Southwest Museum’s possible future laid out in report

Southwest Museum, Los Angeles

A National Trust for Historic Preservation steering committee soon may make recommendations for the future of the long-troubled Southwest Museum in Los Angeles. Those include adding a restaurant to the grounds and expanding its focus beyond displaying Native American artifacts.

An LA Curbed report summarized some of the proposals. The National Trust interviewed dozens of stakeholders for their ideas for the Southwest Museum’s future.

Among them:

  • Connecting the museum to a “larger network of historic, cultural, and natural sites,” such as Los Angeles geography or Route 66 to spur more repeat visits.
  • New show topics, including Los Angeles cultures, architecture and Southwestern foods.
  • A section about the museum’s creator, Charles Fletcher Lummis.
  • Casa de Adobe, due a multi-million-dollar renovation, could be converted into a revenue-generating restaurant, music hall or event space.
  • Using the museum as a whole more for event rentals or film shoots, also to generate revenue.
  • Reopening the museum’s gift shop.
  • Adding a restaurant to the grounds. Apparently the neighborhood lacks dining options, and the site atop Mount Washington would give customers spectacular views of the city.
  • Offering the museum for after-school workshops and summer programs.

A full accounting of the interviews may be read here (46-page Acrobat file).

National Trust officials told the Los Angeles Times last month they expect to issue a full plan for the museum by late 2016. Government funding and donations will have to play a role in the museum’s revival.

The National Trust declared the century-old Southwest Museum a “national treasure” earlier this year.

The Autry National Center took over ownership of the Southwest Museum in 2002 but said it lacks money to run both museums. Hours at the Southwest Museum were cut. Its underuse led to protests from nearby residents and Native American advocates.

The Autry’s president estimated it would cost from $26 million to $41 million to renovate the Southwest Museum. A leaky roof damaged artifacts, and the Autry spent millions of dollars restoring them.

Lummis, who created the Southwest Society, opened the Southwest Museum in downtown Los Angeles in 1907, then moved it to its current place at Mount Washington in 1914.

(Image of the Southwest Museum by J Jakobson via Flickr)

One thought on “Southwest Museum’s possible future laid out in report

  1. I believe that the Southwest Museum was built in 1913, not 1914.

    More information on the Southwest Museum and National Trust collaborative effort can be found here: https://www.treasureswm.org/

    The National Trust is sponsoring a “Treasure It Together” Event Series at the Southwest Museum with the first weekend of events scheduled for 12/12-13. That information can be found at https://www.treasureswm.org/apply/. Look for a Route 66 related event in the spring if all goes well.

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