Visiting the Stagecoach Inn Museum
in my adventures I’ve been to many museums, from major institutions like the Getty to small storefront spaces like the National Yo-Yo Museum. As much as I love to wander through a large museum and view all the wonders on display I must admit I’m more partial to the smaller spaces. Small museums are like treasure chests – you don’t know what’s inside but it’s certain to be a fantastic surprise. For example, I recently visited the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park and discovered a completely unexpected yet wonderful collection.
In 1874, the Grand Union Hotel was built to accommodate travelers on the local stagecoach line. In ensuing decades the property went through several hands and performed various functions from a hotel to a post office to a school. Nearly 100 years later, in 1965, it became the Stagecoach Inn Museum and was restored to its original purpose. Unfortunately, in 1970 it was completely destroyed in a fire but due to its significance it was completely rebuilt over the next decade. Today, the museum is open for visitors and features the recreated Stagecoach Inn as well as other historic properties.
Onsite, you’ll find the Newbury Pioneer House, the Timber School, the Carriage House and Blacksmith Shop and so much more. All areas are open to visit and are staffed by friendly, period dressed volunteers who are happy to share the history of the area.
That’s another reason I love small museums. The staff and volunteers are often area natives and they always have such pride in their hometown. The Stagecoach Inn Museum is no different and in every section I toured I met docents who were deeply knowledgeable about the area and happy to tell me wonderful stories about local characters (like Donna “Conejo” Fargo) and regional attractions.
They also know the museum artifacts like the back of their hands and without them I wold have never known such interesting facts like the reason the wheels are so large on the above stagecoach is because it traveled through the ocean. Yes, that very stagecoach traveled on the beach in Santa Barbara and the museum has a photograph to prove it. How about that?
Of course, the main attraction is the Stagecoach Inn and several rooms are decorated just as they were when the structure operated as a hotel. But a number of other rooms are dedicated to local collections and that’s where the true treasures lie. There’s a room filled with western wear…
another devoted to the history of the iron (more interesting than you’d think)…
and, my absolute favorite, the Kilbourne Collection of “Gramophones, Graphophones, Phonographs, Grafonolas, Victrolas, Amberolas, and various other items related to the beginnings of recorded music.”
When I visited the museum I had no idea I would come across a room filled with the most beautiful gramophones I’ve ever seen. Walking into the room my jaw dropped and I was completely entranced by the items on display.
Mr. Kilbourne, an area resident, amassed these wonderful objects for his private collection until he decided to donate them to the museum. Luckily, it was happy to receive them and they’re now lovingly displayed for visitors to see…and hear. On my visit, the docent cranked one up so we could hear the century old object play a beautiful song from long ago. Talk about time travel!
I visited the Stagecoach Inn Museum simply because I saw a roadside sign and decided to stop. When I did I had no idea of the treasures I was about to see and the friendly people I was about to meet. So when you come across a small museum stop inside. I guarantee you will discover something brand new and absolutely wonderful.