Bonus: “Lock” your kids up in a real jail cell, snap a pix of your spouse ala police booking photo and reenact a criminal lineup in the Interrogation Room.)
There’s plenty of kids-fun to be found on MOTA Day. Around on the green grounds and painted Victorian structures of Heritage Square, kids can play with Victorian toys or engage in water fun with Pump N Splash among the blacksmithing demonstrations, fashion display and musical entertainment. The manicured lawns of the Gamble House also is a perfect location for kids to grab a cookie and lemonade and create their own butterfly fan after touring the Greene & Greene Arts and Crafts masterpiece. In conjunction with its current exhibition on the history of the Pasadena Chalk Festival, Pasadena Museum of History will set up an area for little Michaelengos to create their own chalk creations; likewise, the museum’s other current exhibit on the art of train travel will display a collection of model trains that will impress locomotive fans of all ages. Finally, don’t forget to step back into time and experience the Finnish Folk Museum which is housed in a replica of a 19th Century Finnish farmhouse.
With so much to do and see – and only a few hours to do it – visitors are encouraged to best plan their visits and to pacethemselves accordingly. Organizers stress that guests should arrange to visit no more than three museums for a satisfying MOTA Day experience. MOTA Day takes place from noon to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m.
So don’t worry if you can’t get to all six museums – just put that on the plan for next year’s MOTA Day.
For more information visit www.museumsofthearroyo.com and “like” MOTA (museumsofthearroyo) on Facebook. #MOTADay2017
