William Saroyan House Museum facts for kids
The William Saroyan House-Museum building
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| Established | 2018 |
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| Location | 2729 W Griffith Way Fresno, California 93705 United States |
| Type | Historic house museum |
The William Saroyan House Museum is a special place in Fresno, California. It opened on August 31, 2018. This museum is all about the famous writer William Saroyan. You can find it at 2729 W Griffith Way. This was the last home Saroyan lived in while in Fresno.
Contents
Discovering the Saroyan Museum
The Home's History with William Saroyan
William Saroyan bought this house in 1964. It was a brand-new home in a growing part of Fresno. He also bought the house next door that same year. He used the second house to store his things. After Saroyan passed away on May 18, 1981, the house was sold. On April 2, 1989, the City of Fresno and Fresno County officially listed the house as a historical site.
How the Museum Was Created
There was an early attempt to turn the house into a museum. However, this plan did not work out. In 2016, a group called the Renaissance Cultural and Intellectual Foundation bought the house. This foundation is from Armenia. They also have a branch in California. This branch is a nonprofit organization. It now owns and runs the museum. The foundation received permission to fix up the house. They wanted to make it ready to be a museum.
The museum's construction finished in 2018. A special opening ceremony happened on August 31, 2018. This date was also William Saroyan's 110th birthday. A bronze plaque was put on the house in 1989. It listed the books Saroyan wrote while living there. It also honored the people who helped make the house a historical site. The first plaque disappeared in 2015. So, a new plaque was put up on August 31, 2018. It had all the original information and details about the new opening.
Exploring the Museum's Exhibits
What You See Inside the Museum
The museum was designed to show who William Saroyan was. It uses cool technology to do this. The museum has two walls that light up when you walk by. One wall shows pictures of Saroyan. You can see photos of his family, friends, and homes. The second wall displays some of Saroyan's own drawings and paintings.
Interactive Displays and Holograms
You can also watch different videos at the museum. There are many of Saroyan's published books on display too. A special exhibit features a hologram. This hologram shows an actor playing Saroyan. You can even hear Saroyan's real voice in this display. It's a unique way to experience his life and work.
