DayTrippin’ – The Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens

CHERRY VALLEY — Whether you are looking for a fun way to spend a memorable day with the family or searching for the perfect venue for your upcoming wedding or next social event, a visit to the Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens is the perfect place to consider.

With 16-acres of stunning beauty and tranquility nestled in picturesque Cherry Valley, the Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens is a historic home that is committed to preserving its collection of 16th to 19th century decorative arts while offering social, cultural and educational enrichment.

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Built in 1957 by Edward Eberle and Dean Stout and opened the following year, the Edward-Dean Museum features a home-like atmosphere that is intended to provide visitors a firsthand experience of the grandeur and ambiance of the time period.

From its soothing fountains and tranquil Koi ponds to a vine-covered arbor and the serenity of a rose garden, the breathtaking grounds offer stunning, 360 degree views of Oak Glen’s rolling hills and create a storybook setting for an afternoon family adventure, wedding or special event.

Featuring stunning gardens, uniquely designed themed rooms, rotating exhibits, and 16th to 19th century art,The Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens offers something for everyone.

In addition to its picturesque gardens and outdoor areas, the museum features an eclectic collection of 16th-19th century decorative arts separated into more than a half-dozen themed rooms; including the Pine Room, Blue Room, Picture Gallery, Asian Room, Rabe Gallery, Oak Room, and Edward-Dean Reference Library.

In the museum’s Pine Room, visitors will find stained Norwegian pine paneling carved in the 1680’s, along with art and artifacts that reflect the eclectic tastes of the day. Considered the work of “Girnling Gibbons” for the home of the Earl of Essex at Cassiobury Park, the unique room recreates the look of a 19th century English Manor Home.

In addition to its 16-acres of stunning beauty and unparalleled tranquility, the Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens features many uniquely themed rooms filled with an eclectic collection of 16th-19th century decorative arts and rotating exhibits.

Walking into the museum’s Blue Room, visitors will find a relaxing setting that was designed to reflect the comfortable feel of an 18th and 19th century sitting room. In addition to its beautiful artwork, the room features an Irish Bristol and Waterford crystal chandelier and Broadwood piano forte, reminiscent of those used by musical composers of the Baroque and Classic eras.

Inside the museum’s Asian Room, visitors will discover a collection of Chinese paintings and sculptures, along with an alcove containing Classic and Neo-Classic sculptures of bronze and marble. 

When entering the museum’s Picture Gallery, visitors will find themselves immersed in a room recreated to present the look of a long gallery room. These rooms were an important feature in many of the great houses of Europe, where portraits of family members were often displayed alongside the owners’ fine art collections. Featuring works by Joshua Reynolds, William M. Turner, David Roberts and George Lambert, a visit to the museum’s Picture Gallery is always a memorable experience.

Inside the Edward-Dean Reference Library, visitors are treated to 2,700 culturally rich 17th, 18th and 19th century books; with many highlighting subjects like science, botanical, architecture, landscape, design, art, history, religion and fashion. Additionally, the library features a rare collection of hand-written account ledgers dating back to 1775 through 1783, which were penned by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

The museum’s Rabe Gallery and Oak Room are two galleries that house exhibitions that rotate three times a year and feature fine decorative arts from the 16th to 19th centuries.

The next rotating exhibit to be featured, “Art and Science – A Perfect Chemistry”, opens February 8 with a free opening reception scheduled for Feb. 29, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Featuring the botanical illustrations of Kathy Schermer-Gramm, the engineering whimsy of Rube Goldberg, and the mystery of a Cabinet of Curiosity, the exhibit will touch on subjects such as medical illustrations, zoology, stereography, earth sciences, astronomy and architecture.

Event organizers say the exhibit, which is perfect for the entire family, will also present examples of the overlap between these subjects with fine art and interactive displays that highlight the elements that both art and science share.

With several special event areas to choose from, the Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens is the perfect location for any special event.

For those planning a special event such as a wedding, reception, banquet, or retirement party, the Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens offers a storybook setting and features a number of special event amenities; including the Legacy Rose Garden, Kay Ceniceros Banquet Hall, Pavilion, Garden Maze, Koi Pond, and Gazebo Lawn.

In the Legacy Rose Garden, visitors are treated to the the fragrance of heirloom roses drifting through the air amidst lush surroundings and a beautiful gazebo that provide a dramatic backdrop for the museum’s collection of free-standing sculptures.

Inside the Kay Ceniceros Banquet Hall visitors will find a climate controlled interior with large windows that offer a spectacular view of the grounds. With sliding glass doors that open to the outside patio, the banquet hall ensures that regardless the weather, your special event will turn out full of joyful memories. Perfect for a twilight cocktail, the banquet hall also features a catering-style kitchen.

The museum’s Pavilion is a handcrafted 1,600 square foot rustic wood structure that offers protection from the weather. Featuring 16 LED light globes and Edison lighting that create the perfect ambiance while illuminating the lush scenery of the outdoor areas, the Pavilion is perfect for any outdoor event.

Located on the upper section of the property, the museum’s Garden Maze recreates a small version of a popular form of landscape design created for European gardens in times past; while a Koi pond next to the Banquet Hall offers a tranquil setting to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the location’s outdoors areas. It is also the perfect setting to capture a photograph of your special day.

Also nestled at the top of the property, the museum’s large Gazebo Lawn is a beautiful spot that offers lush green foliage and breathtaking views. Considered a premiere location for a rustic outdoor reception or concert, the gazebo also makes for a beautiful sweetheart table or DJ area, with a panoramic view of the rolling hills that surround the museum and its grounds.

From its impressive gardens, vine-covered arbor, and serene koi pond outside, to its 16th-to 19th century art, and its 2,700 books dating back hundreds of years, the museum offers a culturally enriching experience for all.

In addition to offering a culturally enriching experience to all its visitors, the museum offers free tours and educational programs for students. The tours are aimed at helping area youth explore and recognize the vital connection between the past and present, and to appreciate universal historical themes represented in the museum’s vast collection of Asian, Indian, and European art.

The museum is also active in the community with a variety of volunteers and interns that participate in helping host special events, as well as maintaining the grounds and setting up and presenting each new gallery exhibit. An additional program of providing active stewardship allows the conservation of museum paintings.

For those wanting a more detailed guided tour of the museum, docents are available to personally guide you through the museum, its grounds, and its many galleries; while explaining the many cultural treasures throughout the large campus. At only $5 per person, the 45-minute guided tours are perfect for those wanting to know more about the museum’s many displays, exhibits, and artwork.

The museum also provides ongoing Thursday Workshops for adults and children that include Crafting, Art, Rose Pruning Clinics and STEAM based program with enriching, hands-on workshops at low or no-cost. More information about classes and times can be found on the museum’s website.

Located at 9401 Oak Glen Road in Cherry Valley, the Dean-Edward Museum & Gardens is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone wanting more information about the museum, its features and rotating exhibits, or free recurring programs and clinics can visit the museum’s website or learn more on their Facebook page.

This article sponsored by:

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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.

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