Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Opens Exhibit Oct. 5, Exploring Its 135-Year History

1. Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Opens Exhibit Oct. 5, Exploring Its 135-YearHistory A new exhibit at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History will examine its own 135-year history when it opens Oct. 5, at the Pacific Groveinstitution. Pacific Grove, CA, September 21, 2018 — A new exhibit at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural Historywill examine itsown135-yearhistorywhenitopensOct.5,atthePacificGroveinstitution. Theexhibit,“135YearsofNaturalHistory,”willhave an openingreceptionfrom6-8 p.m. Friday,October 5, 2018, in the Special Exhibits Gallery at theMuseum. This exhibit will explore the museum’s history from its beginnings in the Pacific Coast chapter of the Chautauqua Literary and Science Circle in 1879, through the several expansions and reorganizations of the 20th century and up to how the Museum is honoring its legacy through extensive outreach and education programs. The original Museum opened in1883. “This is a pretty exciting exhibit,” said Juan Govea, Director of Exhibits and Education. “The exhibit will takepeoplefromthe1880suntilnow,speakingtochangesattheMuseum,frombuildingtoexpansion, through stories and by showing bits of our collections that coincide with their times. There’s a lot of variety and lots of areas where peoplecan interact.” GoveasaidtheexhibitwillfeatureitemsfromtheMuseum’sextensivecollections,models,artpieces, specimens, andvintagephotographs.“It’sajourneyfromone eratothenextinfivemajorblocks,”he said. When he was asked what he discovered about the Museum that surprised him, Govea said he was reminded of the prominent role women played and still play, in the history of the Museum. For example, of the original association, nine of the 12 members were women and Mary E. B. Norton was oneofitsfirstcurators. Womencontinuedtoplay aprominentroleintheMuseum’s progressoverthe year. The current executive director is also a woman, JeanetteKihs. History of the Pacific Grove Museum of NaturalHistory The Chautauqua (shuh-TAH-kwuh) Literary and Scientific Circle established its Pacific Coast branch in Pacific Grove in 1879. A two-week Chautauqua assembly was held here every summer, featuring lessons, exhibits,lectures,picnics, andconcerts.Overtheyearsseveralmembersfeltthe needtohavea storeroom and exhibition site to house collections of nature’s wonders and to make them available for study.

2. In 1883, a petition calling for a Museum building was signed by Professor H. B. Norton, Dr. J. H. Wyeth, Dr. C. L. Anderson, Miss Lucy M. Washburn, Miss Mary E. B. Norton, and Professor Josiah Keep. The petition was sent to F. S. Douty, secretary of the Pacific Improvement Company, a small wooden octagonalbuildingontheirlandtheChautauquaMuseum'sfirsthome. The original Chautauqua Museum in Pacific Grove was initiated at the second meetings of the Chautauqua Assembly in 1881, and the actual Museum was founded in 1883. The Museum was created tohousecollectionsofnature’swondersand to make themavailableforstudy.In 1900theChautauqua Museum disbanded to form a more permanent organization as the Pacific Grove Museum Association. The Pacific Improvement Company donated the Museum’s current lot to the Association, and the Museum subsequently moved into a large building on its currentsite. TheAssociationmaintainedtheMuseumuntil1916whenitwastransferredtotheCity ofPacificGrove through a Charter election. The Museum remains city owned and is operated by a non-profit 501.c.3, The Museum Foundation of Pacific Grove. The Museum has been accredited by the American AssociationofMuseums since 1972,thefirstsuchinstitutioninMontereyCounty. About The Pacific Grove Museum of NaturalHistory The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History has served as a hub of natural science on the Monterey Peninsula for 135 years, bringing together professional scientists, amateur naturalists and artists of the naturalworldthroughoutitshistoryasitcontinuestodotoday. Themuseum’smission is toinspire discovery,wonder, andstewardshipofournaturalworld.Itenvisions a community of curious minds, engaged in discovering the natural heritage and cultural legacy that exist today on the Central California Coast. The Museum is a catalyst for conservation and a valued learning resourceinthisregion,facilitatingactiveinquiryforallages. 165 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950 (831)648-5716 Fax: (831)648-5755 admin@pgmuseum.org www.pgmuseum.org Photos Available: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPF7tEb2RhDdgqEW5hXhRq_Euc1YmmfArhJlmoM9rAGew8Lp_ E0pwi87WaFNJAoRQ?key=STRUVFZSVlpuVEg3S25MX3ZSN0pPa1MxV1Zrc2VR Contact: Marci BraccoCain Chatterbox PR Salinas, CA93901 (831)747-7455

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