Most visitors are pleasantly surprised after they have toured our local Rio Vista Museum. From the outside it may look small, but the former blacksmith shop is filled with artifacts which depict the 163 plus year history of Rio Vista and the surrounding area. For those who are not familiar with Rio Vista’s Hidden treasure, the Rio Vista Museum Association is a private tax exempt 501 ©(3) corporation led by a board of directors, elected annually by its membership, and mainly funded by donations.
As the Association has not been able to hold its annual fundraisers, it is trying some other ideas to raise funds to help keep our local museum open. One idea is a calendar. A limited edition 2021 calendar was produced in December 2020 and was well received. This year, the Association started early; picking out photographs which adorn the pages of the calendar. Each photograph in the calendar has a caption depicting the people, places and events taking place in the photos.
The Association is now proud to announce that the 2022 Rio Vista Museum Calendars have arrived and are available for purchase at the museum, 16 North Front Street, Rio Vista. Please stop by Saturdays and Sundays, 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, to tour the museum and purchase a calendar for the upcoming year. There are also envelopes available if you wish to become a member of the Rio Vista Museum Association.
The Association was established in 1975 by a group of local citizens who wished to create a depository to collect, archive, research and publicly display photographs and artifacts of local historical significance which depict the fascinating history of Rio Vista. That same year the Association was fortunate enough to move into, and eventually purchase, the former blacksmith shop of Andy Cavagnaro.
After forty-five years, and several additions to the building, the museum holds an extensive collection of artifacts, documents, and memorabilia significant to the 162 plus year history of Rio Vista.
This undertaking, to preserve the heritage of Rio Vista from its establishment in 1858 by Col. Nathan H. Davis to the present, as well as to encourage public interest and awareness in local history, would not be possible if it were not for the support and donations from the community and its members.
The museum receives its financial support entirely from annual membership dues, memorials, donations, and fundraisers, such as the annual Hamburger Feed, Olde Tyme Christmas Faire, and the more recently introduced and successful Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
During 2020-21, museums across the nation, and around the world, had been affected by mandatory closures, due to Covid-19. The Rio Vista Museum may be on the smaller scale, however that did not mean we were not immune to the effects, due to the mandated closures.
Recently, museums were allowed to re-open, and the Rio Vista Museum is slowly getting back into the swing of things. Nonetheless, during the closure, we had to cancel the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Annual Hamburger Feed, all other museum gatherings (guest speakers, etc.)
Currently, the Association is making plans for the annual; and much-anticipated Olde Tyme Christmas Faire, as well as looking forward to the many visitors who pass through the doors; every year during the annual Bass Festival. We are back and we need your help!
