El Monte Historical Museum

About El Monte Historical Museum

The El Monte Historical Museum occupies a Spanish Moorish style building displaying artifacts and history of the El Monte area. Visitors explore multiple rooms dedicated to different periods and themes. The Gay's Lion Farm collection features pictures and artifacts from the animal farm that operated in El Monte from 1923 until World War II. The Heritage Room displays antique furniture, glassware, clothing, and photographs of early residents and walnut growers. The Pioneer Room contains lamps, typewriters, dolls, toys, books, quilts, and army medals. The Frontier Room presents early police and fire equipment, badges, guns, a 1911 Model T Ford, old tools, Native American artifacts, and a recreated police office. The Lexington Room features turn-of-the-century shops including a General Store stocked with old merchandise, a Barber Shop with period haircutting implements, a Music Shop displaying ukuleles and violins, a Dressmaker Shop, and a Schoolhouse with desks and maps.