Museums of the Arroyo Day

 Local Museums to Celebrate Arroyo Culture on May 15, 2011 With Free Admission, Exhibits, Events, Crafts and Family Fun

“Experience Life in the Past Lane”

 Imagine a Sunday where fashion-hounds can check out hats throughout the ages; kids can get “locked” inside a real jail cell, history buffs can discover more about LA’s oldest neighborhood, Boyle Heights; and adults can go learn how law enforcement brought down the notorious Symbionese Liberation Army in the 1970s. All this and more awaits visitors at the 22nd annual Museums of the Arroyo (MOTA) Day.

Taking place on May 15, 2011, MOTA Day features five museums located along the celebrated Arroyo Seco in Los Angeles and Pasadena that open their doors for a free day of music, storytelling, art, crafts and entertainment. With so much to do and see – and only a few hours to do it – visitors are encouraged to best plan their visits.

This year’s MOTA Day theme is “Hats” and guests are encouraged to wear crazy, fashionable and sporty hats as they tour all five museums.

MOTA Day is from noon – 5 p.m. with last entry at each museum at 4 p.m. Special events this year include: 

• The Gamble House. Tours of the 1908 historical landmark will be available throughout the day; children can do special hat-themed crafts in the backyard.
• Heritage Square Museum. Visitors can tour the current exhibition “Boyle Heights: Images and Essays: 1850-1900” in the William Hayes Perry Mansion which features photographic panels, historical photographs, prints, drawings, maps, documents and artifacts regarding one of Los Angeles’ oldest neighborhoods. Guests can also watch traditional woodcarving and blacksmith demonstrations and listen to historical storytellers as well as enjoy music. Children can play with Victorian toys and do crafts. Costumed docents will be on hand to answer questions.
• The Los Angeles Police Historical Society Museum. Visitors can tour the current exhibition relating to the 1970s Symbionese Liberation Army which features information, unique artifacts and recovered weapons from the LAPD and Los Angeles County District Attorney's decades-long investigations. An interactive video helps tell the story of the collaborative efforts that brought all SLA members to justice. In addition, guests can view other historical memorabilia dating back to the late 1800s. Kids can climb into a retired police helicopter, try on police gear and get “locked” in a real jail cell where adults can snap their own free police booking photos. Vintage police uniforms will be modeled throughout the museum.
• The Lummis Home and Garden. Tours of the Lummis home and gardens will be available along with entertainment and a special exhibit of historical military cannons. 
    
• The Pasadena Museum of History. Guests can tour the museum’s current exhibitions “Mad for Hats!” which explores 100 years of hats, both as fashion and as a reflection on our changing society from the 1880s to 1960s. More than 70 hats and related photographs, selected from the Museum’s collection, will showcase the various materials, styles, and shapes of ladies hats. Kids can do hat-related crafts. The Finnish Folk Art Museum will also be open for visitors. 

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