Alhambra Historical Society Museum

‍History & Mission of the Alhambra Historical Society

In 1966 the Alhambra Historical Society Inc was established with the objective to encourage and promote the research and study of history and its relationship to the population and the development of Alhambra and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley. As an archival and educational organization to collect, classify and disseminate historical data and facts.

The collection of artifacts is housed in the eleven-room museum, located at 1550 W Alhambra Road (corner of Alhambra Road and Bushnell Avenue). A vast collection, including the Alhambra Post Advocate, Alhambra Polk city directories from 1905 to 1964, telephone directories from 1882 to 2011, Alhambra High School yearbooks from 1912, and much more.

Beginning in July 2022, museum hours are from 1pm to 4 pm every first and third Saturdays of each month or by appointment at 626-300-8845. For more information, email the Alhambra Historical Society. Admission is free.

You can view a virtual video tour of the museum, courtesy of Iona Works Spaces, located next to the Alhambra Historical Society.

For more information, visit the Alhambra Historical Society's website at alhambrahistoricalsociety.org or following their Instagram @AlhambraHistory.

Early History

Alhambra is located seven miles northeast of the business district of Los Angeles at that time, which would have been around City Hall of Los Angeles. Benjamin Wilson, who owned 40,000 acres in three counties, gave about 300 acres of his property in Alhambra, divided into five and ten acre lots. The name Alhambra came from Wilson's daughters and cousins who were reading "Tales of the Alhambra" by Washington Irving. With the growth of the area, Alhambra was incorporated in 1903.

‍Collection

The museum's vast collection includes many articles used in day-to-day lives:

• More than 400 envelopes of photos from as early as 1880
• Telephone directories from 1882 to 2011
• Alhambra Post Advocate Morgue from 1934 to 1964
• Alhambra Polk City directories from 1905 to 1964
• Alhambra High School Yearbooks from 1912
• Artist Colony (Norman Rockwell, Florence Upson Young, Eli Harvey, Sam Hyde Harris and more)
• Town of Dolgeville (became part of Alhambra)
• And much, much more!

‍Meetings & Events

Membership meetings of the Alhambra Historical Society are conducted quarterly, and typically feature guest speakers on topics of local or regional historic interest. Special events are held throughout the year.  A frequent meeting place is the Alhambra Masonic Center at 9 West Woodward Avenue in Alhambra. Members receive prior notification of all meetings and events, but the public is always welcome to attend. 

Class of Membership

Please visit the Alhambra Historical Society Museum at:

1550 W Alhambra Road
Alhambra, CA 91801

You may also call 626-300-8845 to leave a message, or email the Alhambra Historical Society.