Tulare County Museum hosting historical fun for all ages in annual Jamboree
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Tucked in the southern quadrant of Mooney Grove Park in Visalia, the Tulare County Museum is one of the area’s undiscovered gems, with a pioneer village and cultural artifacts that give visitors a peek into the past.
In a bid to share its treasures with the public, museum staff are playing host to the fifth annual Museum Jamboree from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 2.
Families and guests of all ages are invited to attend the free event, where guests can walk through a log cabin or a schoolhouse, watch a blacksmith at work, test one’s skill at grinding acorns or take a hayride, among many other activities.
Organizers have dusted off pre-pandemic plans and resurrected the indoor-outdoor event, said Museum Curator Amy King.
“Our last Jamboree was in May 2019 and we are so excited to bring this event back to connect with the community,” said King, who aims to attract 500 guests. “We want people to be excited about our local history, and we are offering activities like hayrides and mini-golf in a day of stepping back in time to learn about the many cultures that have shaped our history and all that Tulare County offers today.”
One of those cultures is that of the Yokuts Indians. The Tulare County Museum boasts one of the largest Native American basket collections in the state.
Christina Jaquez, director of the Tule River Yokuts Language Project, will be on hand at the event. Members of the Tule River Indian Reservation, where the language project is based, will present information in the museum’s basket room about Yokuts culture, including food, medicines and baskets. A DVD showing how to skin a buck and make acorn mush will be shown. Guests can use the museum’s rock mortars and pestles to grind acorns.
“We want attendees to get a feel for Native culture, and to walk away with the understanding that we are still here, carrying on the culture and still speaking our language,” Jaquez said. “People hear the term ‘Indian Days’ and get the impression that we are extinct. This is our way of connecting with the communities around us in a good way.”
Other Tulare County cultures can be explored at the adjacent Farm Labor & Agriculture Museum. As its name suggests, the museum focuses on the people who labored as farmers rather than equipment.
Here, 16 cultural groups have been identified by the Tulare County Historical Society as having the biggest influence on the area over the last 150 years, including Dutch, Portuguese, Korean, Italian, Southeast Asian and more.
At 2 p.m., an opening reception will be held for the museum’s current exhibit, “Exploring America’s Frontier: Westward Settler Experiences in Tulare County.” Local historian Terry Ommen will speak about the county’s history during the mid to late 1800s.
Food trucks, a car show, University of California Master Gardeners, American Legion Post 18 and the Tulare County Book Mobile will also be on hand.
“Our event is not just about learning about our past; it is also learning how you can be involved in the community now,” King said. “We hope people have a good time at the event and then bring their families back to visit the museum again!”
Schedule of events
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11 a.m.: Actors from The Enchanted Playhouse performs scenes from their play “Snow White.”
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11:30 a.m.: The Tulare County Office of Education presents a recap of National History Day. Students who will be moving on from the county to state level competition will give performances based on this year’s theme of Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences. Student exhibits will be on display in the museum for one week starting April 2.
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Noon: Eager Studios’ glee club will perform favorite sing-along songs.
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12:30 p.m.: Actors from The Enchanted Playhouse performs scenes from their upcoming play “Snow White.”
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1 p.m.: Dance students from Kid’s Edition will perform several dance routines. A free dance class will follow.
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2 p.m.: Opening reception for Exploring America’s Frontier: Westward Settler Experiences in Tulare County. Local historian and past president of the Tulare County Historical Society Terry Ommen will speak.
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2:30 p.m.: Dina Restivo, owner of Rocky Hill Yoga & Meditation in Exeter, will conduct a gentle standing yoga class.
How to attend
The 5th annual Museum Jamboree is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 2 at the Tulare County Museum in Mooney Grove Park, 27000 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia. Entrance is $6 per vehicle or $2 for seniors. Info: tularecountymuseum.com or (559) 624-7326.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare County Museum will explore Yokuts culture, pioneer history
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