Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard to Close Its Doors February 10th

In light of the passing of Peter Mullin in September 2023, the Mullin Automotive Museum has announced it will close its doors on Saturday, February 10th.

Peter and Merle Mullin founded the Oxnard-based museum in 2010 to educate guests about 20th-century French automotive styling and design by showcasing the finest vehicles, sculptures and artifacts from the most-esteemed French master coachbuilders. The museum boasts nearly 47,000 square feet of exhibit space in an elegantly designed structure, which was previously owned by legendary newspaper publisher Otis Chandler. In addition to its sweeping gallery spaces, the museum includes a roof garden, theater, gift shop and archival storage.

Peter was inspired by Art Deco design and was equally passionate about sharing it with the public. To continue that legacy, four of the collection’s most iconic vehicles have been donated to the Petersen Automotive Museum. The 1937 Talbot-Lago T150 CS “Teardrop,” the 1938 Hispano Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia, the 1939 Delahaye 165 and the 1938 Delahaye 145 will now become part of the Petersen Automotive Museum, which Peter helped transform into the globally respected automotive institution it is today as part of a major overhaul a decade ago.

“Sharing these ‘rolling sculptures’ and beautiful art with others was Peter’s truest passion, and the museum helped bring that vision to life,” said Merle Mullin, director of the Mullin Automotive Museum. “We are deeply indebted to our staff, docents, volunteers, visitors and supporters who have dedicated their time and passion over the past 13 years. I hope past and first-time visitors will have a chance to say goodbye before we close.”

The museum will be open on a limited basis through Saturday, Feb. 10. Visit www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com for opening dates and hours.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History to Reopen Its Permanent Mineral Exhibit on April 22nd

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is reopening its permanent mineral exhibit and once more inviting the public to marvel at astonishing rocks and crystals.

Over 100 specimens handpicked by Dibblee Curator of Earth Science Jonathan Hoffman, Ph.D., are on view in the small hall off the Museum’s central courtyard. Fan favorites like the fluorescent minerals and Emerald-City-like malachite spires have returned, accompanied by new picks from the Museum’s collection. The new permanent exhibit also features three stunning specimens donated to the Museum at the close of last summer’s temporary mineral extravaganza, Rare Earth.

All the specimens are now situated in a new interpretive and design context that puts the emphasis on their geologic origin and surprisingly lively nature. The exhibit takes a cue from the deep time perspective of research by Robert Hazen, Ph.D., and other prominent mineralogists. The title wall leads with the startling fact that the solar system began with only 60 minerals, whereas over 6,000 are known on Earth today, thanks to the dynamic conditions on our planet.

The room’s new vibe leans away from the glass-case-in-a-store feeling of older mineral exhibits. Organic forms and panoramas mask the cases, evoking the fact that minerals come from our planet’s landscapes, not jewelry stores. Dr. Hoffman and the rest of the Museum’s exhibit team hope to instill a greater appreciation not only for minerals, but for the lively natural forces that generate them.

As Hoffman notes, “Minerals are often beautiful, but their origin stories are just as impressive. We hope visitors will appreciate how minerals demonstrate the dynamic nature of chemistry—how minerals form, how they change over time, how organisms interact with them, and the roles they play in our society.”

The mineral exhibit opens April 22 and is included in Museum admission. Members are always admitted free. More information at sbnature.org/minerals

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History inspires a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world. The Museum seeks to connect people to nature for the betterment of both, and prides itself on being naturally different. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

Animatronic Dinosaurs of Prehistoric Forest Return to SB Museum of Natural History

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is ready to take you back in time millions of years...or just to summer 2019. The popular dinosaur exhibit Prehistoric Forest returns to the Museum February 17 for a Members-only preview, opening to non-members February 20. For safe distancing, attendance is limited and reservations are required (available at sbnature.org/tickets). Masks are required for ages three and up, and indoor exhibits remain closed.

The big dinosaurs made 2019 a summer to remember at the Museum, with record-breaking numbers of guests encountering them up close “in the wild.” At summer’s end, the dinosaurs’ creators—animatronic artisans Kokoro Exhibits—shipped them to their next engagement.

As soon as the big dinosaurs left, people started asking when they would return. Less than a week after Prehistoric Forest closed, the Museum received a postcard with artwork and a message from a 2.5-year-old future paleontologist named Rosie: “Dinosaurs, come back!” Director of Exhibits & Education Frank Hein, M.S., and President & CEO Luke J. Swetland, M.A., M.I.L.S., replied to say they felt the same. Hein started negotiations with Kokoro to bring the big dinosaurs back for good.

The dinosaurs finally returned to the Museum on January 18, and exhibits and facilities staff undertook the challenging task of installing the heavy animatronics while following new health and safety guidelines. Thanks to careful planning by Exhibits Lead Francisco Lopez, the process went smoothly and now Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Parasaurolopus, and Euoplocephalus are settling nicely into their old digs in the wooded area across Mission Creek.

