Bowers Legacy: The Making of a Museum

Opening on the occasion of the Bowers Museum's 90th anniversary, Bowers Legacy: The Making of a Museum explores the origins and early development of Orange County's first public museum. Through archival photographs, architectural drawings, historic objects, and early exhibition documentation, the exhibition traces how a bequest from Charles Wesley Bowers and Ada Elvira Abbott Bowers led to the creation of the Charles W. Bowers Memorial Museum. Established through a 1924 trust and realized following their deaths in 1929 and 1931, the museum emerged during a period when Santa Ana was rapidly growing but lacked a public institution dedicated to preserving and interpreting regional history. The exhibition highlights the vision of the Bowers family, the design and construction of the original 1932 building during the Great Depression, the foundational contributions of the museum's first curator, Bessie Beth Coulter, and the leadership of its earliest board members. Featured are five historic objects connected to the museum's founding, including household items from the Bowers' home, Ada Bowers' perfume bottle, Charles Bowers' mustache cup, and the museum's original guest book. By examining the people, objects, and civic efforts that shaped its creation, the exhibition offers insight into the institutional foundations that continue to guide Bowers Museum today. Major support for Bowers Legacy: The Making of a Museum is provided by David & Ruth Seigle and Dr. Kelly Tran. This exhibition opens November 21 and will become a permanent exhibition at Bowers Museum, free for Santa Ana residents each Sunday with proof of residence. Admission to Bowers Legacy: The Making of a Museum is also free for Bowers members. Become a member for year-round access, exclusive benefits, and more to discover at the Museum.