Monterey Museums Team up for Museum Month and Year of the Museum

Special offers and activities will take place in May and beyond

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. October 14, 2008

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA, April 11, 2006. The rich tapestry of art, history and literary museums in Monterey County is coming together in May to celebrate California Museum Month and the American Association of Museum's Year of the Museum in 2006. Eleven institutions will host special events throughout the Month of May.

On Sunday, May 7,14 and 21st in conjunction with the My California: Views from the Golden State juried exhibition, there will be three free admission days filled with musical and dance performances from many of the groups that make California great at the National Steinbeck Center Museum at One Main Street, Salinas. The museum celebrates literature, agriculture and art. On the three Sundays from 12 - 3 p.m., the Cultural Council for Monterey County will also present hands-on arts activities or children with artists from the Professional artists in the schools program. Museum admission is free for Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz County residents. For all others the programs are free with paid admission, which is $10.95 adults, with discounts for seniors, and children. Call (831) 775-4721 or visit www.steinbeck.org for information.

Tor House in Carmel is hosting two special events in May. On Sunday May 7, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. there will be the Annual Garden Party in the gardens of Tor House, the stone house built by hand by poet Robinson Jeffers. There will be tours, teatime treats, live music including bagpiper, harpist, and organist/pianist. Visitors can climb hawk tower, tour Tor House and bring their cameras for this day only. The cost is $15 adults (12 and older) and $10 for seniors. On, Friday, May 12, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. there will be a night program "Robinson Jeffers" at Point Sur. A tour of the Lighthouse at Point Sur, followed by refreshments and a poetry reading in the Barn, ending with a moonlight walk back to the parking lot. $20 admission fee. Advance reservations required. Co-sponsored by the Central Coast Lighthouse Keepers and the California State Parks. Call (831) 624-1813 or visit www.torhouse.org for reservation information.

Discover the wonders of our ocean planet at the nation's finest aquarium Monterey Bay Aquarium. Located on the historic Cannery Row waterfront, the aquarium is offering "Oceans 2006: A Year of Exploring," a year-long program that encourages kids to do some extreme exploring and in the process, have fun and help ensure a future with healthy oceans. We'll do this through special weekend "Exploration Events," an "Official Explorer's Passport" program, activities on our web site. On May 13 and 14 (Sat.-Sun.) there will be an Aquarium Adventures Sneak Peek! Check out the line up of Aquarium Adventures programs through a family scavenger hunt. You might win a free adventure for your family. Free with paid admission. The aquarium is open daily, except Christmas Day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and from 9:30 - 6:30 May 28 - September 5th. Call (831) 648-8888 or visit www.montereybayaquarium.org.

Monterey State Historic Park offers the experience of 19th century ambience in two acres of "secret" gardens and historic buildings in downtown Monterey at the Cooper Historic Garden Plant Sale on Saturday, May 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is the only time during the year to purchase plants grown from cuttings and seeds in this pre-1865 period garden located at 525 Polk Street in downtown Monterey. Docents and refreshments provided. Free admission. All historic house and walking tours of the adobes in the Monterey Parks system are free in May and all year round. For more information, call (831) 649-7118 or visit www.parks.ca.gov

The City of Monterey is offering free admission to the Presidio of Monterey Museum which is open Thursday through Monday 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. and at historic Colton Hall, the site of the California Constitutional Convention, which will be open daily free of charge from 10 A. M. to 4 P.M. On, Thursday, May 11, at 7:00 P.M. author and historian Jim Conway will be giving a free candlelight talk in Colton Hall on the Constitutional Convention of 1849, which was held in Colton Hall. It will be titled "Where California became a State". On Saturday, May 20 Jim Conway, Presidio Museum curator will be lead walking tours at of the Lower Presidio Historic Park at 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 P. M. It will include the sites related to the Native American Period, The Spanish Period, The Californio Period and the American Period. Call (831) 646-5640 or visit www.monterey.org/museum for information.

