About

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage is to collect, preserve and recognize Arcadia's heritage; to create a shared identity for a diverse community; and to celebrate the City's rich history with exhibits and educational programs that will encourage community involvement.

Admission to the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage is FREE!

Open Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm (closed 12pm to 1pm for lunch)

Closed Sunday and Monday

DONATION GUIDELINES

NO WALK-INS ALLOWED

1. If you would like to donate an object to the museum, you must schedule a meeting with the Curator, Stevy Acevedo. A minimum of two weeks advance noticed is required.
2. Please note that only items related to Arcadia history and heritage will be considered for donation. Documenting, cataloguing, preserving and storing artifacts is very costly and the museum is limited in resources and space. Items are declined if they do not meet the museum’s collecting criteria, if the museum already owns duplicates or owns similar representations, or if condition is poor.
3. Accepting items simply because they are “old” is not enough, no matter how fascinating they might be.
4. The Curator will decide what will be accepted for consideration. All possible donations must also be approved by the Director of Library and Museum.
5. The museum does not accept temporary loans in the Museum collections because of liability.
6. The Curator will provide two copies of a "Deed of Gift" - a form that legally and irrevocably transfers ownership to the museum. One copy is retained by the museum, while the other is retained by the donor for his/her records. The Deed of Gift is the donor’s official gift receipt and may be used as proof of donation for tax purposes.
7. You are more than welcome to make a financial donation directly to the Gilb Museum at any time.

ARCADIA MUSEUM COMMISSION

Adopted May 1, 2002 by the Arcadia Museum Commission.

Volunteer & Internships

Volunteering is a great way to become involved in the Arcadia community and learn about local history. Volunteers are a valuable resource at the Gilb Museum and there are many opportunities to develop skills in event planning, customer service, and working with historical collections.

Friends of the Arcadia Museum

The Friends of the Arcadia Museum is a 501C3 organization dedicated to the support of the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage, the promotion of the cultural history of Arcadia, and service to the community through Museum programs.

Board of Directors:
Joyce Platt: President
Janalee Shimmin: Secretary
Marilyn Daleo: Treasurer
Ginny Blitz: Corresponding Secretary
Victor Wu: Consultant
Joanna Liang
Robin Graney
Esther Reynoso 
Maria Leiva
Billie Tone
Arlene Okamoto

Learn About the Gilbs

The Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage is dedicated to Ruth and Charles Gilb who were major donors to the Museum. The Gilbs supported the Museum from its inception and the family continues in its vision for the future. Ruth and Charles believed that preserving and understanding the past paves the way to a brighter future.

Charles Edwin Gilb established the Charles E. Gilb Company; producer of fresh fruits and vegetables. He was a powerful civic leader, serving on many boards and councils in Arcadia and throughout California. Included in his Arcadia service was sixteen years on the Arcadia City Council, also holding the honor of four-time Mayor for the City; Chairman of the League of California Cities, Council of Mayors for 8 years; Boardmember of the Arcadia Educational Foundation; Boardmember of the Arcadia Museum Commission and served as Past President of the Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association. Twice he was honored by the City of Arcadia as Citizen of the Year; once individually and once jointly with his wife. Charles passed away in 2008.

Ruth Valadon Gilb was not only First Lady of Arcadia four times, she also served the community by donating her time, effort, hard work and philanthropy. She was on both the Museum’s Commission and the Arcadia Museum Foundation, being a major donor for the Museum Education Center in 2014.  Some of her work with numerous organizations include: Arcadia’s Sister City Program,  Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association, St. Rita’s Guild, Arcadia Welfare and Thrift Foundation, Arcadia Methodist Hospital Foundation, the Assistance League of Pasadena and National Charity League; serving as President for many of them. She was also awarded Arcadia Citizen of the Year. Ruth passed away in 2017.

The Gilbs’ contribution to the Museum has been invaluable and indelible; preserving Arcadia’s heritage for generations to come. We honor their lifetime service and dedication.