Old Schoolhouse Museum

The Twentynine Palms Historical Society was founded in 1982 to preserve and display the historical heritage of the Twentynine Palms area. Housed in the oldest public building in the Morongo Basin, the Society owns and operates the Old Schoolhouse Museum at 6760 National Park Drive in Twentynine Palms. It allows visitors to experience a 1920s-era schoolroom and view artifacts and exhibits on the history of Twentynine Palms and the surrounding area. The Historical Society offers its members and the community special programs throughout the year. These programs seek to educate the public on the history of the area. Almost 1,000 students visit the museum annually as participants in class tours designed to help fulfill California history-social science standards. In October, the "Old Timers Gathering" is held at the museum during the City of Twentynine Palms' annual "Pioneer Days" celebration. The first weekend in November is the yearly "Weed Show," which started in 1940, featuring desert flora in unique artistic arrangements. Since 1999 the Society and the Desert Institute have co-sponsored the "Old Schoolhouse Lecture Series." These lectures, presented on the second Friday of each month, September through June, offer information about the Morongo Basin area's local history, culture, natural science, and arts.