Museum Planning Fact Summary

This summary of museum planning is provided to inform the community and, hopefully, avoid much of the controversy and confusion that can result from uniformed rumors and comments on social media. Informed public opinion is needed and welcomed.

Who is planning the museum?

The Palos Verdes Historical Society (PVHS), founded in 1976. It operated a museum in the tower of the closed Malaga Cove school. Unfortunately, the museum was closed by the School District to use as an administrative center. The PVHS was re-established in 2014 as a community service non-profit (501c3) organization and possesses many artifacts from the prior museum.

What is the current planning status?

The PVHS has done extensive museum planning over the past several years including costly professional architectural studies of potential locations and building designs. In November 2022 the PVHS addressed the Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) city council with its plans. PVHS currently seeks 1) approval of the museum concept, and 2) approval of a location near the Point Vicente Interpretive Center (PVIC) that would expand the PVIC display of Peninsula history. PVHS is NOT now asking for approval of a specific building design nor a precise location. It needs to have an approved museum concept and approximate location in order to seek major donor(s), grants, and public donations. Subsequent specific building design and location will be processed through the RPV Planning Commission and public review.

Is a Peninsula museum needed?

The Palos Verdes Peninsula has a unique history from the time of the first west coast dwellers about 13,000 years ago to the current time. The display of that history provides a sense of community, an understanding of the past, and it adds stature to the community. Most of us have been educated and fascinated by museum visits.

Where would the museum be located?

Many Peninsula potential locations have been explored. Ultimately, it was recognized that if the museum is located with the PVIC, it essentially becomes a museum with 2 buildings. If the museum is located apart from the PVIC, it results in 2 separate museums that both cover PV Peninsula history. A single location with 2 buildings would be preferred by visitors. It would also be more efficiently managed, serviced, and maintained than 2 separate facilities. Having 2 or more separate museums on the Peninsula that are focused on the same general objective of Peninsula history seems illogical.

Why not expand the PVIC building?

The PVIC building is surrounded by harmful lead deposits resulting from years of military use of the area. Removal of the lead is costly, difficult, and time-consuming. Expanding the building to either the north or south also results in additional loss of coastal views. Potential funding sources to expand the current building are more limited than for a new, separate building.

How much ocean view would be lost?

None. The proposed new museum building would be approximately half the square footage of the PVIC. It would be located on the inland side of the PVIC parking lot and in the ocean view shadow of the PVIC. The roof elevation of the new building is less than that of the nearby PV Drive where a viewer would look downward toward the building.

Why not rent space in an existing building?

Lesson learned. The former PVHS museum at the Malaga Cove School tower had a signed perpetual lease from the PV Peninsula School District. The school district cancelled the lease resulting in moving costs and loss of some artifacts and furnishings. Leases result in loss of control of museum costs and a permanent, well-known location for visitors.

What would the museum contain?

The PVHS has its prior museum artifacts in storage. The PVIC has additional artifacts in storage due to limited display space. Other museums have demonstrated that the availability of museum display space results in many community donations from closets, garages, and storage areas. The museum would display Peninsula history with galleries focused on archeology, geology, flora/fauna, native American, Spanish, and the early Palos Verdes Project.

Who pays for the museum?

The plan calls for the museum to be privately funded by a major donor(s), grant(s) and the public. Once completed, the facility would be gifted to RPV – a multi-million-dollar asset. RPV would maintain the new building. With a museum size of about half that of the PVIC and with newer facilities located within easy walking distance, the maintenance costs should be about half those of the PVIC. Efficiencies can be obtained from combining the maintenance and staffing functions of the PVIC with those of the new museum.

Is there a “hidden agenda”?

No. Profit oriented companies are not involved except for contracted services and construction. The PVHS is a non-profit organization operated by unpaid community volunteers including all officers and directors.

May I participate?

Yes, of course. This is a community-driven endeavor focused on community betterment. Resident participation is sought and welcomed. We seek community interest, constructive suggestions, memberships, and participation in PVHS activities. We have a current open treasurer position on the PVHS board.

You can support the PVHS museum planning by expressing your support to MattW@rpvca.gov and your participation interests to PVHS President, Dana Graham at DanaHGraham@cs.com.

In all of us there exists a hunger to understand our history – to know what went before. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, without knowing our history there is still an emptiness and disquieting loneliness.

- inspired by Alex Haley