Muckenthaler House facts for kids
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| Address | 1201 W. Malvern Avenue |
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| Location | Fullerton, California |
| Owner | City of Fullerton (operated by the Muckenthaler Cultural Center Foundation) |
| Type | Cultural center |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1925 |
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Muckenthaler House
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Area | 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) |
| Architect | Benchley, Frank; Herbert, E.J. |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival, & Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000829 |
| Added to NRHP | May 31, 1980 |
The Muckenthaler Cultural Center is a stunning old house in Fullerton, California. It was built in 1925 and looks like a grand Spanish home. Today, it's a special place where people can enjoy art, music, and learning. It used to be called the Muckenthaler House.
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What the Muckenthaler Cultural Center Does
The main goal of the Muckenthaler Cultural Center is to protect the history of the Muckenthaler estate. They also want to offer exciting art shows, live performances, and fun learning programs. It's a place where culture comes alive for everyone.
A Look at the Muckenthaler's History
The Muckenthaler home was built in 1925 for Walter and Adella Muckenthaler. It cost about $35,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! This huge house has 18 rooms and sits on 8.5 acres of land in Fullerton.
In 1965, Harold Muckenthaler, Walter and Adella's son, gave the house to the City of Fullerton. He wanted his childhood home to become a cultural center for the community. In 1999, the Muckenthaler House was officially recognized as a historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Important Dates for the Muckenthaler
- In 1965, the Muckenthaler family gave their home and land to the City of Fullerton. They wanted it to be a cultural center.
- In 1966, a group called The Cultural Groups Foundation of Northern Orange County was started. This non-profit group worked with the city to run the center.
- In 1967, The Center Circle Guild was formed. This group helped by providing volunteers and support for the center's programs.
- In 1980, the Muckenthaler home was officially listed as a historic site. This means it's an important place to protect.
- From 1981 to 1984, the entire site was completely fixed up and made new again.
- In 1984, the first plan for the Muckenthaler's future was created.
- From 1990 to 1993, a new outdoor amphitheater was built. This is a place for performances.
- In 1990, the main group running the center changed its name to the Muckenthaler Cultural Center Foundation.
- In 1994, the Foundation took over managing the center and its grounds. A special fund, the Jane Deming Endowment, was set up to help the Foundation with its goals.
Exploring the Architecture and Gardens
The Muckenthaler Cultural Center is famous for its beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style. This means it looks like old Spanish homes with special details. The gardens are also a big part of its charm.
Inside the Residence
- The fancy iron railing on the main staircase was brought all the way from Italy.
- The colorful tiles around the fireplaces and on the sunroom floor were made by a famous company called Ernest Batchelder Tile Company.
- The library and conservatory rooms have old furniture, including some pieces that belonged to the Muckenthaler family.
- There's an art gallery inside the mansion. It shows art from all over the world, and the exhibits change every few months.
The Beautiful Gardens
- The property covers nine acres. It has a wooded hill, many trees and palm trees, and large flat lawns perfect for events. There's also a lovely rose garden.
- An outdoor amphitheater has built-in seats for people to watch shows.
- A stone gazebo stands where an old citrus grove reservoir used to be.
- The Italian Garden is surrounded by palm trees and has an iron gazebo.
- The Center Circle Patio is lit up with decorative lights.
- You can find sculptures placed all around the property in the Sculpture Garden.
- The Sunset Garden on the west side has wildflowers and grasses that don't need much water.
See Also
