Menifee Historical Museum receives private grant

The Menifee Historical Museum has received a grant from a private family foundation for $2,200 to purchase new signage for the windows in the museum, a new computer system and audio equipment.

Canyon Lake is an area that was always considered part of Menifee Valley until the development of Canyon Lake. The museum is possibly the closest thing Canyon Lake will ever have to its own museum and a place Canyon Lakers will appreciate touring. Canyon Lake pioneers, Don and Elinor Martin, serve as docents.

The museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that operates on donations and grants. Its mission is to preserve the history of the Menifee Valley and educate the public about it’s importance in history.

The museum is located in one of the old Menifee Elementary School classrooms at 26301 Garbani Rd, between the Menifee Middle School and Menifee Boy’s and Girl’s Club. The displays cover the different communities, families, Native Americans, farming, schools, mining, artifacts and much more.  It is very well displayed for viewing. The museum offers for sale a book on Canyon Lake history and the re-released “Then and Now” DVD.
Third-grade students are required to learn about their local history. The museum helps by donating Menifee Valley history books to each elementary school in the district. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,  students, Boys and Girls Club and other interested groups have toured the museum.

During the last three years, the museum, with the help of Riverside County and the City of Menifee, erected 12 monuments located around the Valley honoring some of the early pioneers. The closest monument near Canyon Lake is located at the Audie Murphy Sports Park.

The museum is open for tours on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. It will be closed Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 to observe the holidays. For more information, visit menifeehistory.com or email menifeehistory@gmail.com.