Who We Are

The Clovis-Big Dry Creek Historical society maintains the Clovis-Big Dry Creek museum, located in the heart of Old Town Clovis, at 401 Pollasky Ave, Clovis, CA.

 2018 Museum Activity: 

Over 10,000 visitors last year

Come to see us when you visit the Clovis Farmer's Market on Fridays during spring through fall, Saturday mornings all year, or, anytime you are in town.

Our hours are 10:00 AM to 02:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday; we are also open by special arrangement by calling us at (559) 287-3033.

Help Your Society

Help your museum: join eScrip

and AmazonSmile:



 Amazon will contribute to our society at no cost to you. Post Amazonsmile to your Favorites Bar for quick access.

For a direct contribution to the Clovis Museum, make a check, payable to: Clovis-Big Dry Creek Historical Society and mail to the above address. 



Free Centennial Pens!

Get yours by visiting our museum! Free today .. a collectors item tomorrow! 

Ask for yours at the front desk.

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Centennial Bricks:

We wish to thank all those that contributed to the success in the sale of Centennial Bricks; these bricks have been laid in the courtyard of the Tarpey Depot.  For questions regarding this program, contact Peg Bos at         (559) 297-8033

The Streets of Clovis

(Cont'd on the "About Us" page, followed by The Bells of Clovis) 

Our Special Display counter has been revised, just for you. Step inside the Clovis Museum to see the entire layout.  

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Items on Sale:

Clovis Historical Blanket:

  We now have only a few of these  Historical Blankets remaining; these durable, washable, blankets are very popular due to our passed Clovis Centennial, and, they make a great Christmas or Birthday Gift to your special someone, so, get yours now to "beat the rush"; place your order and don't miss out. $39 per blanket. See our "Contact Us" page for a description. 

Books: priced at $5 each, or 2 for $8.

• Reliable Recipes From Clovis -Compiled by the PTA of Clovis, CA;
• Images of an Age -A Community Project
• The Story of My Life by Thomas Howison, Jr.
• In the Early Years -story of Widow Waite in the Shaver Lake area.
  

Disks/DVDs:

• Inside Indy Racing with Rick Vukovich Amabile;
• Frank Wells and His Centre Plaza Orchestra, vol. I & 2.

Clovis Historical Postcards

These are all great as a Holiday Gift, and, as a short, touch-base mailing!  -Several designs available-

Call 559 297-8033 for ordering, or, come into the museum.

What We Do

Our museum prides itself in our displays of artifacts from our Clovis township history and the families of the surrounding areas that have created our "Clovis way of life".  This history not only celebrates the immigrants to the area from the mid-1800s, but also the local natives that used the area for their livelihood.  A separate part of the museum honors our Clovis Veterans of WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, and the Gulf Wars.

The Old Train Depot Dock

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   Yakut Tribe Mortar and Pestle with ground corn,

Garfield School Arch  

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Toll Thornton

(read his story)

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Clovis Fire Station

Pollasky and Sixth Street 

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Frank Drury  Circa: 1950

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Gene Rose, examining an old section of the Clovis to Shaver Lake Flume; photo from his book, "Reflections of Shaver Lake".

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Above: Harpains's WWII

Military awards

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Below: at Harpains's Dairy

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 1944:  GOING TO TOWN

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See more photos on the following pages.

  Clovis is now a Centennial City

Updated November 12,  2019

 The Clovis Gateway neon-lit sign is suspended on cables, straddling Clovis Avenue at the 400 block. It was installed in 1930 by the Clovis Chamber of Commerce. Due to paint fade and weather damage, it was removed, refurbished and re-installed in 1992 under the direction of Fred and Effie "Susie" Osterberg, with the financial support of the Clovis, CA, businesses and residents The above photo is available at the Clovis Museum as a Centennial Postcard. Get yours today

What's New?

Our Calendar of Events:

"Let's Talk Clovis" Forums are held at 7:00 PM, in the Clovis District Memorial Building, 453 Veterans Parkway (formerly Hughes Ave), Clovis CA 93612, telephone number: (559) 299-0471.  See our short stories on our "Contact Us" page. 

 Upcoming Events

November 05, 2019: "Let's Talk Clovis", Honoring our Veterans, speaker to be determined. NOTE: We are meeting on the FIRST Tuesday.

December 10, 2019: "Let's Talk Clovis", Gerald Galvin, former Clovis Police Chief (1980-1987).

January 14, 2020: "Let's Talk Clovis", Pioneer Maxwell family by Charlie Maxwell.

February 11 , 2019: "Let's Talk Clovis", Speaker to be determined.

March 09, 2019: "Let's Talk Clovis", speaker to be determined.

Board of Director's Meetings:

Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month, 06:30 PM at the Clovis Museum, 401 Pollasky Avenue, Clovis, CA, except November - see below; the public is invited and encouraged to attend. Each November meeting: we elect Officers and Board members and meet at the Veteran's Memorial Bld at 6.30 PM to accommodate increased public attendance.

November 26, 2019: Election of 2020 officers; Ice cream & pie to be featured; all members and the public are invited, and encouraged, to attend. Submit your nominations. 

December 24, 2019:   Regular Officers and Board of Directors meeting; all members and the public are invited, and encouraged, to attend.

----- Clovis History articles are available at the Clovis Roundup newspaper site. 



Our Historic Clovis High School

-Now the San Joaquin College of Law (SJCL)-



Clovis Centenarian, Sepharina Herrerra Franco, founder of Franco's Restaurant in Clovis, CA 

 

Read his story 

in the "About Us" page.



The Academy School

 The Academy Church in Spring:

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Past Presentations:

Octavio B. Ruelas

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1942 -Janis (Franklin) Penney, seated on the steps of her home at 400 Pollasky Ave and 4th Street, Clovis, CA, with her cat, Mr. Lace. This home was once known as the Dr. Richard Tracy Clark 1900 House.

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Below: Harriet Rae (Hallock) Kingen

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Clovis MuseumFront Door:

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Abraham Miller in Passenger Seat

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Below: Otis Qualls, holding Grandson Bryan, while riding his horse, Bones:

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Frank Drury's Parade horse, Roanie

UNFRAMED PRINTS OFTHE 1958 CLOVIS DEPOT WATER COLOR PAINTING, BY CLOVIS ARTIST, PAT CHAFFEE,are available fora $100 donation; a Certificate of Authenticity will be provided for each print (Pat donated the original of the painting to the museum). Other paintings by Patricia are also available at the museum for viewing and/or purchasing. Cash or certified cashier check accepted only. Call 559 297-8033 for ordering.

Amy Clay

Above: Grinding Mortar with Pestle

Below: Ike Herrera's 1933 Ford Victoriaparked on theEast side of Clovis Ave, 400 block

Hauling Logs near Shaver Lake

Clovis statue of Ken "Festus" Curtis with sculpurist Samantha Hutchings

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Harpain's Dairy Cows:

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The Qualls Family:

A California Outdoor Picnic

The Golden Poppy, native to our area