Gilroy Museum to mark 50 years

The Gilroy Museum, 195 Fifth St., will celebrate 50 years with a weeklong open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 13 and 15 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 17. Special exhibits will include Gilroy schools, the Garlic Festival, photos of the Gymkhana and Bonanza Days and historical books by local authors and about local topics will be on display. The highlight will be the recent acquisition of Stephen Medley’s postcard collection, which includes more than 100 postcards of Gilroy spanning 100 years.
A new booklet called “Preserving Gilroy’s Prune Heritage” will showcase Al Gagliardi’s collection of prune boxes from Abruzzini to Zanger, and he will be available to sign autographs and tell stories.
Docents will be on-hand to greet guests and explain the displays, and visitors will receive souvenir pencils and a commemorative scroll of the museum’s history.
The Gilroy Museum has come a long way from the time the building had a dirt floor to its present status as a fine local museum and reference center. Credit goes to the Museum’s founder, Armand White, and museum directors Mary Prien and Pat Snar Escamilla, who all contributed greatly to the museum’s success.
On Saturday, May 17, there will be a sale of de-accessioned, vintage non-fiction books across the street at the Willey House, 140 Fifth St., led by Tom Howard and aided by students from Gilroy Early College Academy (GECA) earning community service hours. Proceeds from the sale will go into the City’s Museum Trust Fund.
For more information on the event, call the museum at (408) 846-0446.