LA QUINTA MUSEUM

Preserving the past, enriching the present, and enhancing the future for all generations.

About The La Quinta Museum

The La Quinta Museum showcases La Quinta’s history and cultural arts through displays on two floors. There is a diorama of a Cahuilla Indian village and another depicting native animals. Photos of the early resorts remind us of the attraction of the desert early on. The community room exhibits a 32-foot long mural of La Quinta highlights painted by Andre Blanche.

The La Quinta Museum is a Cultural Museum with two exhibit galleries. Gallery 1, located on the 2nd floor, is local history featuring the Cahuilla Indians, The Desert Club, and The La Quinta Hotel. Gallery 2, located on the 1st floor, features new revolving exhibits that change every three to four months.

La Quinta Museum EXHIBITS

Community Room

Mural by André Blanché (part of the La Quinta Art in Public Places program). Dorothea Lange photo gallery of Coachella Valley images.

The Story of La Quinta

Enjoy our newly expanded local history exhibit! Dive into the stories of our city, from the original stewards of the land, the Cahuilla, to the homesteaders, ranchers, and dreamers looking for a desert oasis.

Abandoned planes, trains, and automobiles

Abandoned Planes, Trains, and Automobiles on exhibit through November 16, 2024

Experience the award-wining photography of Ken Lee in Abandoned Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, a nocturnal journey through the hidden landscapes of California’s deserts. Explore California’s abandoned transportation relics, reflecting its storied history in aviation and aerospace innovation, the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad, and vibrant car culture. Photographer Ken Lee guides us through these rarely seen locations, using light to unveil forgotten scenes in haunting, dreamlike exposures.

Spotlight exhibit in our Local History gallery:

Hearing the ancestors

Explore the rich history of our area through the work and findings of archaeologist Bruce Love.

Programs & Events

For the full complement of exhibits and programs, please visit the La Quinta Museum Facebook Page.

Take a Break with Huell
November 19
Tuesday, November 19, 11 a.m. Take a Break with Huell   Join us for an episode of Huell Howser’s California’s Gold on the big screen. This month, Huell visits the historic home and gardens of Helena Modjeska. Still considered Poland’s most famous actress, she settled in Orange County in 1876.
Author Talk: Dr. Bruce Love, Hearing the Ancestors
November 21
Thursday, November 21, 2 p.m. Author Talk: Dr. Bruce Love, Hearing the Ancestors Archaeologist Bruce Love with discuss his book, Hearing the Ancestors, recounting his experiences working in La Quinta and the Coachella Valley, and his journey to understanding the necessity of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in this work.
STITCH Fiber Arts Club
November 26
2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m. STITCH Fiber Arts Group Bring your fiber project, meet with friends old and new, share what you’ve been working on, and get inspired for your next project.
STITCH Fiber Arts Club
December 10
2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m. STITCH Fiber Arts Group Bring your fiber project, meet with friends old and new, share what you’ve been working on, and get inspired for your next project.
Genealogy Meet-Up at the Museum
December 14
 Second Saturday each month 1-3 p.m. Genealogy Meet-Up Whether you’re a beginner or an expert in all things Genealogy, join us for discussion and collaboration.
STITCH Fiber Arts Club
December 24
2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m. STITCH Fiber Arts Group Bring your fiber project, meet with friends old and new, share what you’ve been working on, and get inspired for your next project.
FIND MORE LA QUINTA EVENTS

THE La Quinta HISTORICAL SOCIETY

La Quinta Museum
La Quinta Museum

The La Quinta Historical Society is a volunteer, nonprofit service organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich multi-cultural history of La Quinta through:

La Quinta Historical Society strives to touch all ages from youth to seniors, socio-economic and multi-ethnic groups, community residents and area visitors, in an effort to link the present, the past, and the future with the treasured history of La Quinta.

For information:

GET IN TOUCH

Have a question? Ask someone at the Museum!

Museum Contact Form

For La Quinta Museum questions or inquiries, please fill out the form below.

Contact

77885 Avenida Montezuma
La Quinta, CA 92253

Phone: (760) 777-7170

Hours

Tuesday – Saturday:
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sunday & Monday:
Closed

ONLINE

La Quinta Museum
La Quinta Museum

View the Free Visitors Guide to La Quinta

VIEW OUR FREE VISITORS GUIDE

See why LQ is truly the Gem of the Desert. Check out places to eat, shop, and play. Download the guide today.