Haggin Museum Trip

[tiggerfan]

Ok I am sure the first thing most of you are asking is..

What the heck is the Haggin Museum ?

Well it happens to be one of the oldest museums in California and a landmark in the city of Stockton. For those of us who grew up in the area it was a staple of childhood school trips.



It also was one of the few places you could actually touch a real mummy (though that is no longer the case).

So here is a shot or two from the outside of the Museum, a good Gothic looking structure.







Stepping inside the museum you have 3 levels to explore, most folk though start down in the basement where they explore local history, including a replica of a 1850's town street.







Also on this lower level is what I am told is one of the best collections of 19th century swords and firearms. I couldn't get pictures of everything but here are a few examples.









Since Native Americans played a major role in the area, there is an extensive collection of native art and handcrafts.











Again there is a lot more to look at, but there were school groups on the day I went.

One fun and seemingly side display is a letter signed by Daniel Boone.






Another section explores the growth of firefighting technology in the city and has several 100-150 year old machines.



Heading up the the main level you can move into the Egyptian display, which has (of course) the mummy and also a number of artifacts dating from 1000-2000 BC.





And the mummy, perhaps the oldest resident of the city...








And some more really cool artifacts.







As might be expected the museum features artwork displaying the natural wonders of California. One of the featured artists is Albert Bierstadt, who painted Yosemite. Other major artists are Huntington and Von Boscerck.
















The Museum also has a series of rotating exhibits, currently they are featuring plein-air artists, but due to the fact that they don't own the artwork, they cannot allow pictures to be taken.

Just in case you ever wondered where Stockton got it's name, this is the man, a hero of the Mexican American War, Commodore Robert Stockton.



Obviously I don't expect people to make a trip to Stockton just to see the museum, though I do plan to feature some more local destinations in future reports.

But I did want to take a chance to show something a bit off the beaten path of big city museums and theme parks.

Hope you enjoyed

[Walt's Ghost]

I live right by Stockton. My Aunt lives not 5 minutes away from the museum.

[Rex Dopey24]

oh wow thanks I love the pictures I love museums and I love history. Thank you for sharing. whats the address? Maybe sometime I would like to visit the museum.

[tiggerfan]

You can get all the info at http://www.hagginmuseum.org/

It is a pretty nice museum and is set in the middle of a park so it is pretty in the spring.

It has one of the biggest Albert Bierstadt collections around.

[mikeland]

That was really neat! Thanks for the report.

[dsnylndmom]

Thanks for the TR. I went on a few field trips there with my oldest when we still lived in Stockton.

[Alice's Wonderland]

What a cute museum!! I love Bierstadt, next time I go home Stockton will be on my list. Thanks for sharing!

[tiggerfan]

Originally Posted by Alice's Wonderland

What a cute museum!! I love Bierstadt, next time I go home Stockton will be on my list. Thanks for sharing!

Glad you enjoyed

[Gullywhumper]

Thanks, I was born in Stockon and grew up there. I have many fond memories of Haggin Museum from when I was a child. The last time I visited the museum was with my mom three years ago not long before she passed away. I've lived in San Francisco for many years now and don't know if I'll get back to Haggin Museum as my folks are no longer in Stockton. Have you been to Pixie Woods? I used to love Pixie Woods when I was a kid. Also Pollardville Ghost Town and Chicken Kitchen! Oh, and Ye Olde Hoosier Inn! I heard that the Hoosier Inn is now closed and will be torn down. :-(

[OFTEric]

When I first read the title I thought it said "Hanging" lol I was like "how morbid!" lol

[tiggerfan]

Cool, a former Stocktonian, I may have to ask what HS you went to LOL.

Sadly Hoosier Inn and Pollardville are both gone along with the waterslide/mii golf place on Hammer.

However I was planning to do Pixie Woods trip report once they open in the Spring as well as Mickeys Grove.

Originally Posted by Gullywhumper

Thanks, I was born in Stockon and grew up there. I have many fond memories of Haggin Museum from when I was a child. The last time I visited the museum was with my mom three years ago not long before she passed away. I've lived in San Francisco for many years now and don't know if I'll get back to Haggin Museum as my folks are no longer in Stockton. Have you been to Pixie Woods? I used to love Pixie Woods when I was a kid. Also Pollardville Ghost Town and Chicken Kitchen! Oh, and Ye Olde Hoosier Inn! I heard that the Hoosier Inn is now closed and will be torn down. :-(

[Nikki Mouse]

Thanks for sharing, I didn't know Stockton had such a neat history.

[Gullywhumper]

Pollardville is closed! That is sad, it was like Knotts Berry Farm 60 years ago when there was just Ghost Town. I wonder what will happen to all the old west buildings? Probobly just tear them down. :-( At least there is still Pixi Woods and Mickey's Grove, I used to love the Japanese Tea Garden at Mickey's Grove when I was a kid.

I never went to the water slides at Hammer and West Lanes, though I did go to the mini golf there once. I also went to the Hammer / West Lane Drive Inn Movies that used to be next to the water slides where Costco is now. The drive in closed in the late 1970's / early 80's. I saw many Disney Movies at that drive in with my parents back in the 1970's. By the way, I went to Franklin High School in the 80's.