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Supervisor Ranalli recommending the Board:
1) Receive and file presentation provided by Mary Cory, Museum Administrator, El Dorado County Historical Museum, recognizing the community volunteers who dedicate their time and knowledge to support the El Dorado County Historical Museum; and
2) Approve and authorize the signatures of all five Board members on a Proclamation recognizing these volunteers for their service. (Est. Time: 15 Min).
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The El Dorado County Historical Museum opened its doors to the public in 1974. The County Historical Museum is open six days per week. It is a division of the Library Department, with one full time employee, the Museum Administrator, reporting to the Library Director. The Board of Supervisors appoints a seven member Museum Commission "at large" for staggered four-year terms.
The Mission of the County Museum is to exhibit and interpret the heritage of the County in a current, accurate, and engaging manner; to be a valuable historical resource to the community through its well-organized research facility, historical exhibits, and educational programs; to collect, document, and preserve artifacts and records significant to the history of El Dorado County using the highest standards of scholarship and professional museum and archival practices; and to provide a rewarding experience for volunteers and enhance the museum's significance to the community.
There are currently 90 community volunteers who provide their time and knowledge to support the services and programs provided by the El Dorado County Historical Museum. In 2017, community volunteers donated approximately 15,000 hours of service to the County Museum; the equivalent of 7.5 full time employees. County Museum volunteers help carry out the Museum’s mission and day-to-day functions, as determined and supervised by staff
Community volunteers support the County Museum as:
County Museum Docents. Docents give visitors, as well as adult and student groups, tours of the Museum Exhibits and share with them information about El Dorado County history; Docents also manage the Museum’s non-profit local history book store, answer the phone, and handle tourist questions about other sites to see in the area.
Research Room Volunteers. These volunteers staff the County Museum's Research Room where El Dorado County historical documents, archived county records, maps and photographs are kept. Volunteers catalog, index and organize all materials donated to the Museum. They then make these historical records available to the public who are doing research on genealogy, property and local historical events, as well as county staff, surveyors, cultural resource managers and other professionals.
El Dorado Western Railroad Volunteers. These volunteers run the County Museum railroad program that utilizes the historic railroad tracks between Shingle Springs and Missouri Flat Road, with a regular Sunday schedule of offering rides to the public on restored track maintenance vehicles. In addition, volunteers repair and maintain the track, reduce fire fuel and conduct weed abatement, and restore historical railroad equipment.
Special Projects Volunteers. These volunteers take on a variety of tasks to provide a greater level of service to the public and to assist Museum staff. Projects include museum exhibit planning, research, and installation; cataloging, inventorying and researching artifact donations; planning and implementing special programming for events such as during the County Fair and the Sacramento Archives Crawl; long range planning for the El Dorado Western Railroad program; and participating on the Museum Commission and non-profit historical boards.
The dedicated community volunteers who contribute their time and knowledge are invaluable to the success of the El Dorado County Museum and the El Dorado Western Railroad!