The Orangevale History Museum features a wide variety of historical artifacts, including a bacon press pictured here. Photo courtesy of the Orangevale History Museum

ORANGEVALE, CA (MPG) - Newly formed in early 2022, the Orangevale History Project (OHP) has a mission to preserve, chronicle and promote the history of Orangevale, and to educate our community. Come spring of 2023, the Orangevale Recreation & Park District provided a building, and our generous community provided the labor and donations to help transform a small parsonage house into its first History Museum that opened in July 2023.

OHP has been assembling materials for long-term preservation and the documentation of Orangevale history. Both the Fowler Family and Mary Henter have added to their family collections which will be on exhibit to provide a more complete picture of what it was like to live in this northern part of Sacramento County.

One of our new exhibitions features items used in the home – for work, play, food preparation and because you just got to have shoes. Visitors can also see fruit packing crates, a vintage record player, and albums.

Throughout the first year, OHP has also sought to document the business history of the area. With that in mind, OHP is working with the owners of The Boardwalk, Sara Green and Derek Clark, to showcase the dynamic story of this musical venue.

Come join us to celebrate the Museum’s first anniversary at our free Ice Cream Social at the Orangevale History Museum to be held Saturday, July 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. There will be new exhibits showing Orangevale’s history, two interactive touchscreens, a gift shop, music, and fun with a trivia game.

The Museum is located at 6920 Hazel Avenue, just north of the Orangevale Community Center. Turn right into the driveway through the gate and continue to the far-right building. The free admission Museum is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m., except for it being closed on July 4 and 11. To learn more about OHP and the Museum, visit our website at OrangevaleHistory.org.