The Twentynine Palms Historical Society was founded by five individuals on April 26, 1982. Today, it continues its original purpose of preserving and interpreting the historical heritage of the Twentynine Palms area through a variety of educational activities including field trips, lectures, and a quarterly newsletter. The Society is a non-profit educational organization classified by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)(3), incorporated under California State Codes on August 23, 1982 and is not funded by any city, county, state or federal agency. The Society’s mission is to collect, preserve and display information, artifacts and memorabilia pertaining to the culture and history of Twentynine Palms and the greater Morongo Basin. Its purpose is to educate and to make research materials available to the public.

The Society owns and operates the Old Schoolhouse Museum located at 6760 National Park Drive in Twentynine Palms. The museum is housed in the oldest public building in the Morongo Basin and provides visitors with a chance to experience a 1920s era schoolroom and view artifacts and exhibits pertaining to the history of Twentynine Palms and the surrounding area. The museum is open 1:00 to 4:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, (September – May) and 1:00 to 4:00 pm, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the summer (June – August). Admission is free, however, donations are always appreciated. Gifts, contributions, endowments, and material donations are all, or partially, tax deductible.

Board Members

• Dana Bowden, President
• Steve Reyes, Vice President
• Jim Krushat
• Jeff Dunn
• Natalie Bowers
• Rita Lilly
• John Ferguson
• Tim O’Connor
• Jen Smith