Museum on Main has long celebrated the City of Pleasanton and its history by working to enrich community life through education and by preserving, clarifying, and disseminating information about history specific to the Tri-Valley region. Experts say local history museums such as Museum on Main (MoM) play an important role in their communities, according to experts. MoM is no exception, with programming and events in service of a broad range of local and Tri-Valley residents.

“We are positioned to be a community resource for tons of people who visit,” says Executive Director Tony Cruz. They include Pleasanton third-graders, who visit as part of a two-session program. The first session takes place in the classroom. The second session involves a visit to the museum and then a walking tour of downtown Pleasanton. Adults with special needs are also among the museum’s regular visitors. “We're making history accessible and enjoyable for everybody.”

One especially popular MoM program is the Ed Kinney Series of historical character portrayals and speakers. Speakers for the 2025 program will be appearing at the Firehouse Arts Center; virtual viewings via on-demand webinars will also be available. The historical characters being portrayed next year include General George S. Patton, actor Charlie Chaplin, western legend Calamity Jane, First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, and notorious criminal Al Capone.

MoM also presents other programs for students, families, and adults, including an annual Ghost Walk. Families enjoy historically themed activities, demonstrations and crafts one Saturday a month in June, July, August, and September, for example. A Scout program is also available. Moreover, MoM brings Pleasanton history to companies and organizations through its Museum on Wheels program. For a modest fee, a museum representative will come to the organization to lead an interactive educational program on one of several topics.

“The biggest challenge the museum has is funding,” notes Cruz. “We get one third of our budget from Pleasanton, and the rest is from individual contributors. We are wildly under-resourced.”

One way to support MoM is by attending or sponsoring the upcoming Wines and Valentines Dinner, an annual fundraiser, that will be held on February 1, 2025, at the Palm Event Center on the Rubino Winery Estate in Pleasanton. The event includes a four-course meal, the History Maker's Award, a silent auction, a live auction, a wine pull, music, dancing, and more. Cruz does not have a museum background. That has not been a problem, however, because the museum’s two other staff members are deeply qualified and experienced in museum work. Cruz, who was hired last August, has found his new role rewarding and full of opportunity.

“When I took the Ghost Walk tour for the first time, I was really proud to be the Executive Director of this organization,” he notes. Like other MoM activities Cruz has experienced, the tour “was well run, educational, and really fun. Having these professional people safeguard and push forward education about history has been inspiring to see.”

For more information about Museum on Main, please visitwww.museumonmain.org,www.facebook.com/people/Museum-on-Main-Street/100041276476487, or www.instagram.com/museumonmain.