Definition of Museum

Maybe you are wondering... what is the definition of a museum?

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word museum first appears in the 1610s in reference to "the university building in Alexandria" (look up the Great Library of Alexandria.)

It comes from the Latin museum for "library, study, learned occupation," and from the Greek mouseion for "a place of study or library," and originally "a seat or shrine of the Muses" (Mousa for "Muse.") The earliest use in reference to English institutions was of libraries (e.g. British Museum.) It was first recorded in the sense of "building to display objects" in the 1680s.

Current definitions are:

A museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates, and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment.

An institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value; a place where objects are exhibited.

This means that a museum can be a building dedicated to the display of art, history, science, or technology, as well as an aquarium, a zoo, or a botanical garden.

Collected items, therefore, can be living objects.

The La Habra Historical Museum will soon be dedicating a plaque and a Swamp Lily that originally came across the prairie in the 1800s with the Launer family and planted on the site of our museum. The lily will be a living artifact of the museum; another one of our historical objects that ties the past to the present.

Look around your community and see what other living artifacts tie you and your community to the past.

Social Institutions of Early La Habra

April-August 2011












Join our guest community curators as they present social institutions of early La Habra that are still active in our town.

From Our Lady of Guadalupe to the United Methodist Church, from the American Legion to the Old Settlers, from Scouts to the Masons, these social institutions continue to be inspirational to our community.

You can be part of history by belonging to community groups that make a difference, then and now!

We also have new videos in the Theater featuring the stories of La Habrans.

Please stop by Saturdays noon to 4:00 p.m. to see the new exhibit.

Please join us the weekend of the La Habra Citrus Fair, April 15-17, 2011 for our new Changing Exhibit!

We will be showcasing a community-curated exhibit sponsored by the American Legion, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, the Methodist Church of La Habra, and the Old Settlers Historical Society. It will also feature the Masons, the Kiwanis, the Scouts, and early Women's Clubs.

Come see interesting artifacts, photos, and documents that will transport you back in time to when the people of La Habra really knew how to have a fun time.

See you then!

New Roof and New Upcoming Exhibit

We are currently having our roof worked on, so are closed for the next two weeks, but please come back to visit us on Saturdays from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. starting again February 26.

Mark your calendars!!!

We are also now working with several groups in the community to prepare the next changing exhibit, Social Institutions of Early La Habra. This special exhibit will open April 16-17, 2011 for the Citrus Fair.

Happy New Year 2011!

Gathering at schoolhouse, 1908.

We hope you had a wonderful holiday season!

A big "Thank You" to the La Habra High School Class of 1960's 50th Reunion for the excellent changing exhibit we have all enjoyed over the last several months. The last day to catch it will be Saturday, January 22, 2011.

We are looking forward to working with the La Habra High School Class of 1961's 50th Reunion committee for the September changing exhibit.

We are currently engaged with the next changing exhibit, tentatively titled Social Institutions of Early La Habra. It will introduce several of the early clubs and will focus on some clubs that are still active today.

Several local community groups, including Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Methodist Churches, the American Legion and the Lions of La Habra, and the Boy and Girl Scouts are contributing photos, documents, and special artifacts.

More information to follow!

Become a member and suggest topics for future changing exhibits!

Ongoing Exhibit

Come by and visit us Saturdays 12 noon-4pm!

The La Habra High School Class of 1960 50th Reunion Exhibit is still available for viewing at the museum and see it before it is gone!



Go back in time and relive 1960 through photographs, music, and uniforms of the La Habra High School Highlanders.


Go further back in time and learn about life in early La Habra through the stories of people who tell their stories in the 1920s style theater.


Visit the General Store and see how many objects you can identify.



Wander through the main room and glimpse into our Widows in Time and learn about farming, early businesses, and home life.

If you are part of a Scout troop, or an organization with ties to La Habra, please call us to set up special tours of the museum.

There are lots of opportunities for volunteers, including docents to give tours, for people of all ages.

This is your museum! Come learn about your community and be part of its history.

Grand Opening Oct 9-10, 2010

We had a wonderfully fun opening weekend on the 9th and 10th.





The La Habra High School Class of 1960 had a great special exhibit for their 50th Reunion and tons of alumni stopped by to see the photos, articles, kilts, pompoms, and videos highlighting that memorable year.



The permanent exhibit's Windows in Time were also a hit with visitors as they remembered how the rooster in the Farm Window would wake them up in the morning; commented on how the typewriter in the Early Business Window looked so bulky and heavy compared to today's laptops; and how fashion hasn't changed all that much over the years looking at the Home Life Window's flapper dress and shoes. The large mural and mural timeline also added rich detail to La Habra's history.




The general store featured Brownie, the German shepherd who accompanied OT Stephens around town reminding businessmen to attend the Kiwanis meetings, and the theater showed an endless loop of videographies.

The museum will be open from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, so please stop by and see what everyone is talking about.