The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History is hosting a Family Fun Day featuring California State Symbols on Saturday, May 6th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, May 27th at 2:00 p.m. artist George Lepp will present a lecture entitled "Golden Poppies of California" on his exhibit there by the same name, which runs March 18th through June 10, 2006. The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History is located at Forest & Central avenues, and is open free to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call (831) 648-5716 for general Museum information, or www.pgmuseum.org

The Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum Located at San Lorenzo Park in King City is offering a 10% discount in our Museum Gift Shop in honor of Museum Month. Since 1978 the museum has acquired, preserved and interpreted artifacts, equipment and buildings relating to Monterey County's agricultural heritage. A restored farmhouse, one room school, blacksmith shop, King City's train depot and the new History of Irrigation Museum give visitors a taste of our rich heritage. The Main Exhibit Barn is open daily from 10 - 4. Tour Guides are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12 - 4. Later in July the museum celebrates Valley Heritage Day on July 4th with a parade, games, contests, car show and bar-b-q. Museum admission is always free, there is a nominal fee per car for entrance to San Lorenzo Park. For information call (831) 385-8020 or visit www.mcarlm.org.

The Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmel offers five museums on the property including the basilica itself, the Downie museum dedicated to Mission Restoration, the Munras Museum on the history of the Munras family, the Convento museum which is a restoration of the living quarters of the Padres and the cell of Father Junipero Serra, and the Mora Museum, with original sculptures and works by artist Jo Mora. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 - 5:00 p.m. and 10:30 - 5 on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, with discounts for seniors and children. There are docent tours weekdays at 10:30 with additional being planned for May. For information call (831) 624-1271 x-213 or visit www.carmelmission.org.

The Monterey Museum of Art is hosting its Third Thursday event on California Museum Day, Thursday, May 18 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at historic La Mirada at 720 Mirada Street. In honor of California Museums Day, enjoy free admission where patrons, young professionals, students, and visitors enjoy the exhibitions, light hors d'oeuvres, music and refreshments. On view is The Baird Early California Paintings Auction preview. This extraordinary collection will be offered at auction on Sunday, May 20, 2006 to benefit the educational programs of the Museum. May's Third Thursday is sponsored by Keller Williams Realty and features wines by Blackstone Winery. Call (831) 372-5477 or visit www.montereyart.org for information.

The Monterey History and Art Association celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 2006 with a yearlong exhibition: 75 Treasures for our 75th Anniversary: The Path of History and Art. The exhibit runs from January 19 through December 2006 at the Maritime Museum. In May, visitors will receive a FREE, antique cannery label when they fill out an exhibition evaluation form. On Sunday, May 7 from 1:00 p.m. to 4: 00 p.m. there will be an Ask an Artifact! workshop with historian Tim Thomas and Education Director Christine Capen-Frederick. Tim will share the remarkable history of the "fish board" and its revolutionary impact on the Sardine industry. Families will learn to use a graphic organizer to study and share information about an artifact The workshop includes a 1/2 hour tour of the 75th Anniversary exhibition. This workshop is recommended for children aged 10 and above. Family Workshop fees are $15 for adults and $10 for children under 15. Throughout the month of June, the Association will offer free admission to the Maritime and History Museum of Monterey, sponsored by First National Bank of Central California. For additional information call (831) 372-2608 or visit www.montereyhistory.org.

Another unique museum experience is MY Museum, the Monterey County Youth Museum at 601 Wave Street near Cannery Row, which provides an environment packed with a variety of hands on exhibits. Call (831) 649 - 6444 or visit www.mymuseum.org for information. For area information on Monterey County visit www.montereyinfo.org and for arts and cultural events visit www.culturalmonterey.org.

The My California program at the National Steinbeck Center is underwritten in part by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Thanks to our Family Program Sponsors: Duke Energy, Harden Ranch Plaza, Heald College, Pebble Beach Company, and the Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. Media sponsors; The Californian, Family Times, KOCN, KTOM. Sponsor of the Month: Tanimura & Antle.