2. Enrich Arcadia

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  3. Protect Arcadia

    Arcadia-35Protect Arcadia offers public and life safety tips, and information on emergency preparedness and crime prevention to preserve and protect your family, home, or business.learn more

  4. Shape Arcadia

    Arb-18Shape Arcadia keeps you up to date on City projects and smart growth strategies that promote economic growth and sustainability to enhance Arcadia’s unique cultural and historical character.learn more

  5. Discover Arcadia

    mega-nav-1Explore your community with Discover Arcadia. Stay current on City news, special events, and the happenings at City Hall and around town.learn more

  6. Trending

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Collections & Research

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L to R Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin,  Peach Blossom Parades, 1949-1951 
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and   
Paulette Goddard at Santa Anita Park   

The Museum’s Collections reflect the local history and culture of the City of Arcadia

A variety of materials are preserved which include:
  • Photographs
  • Archives
  • Art
  • Historical books for our Research Library
  • Objects
Main time periods for the collections include:
  • Tongva (local Native Americans)
  • Spanish Mission Period (1771 – 1821)
  • Mexican Period (1821 – 1846)
  • Rancho Santa Anita (1839 - c1909)
  • City of Arcadia (1903 – present)  
Themes in our collection include:
photographs of Arcadia in any time period and any subject; local businesses; schools; Arcadia High School; Monrovia Arcadia Duarte school; the 1984 Olympics; the Rose Parade; the Baldwin family and early City residents; Cultural histories in Arcadia;  information on historic structures; local artists and authors; maps and aerials; local Veteran’s artifacts; Arcadia civic activity; Arcadia’s organizations and clubs; Route 66; Santa Anita Park; the Santa Anita Japanese Assembly Center; the Arcadia World War I Balloon School and much more.  

Arcadia has hidden histories in every corner! If you have an artifact that tells the history of Arcadia that you would like to see preserved, protected and shared with the public, please contact the Museum Curator at (626) 574-5468.
Oral Histories:
If you have been a long-time resident of Arcadia and would like to sit for oral history to share your wealth of knowledge about Arcadia people, places and events, please contact the Curator.  These oral histories will be added to our Collections and will be preserved, protected and used for future research and exhibits.
Published: January 16, 2020