Museum staff are breaking the good news, which is particularly welcome right now. School & Teacher Services Manager Charlotte Zeamer, Ph.D., had the pleasure of telling a group of schoolchildren about the dinos’ return during a recent virtual field trip. Although the kids were muted, their excitement was clear: “It looked like they were saying ‘Wheeeee hoooooo!’” Dr. Zeamer cheerfully reported.

Experts and educators at the Museum want guests to learn while they make fun memories. The animatronics are accompanied by plaques drafted in consultation with Dibblee Curator of Earth Science Jonathan Hoffman, Ph.D., and paleobiologist Jenna J. Rolle, M.S. (who teaches dinosaur courses at Santa Barbara City College and also works for the Museum’s Education Division). One of the key messages they wanted to convey is the fact that paleontology is dynamic, with researchers constantly updating what we know about the history of life. Some of the plaques are getting updates, too. After seeing the animatronic formerly listed as Ankylosaurus up close last year, the experts determined that it more closely resembles the near relative, Euoplocephalus. The sign that accompanies this armored dinosaur family (a mother and two juveniles) is getting an update.

Will the Museum’s T. rex ever get updated with feathers? Although T. rex-specific feather impressions are lacking, Rolle notes that there is evidence for primitive feathers among the larger group of dinosaurs to which T. rex belongs. Paleontologists don’t yet know whether all these species maintained feathers throughout life, or only kept them as juveniles. “I like to wonder whether they looked cute and cuddly like little chicken chicks or silly and dorky like owl chicks,” muses Rolle. More specimens and techniques will be needed to be sure of T. rex’s feathers. “A child visiting Prehistoric Forest may be the future paleontologist who figures it out!” said Dr. Hoffman.

For a brief time, the Museum will be doubling the fun for dino-lovers, as the temporary exhibit Dinorama: Miniatures Through the Mesozoic in the Sprague Pavilion runs through April 25. Another collaboration between the Museum’s paleontologists and exhibits staff, Dinorama is a curated landscape of mini-dioramas populated by painted and posed figurines of ancient creatures. These little beasts may make the Age of Reptiles more approachable for families with very young or particularly sensitive children, but they also have a lot to offer more sophisticated guests. Earth Science Volunteer Anthony Caruso (who also worked in Guest Services at the Museum) garnered special praise from visitors for sharing his dinosaur knowledge in the pavilion when this exhibit opened briefly in December. Caruso helped train other Museum staff to point out the telltale differences between dinosaurs and other Mesozoic animals in different lineages, like crocodilians, marine reptiles, and pterosaurs. The details illustrate the evolutionary pathways these lineages have followed over time, with some ending in mass extinction and others—like avian dinosaurs and our own mammalian heritage—part of life on Earth today.

For more details, visit sbnature.org.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is a private, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world. The Museum seeks to connect people to nature for the betterment of both, and prides itself on being naturally different. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

Stagecoach Inn Museum Newbury Park to Re-Open on Saturday, February 20th

The Stagecoach Inn Museum welcomes visitors back starting February 20th for a safely socially distanced outdoor museum experience, Saturdays from 1:00-4:00 pm. Guests will enjoy doorway viewing and docent presentations at seven structures on our beautiful four-acre property, with rose-garden, heritage farm trail, and nature trail, all for a suggested donation of just $5 per person (card or exact cash please).

In addition to the historic landmark inn, built in 1876 as the Grand Union Hotel, a one-room schoolhouse, Carriage House, working Blacksmith Shop, Pioneer Home, California Adobe, and Chumash Ap, await those wanting to experience what life was like in the early days of the Conejo Valley. Several exhibits are augmented with new QR code signage, offering “Virtual Tour” video enhancements via your smart phone. The Emporium will also be open, offering books, specialty historic items, unique gifts, and crafts made by our blacksmiths, woodworkers, and other volunteers.

In February, docents will be demonstrating tools, machinery, gadgets and various “modern conveniences” that households and businesses enjoyed in the mid-late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Some of the items that may be demonstrated include a sausage stuffer, butter churner, miniature sewing machine for travel, iron and laundry equipment, woodworking tools and blacksmith forge.

In March, we celebrate Women’s History Month with the return of our Ladies of the Conejo old-time radio show broadcast on the Grand Porch at 2:00 select Saturdays beginning March 6. This fun and informative performance features eight inspiring women from Conejo Valley history sharing their stories, including Mabel Stark, world’s first female tiger trainer, Donna Fargo, founder of Conejo Valley Days, and others. The show is included in the price of admission.

Now open for outdoor-Covid safe tours from 1-4:00 PM Saturdays. Masks are required and there is a suggested donation of $5 per person-exact cash or debit/credit card preferred.

