From left are Marilyn Edwards, Kay Barnes and Chris Hicks, passionate volunteers for the Orangevale History Museum. Photo courtesy of Orangevale History Project

ORANGEVALE, CA (MPG) - The Orangevale History Project (OHP) invites the community to a grand celebration marking two years since the Orangevale History Museum opened its doors to the public.

The anniversary party will run from noon to 3 p.m. July 12 and the entire community is welcome to join in the festivities at the Orangevale History Museum, 6920 Hazel Ave.

The special event promises to be fun and educational, featuring food, games, giveaways, live music and more. Guests will also be eyewitnesses to the museum's latest exhibit, marking its fourth unveiling since it opened. 

Specially-preserved household artifacts and antique treasures are displayed throughout the museum. Photo courtesy of Orangevale History Project

Every six months, a new feature display is launched in the largest room of the museum, keeping the content fresh and engaging for repeat visitors.

Admission to the anniversary party is free for all ages, making it an ideal event for families, residents and visitors. Additionally, the museum is open to the public without charge from noon to 4 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The Orangevale History Museum is solely managed by the Orangevale History Project, the official historical society of the Orangevale community. The dedicated group of volunteers meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month. Their team is always open to new volunteers as the museum and its archive continue to grow.

The Orangevale History Museum will celebrate its two-year anniversary with free food, games, music, a new exhibit and more. Photo courtesy of Orangevale History Project

"The Orangevale History Project means ensuring that we can provide free local history for everyone," said Kay Barnes, an Orangevale History Project volunteer. "It's so much fun seeing people's reactions and what they have to say about our artifacts."

All the historical photos, old school desks, vintage books and more are donations from Orangevale community members. 

The museum displays a photographic collection of homes from the early days of the town's past, historical figures that helped shape Orangevale's existence and previous students of the city's first school.

According to the Orangevale History Museum, this phone hung in the Beech Avenue home of Gladys Saylors. Photo courtesy of Orangevale History Project.

A timeline of Orangevale's history lines the walls of the museum's largest room, covering dates including the town's founding and when the Folsom Dam was built. There are carefully-preserved pieces of life throughout the building such as old kitchenware, high school spirit wear, yearbooks, a phone from the 1920s and much more.

Join the Orangevale History Project as its members celebrate two years of preserving and sharing the town's history on July 12. Discover what the new exhibit has to offer and how you can contribute to maintaining Orangevale's rich history.

For more information about the museum, its members and upcoming events, visit www.orangevalehistoryproject.com or call 916-800-4711.