Colton Area Museum reopens after 3 years

The hall is in the former Carnegie Library, which is nearly 120 years old

After a three-year hiatus due to renovations, the Colton Area Museum has reopened to the public.

The museum is housed in a former Carnegie Library that originally opened in 1908, according to museum officials.

After 74 years, the library moved to its current location on Ninth Street. After standing empty nearly a decade, the library became home to the Colton Area Museum in 1991.

Museum renovations that began in January 2021 included redesigning existing exhibits, bringing in new exhibits and restoring the historic building.

“We truly hope that this new vision of the museum speaks to a more inclusive, ever-evolving narrative history of Colton, which will grow and change as more exciting pieces of Colton’s rich past are discovered by residents,” Colton Area Museum President Christina Perris said in a news release.

The San Bernardino County Museum partnered with the Colton Area Museum to access grant funding for the project, according to the release.

The museum pays homage to Colton’s cement and citrus business heritage, as well as infamous former residents, such as the family and siblings of frontier lawman Wyatt Earp.

Museum guests can learn more about the railroad industry and how Colton played a pivotal role in coast-to-coast travel via the transatlantic railway.

Perris, who also teaches history at San Bernardino Valley College, shared that as the museum president, she wanted to foster an inclusive experience that reflected the many stories and cultures found in Colton.

“I think the museum reopening reflects a new era of hope for Colton and an era of change,” Perris said in an interview. “I hope it also encourages others to look more closely at preserving their own history, whether it be their close family history or their family in general.”

Upcoming events at the museum include an Easter Extravaganza at 5 p.m. March 29, with traditional bonnet making and an egg hunt. An ice cream social is planned from noon to 3 p.m. May 4.

The Colton Area Museum at 380 N. La Cadena Drive is open to the public 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There’s no charge to visit.

PHOTOS BY TERRY PIERSON — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Colton Area Museum President Christina Perris in one of the installations about the Union Pacific Railroad in the renovated Carnegie Library, which is now the Colton Area Museum in Colton on Thursday.

A wedding dress, soldiers uniform, Yellowjackets Yogi mascot costume and other history related to Colton are on display at the Colton Area Museum.

Colton Area Museum has taken the place of the Carnegie Library after its renovation.