The original Stagecoach Inn, called the Grand Union Hotel, was built in 1876 at the southwest corner of what is now Ventu Park Road and the Ventura Freeway and is now designated City of Thousand Oaks Landmark No. 1.

Stagecoach Inn Museum, 51 S. Ventu Park Rd., Newbury Park. 805.498.9441 stagecoachinnmuseum.com.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Launches "SBnature From Home" Website

The Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) is a common songbird found in the Santa Barbara area and likely to be seen in many backyards.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History recently launched a new online resource called SBnature From Home, a carefully curated collection of ways to connect to science and nature while the Museum is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Museum strives to teach visitors that it and the Sea Center are not the final destination, but rather base camps for exploration. Everything the Museum does is meant to inspire the public’s curiosity and desire to connect with nature. In this spirit, SBnature From Home is a collection of ways online visitors can do this in any circumstances, with advice about how to enjoy nature while following state and federal guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19. The site includes content for all ages, organized by activities that can be done outdoors, indoors, or online. Activities include kid-friendly guides for neighborhood birding and backyard observations, tide pooling resources for those who live near beaches, stargazing guides, downloadable coloring sheets from Museum antique art collections, a feature inviting locals to ask the Museum’s scientists about backyard discoveries, links to citizen science projects and more.

Within the first 48 hours of launching, the page received over 2,100 unique visits with the average length of stay time on the page double that of other Museum webpages. Public response to the resources has been overwhelmingly positive as families and adults find themselves at home with a desire to learn and stay connected to the great outdoors.

Museum President & CEO Luke J. Swetland shared, “This is a wonderful success and we are so delighted to be able to continue to engage and educate our community in this new stay-at-home world in which we find ourselves. We will continue to add content to SBnature From Home and we fully anticipate that this part of our website will continue to be an exciting and much-used resource even after the Museum and Sea Center are back open for on-site business.”

New content will be added to SBnature From Home periodically, with notices about updates shared via the Museum and Sea Center’s Facebook and Instagram accounts and eblasts.

For more information, visit sbnature.org/from-home.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History inspires a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world. The Museum seeks to connect people to nature for the betterment of both, and prides itself on being naturally different. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

Petersen Automotive Museum to Offer Free Educational Live Streams Amid School Closures

Petersen Automotive Museum to Offer Free Educational Live Streams Amid School Closures

In response to school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum — which is temporarily closed until March 31, 2020 — will offer free educational live streams beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020

For students looking for supplemental learning activities during school closures, the Petersen Automotive Museum will offer free educational live streams twice daily beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Daily presentations will consist of a lecture at 10 a.m. and a hands-on activity at 1 p.m. In addition to live stream programming, the museum will offer downloadable worksheets and coloring sheets. The museum will remain closed to the public until March 31, 2020, or until further notice.

Although lessons are open to parents and children of all ages, the subject matter is targeted for children ages 12 and under. The program schedule is below, and topics are subject to change.

Tuesday, March 17, 10 a.m. – Force and Motion

Cars are about motion. While it may seem simple to press a pedal and move forward, there are dozens of forces interacting that must be balanced to produce motion. From Newton’s laws to different types of energy, students will learn the simple physics behind the automobile.

Tuesday, March 17, 1 p.m. – Balloon Cars

For a car to move, a force must be applied. Students will explore propulsion and Newton’s Third Law of Motion by making their own balloon cars.

Wednesday, March 18, 10 a.m. – History of the Car

Cars have been in existence for more than a century (or longer, depending on when you start). Join the Petersen as it explores the evolution of the automobile.

Wednesday, March 18, 1 p.m. – License Plates

License plates identify vehicles as properly registered with the state but may also serve as a canvas. Students will create their own license plates and decorate them to show off something about their home state.

Thursday, March 19, 10 a.m. – Storytime Featuring “Go, Dog, Go!” By P.D. Eastman

Students will read the beloved tale about dogs and their cars.

Thursday, March 19, 1 p.m. – Animal Cars

Students will make a car of their favorite animal with materials found around the house.

Friday, March 20, 10 a.m. – Design Process

Utilizing the car, students will explore how things go from idea to finished product.

Friday, March 20, 1 p.m. – Car Models

A critical part of automotive design is creating a model. Students will create car models to show how the modeling process can help to explore design choices.

Future lessons will cover propulsion, aerodynamics, racing and a host of other topics.

“The Petersen Automotive Museum offers students an opportunity to gain an education during school closure and in between their digital course loads,” said Petersen Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “Our special programming will broaden kids’ knowledge and expose them to the world of the automobile.”

To learn more about the Petersen Automotive Museum’s online educational programming, access daily lecture and activity documents, and view the live streams, visit www.petersen.org/online-education. For more information about the Petersen Automotive Museum and its exhibits, visit www.petersen.org.