Building Community in 2009

At its heart, Pasadena Museum of History is about building community. Whether new to town or with family roots tracing back five or more generations, we are all locals now; Pasadena area history and culture belongs to all of us and can bring us together as we forge a shared future. To this end, PMH has continued to expand our community outreach efforts to ensure that all area residents - regardless of economic status, ethnicity, age, or background - are aware of, feel welcomed, and are able to access PMH programs and events. In 2009 we launched the popular “Community Wednesdays,” offering free admission to anyone who lives or works in the local area. Other free admission days and programs include our ongoing participation in the Museums of the Arroyo Day (MOTA), held each May, Pasadena’s ArtNight, and quarterly Family Free Days. Researchers or anyone with an interest in local history is welcome to use the professionally-staffed Research Library and Archives free of charge.

Volunteers are essential to PMH’s ongoing successes, and we are proud to have a robust roster of active volunteers of all ages. In 2009, volunteers helped with everything from cataloging specialized Archival collections to leading focused tours to answering visitor questions in the History Center’s exhibition galleries. Monthly meetings provide volunteers with the opportunity for ongoing professional development. Summer teen volunteers worked side-by-side with adult staff members, volunteers, and college interns to assist with children’s programs while giving back to the community. Also in 2009, PMH inaugurated an online password-protected volunteer website designed to further improve our volunteers’ Museum experience through one-stop volunteer information, contact information management, online volunteer newsletters, and an online calendar.

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