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    Whittier Museum

    4.7 (17 reviews)
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    Updated 1 month ago

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    Timmy S.

    This is a great local history museum. The bottom floor is devoted to Whittier's history and life in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are many excellent historical displays although much of it is generic antique housewares & appliances and farming tools & equipment not specific to Whittier (but great representations of life in those days of yesteryear). There is a huge diorama showing oil fields in the area's earlier years and several displays with information on early civic leaders. There are also a few displays of notable Whittier citizens (ie - the builder of winning Indy cars and an elderly gentleman who flew experimental airplanes in competitive events). The second floor houses a section on President Richard Nixon, who spent his youth in Whittier, and there is also a very nice tribute to war veterans. During my visit a huge section of the second floor was devoted to a temporary exhibit on magic and magicians. Various props belonging to famous magicians were on display but no secrets are revealed. If you're a magic geek and into the history of magicians you'll probably love it but for me just seeing encased props but not seeing them actually used in an act was not very exciting. They are having magic shows on the weekends while the display is on exhibit but I was here on a weekday morning (the only visitor until about the time I left). Parking is free as is admission. I spent about 90 minutes here, reading most of the placards for the displays (but not much time spent in the magic exhibit). I'd recommend this museum for older kids, teens and adults.

    The Women Of Magic
    David C.

    Since January of this year (2024), there has been a free ongoing magic exhibit here at this museum, which will last until the end of December. It is known as The Society Of American Magicians Hall of Fame and Magic Museum exhibit. So I decided to finally take the drive out to Whittier and not miss what was known as The Women Of Magic show. Very family-friendly magic by quite talented magicians in the industry. They also had 2 separate up close performances in a smaller limited seating area, which was known as Closeup Magic. Where myself as well as others thoroughly enjoyed the sleight of hand coin and card illusions by Sirinda Sincharoen. As well as the Asian themed magic performance by Michael Meszmer. Everyone here at the museum was very friendly and quite generous with their time. As they explained to me the history of some of the different items which were currently on display. It's not every day you get to see actual props up close that we're used by Houdini himself. Or even some of the amazingly eye-catching promotional posters by legends from The Golden Age of Magic, such as Dante, Kellar, and Thurston. By the way, so far everything I've mentioned was on the 2nd floor. Yet there's also a permanent exhibit on the 1st. Which features items depicting many aspects of Whittier history. It was very enjoyable as well.

    Halloween
    Christine L.

    I attended the haunted house here at the museum. It was wonderful! I hope they bring it back again next year. We had such a fun scary time. What a cool way to bring the community together. I love this event!!!

    Iris J.

    Wow! I came to check out their yearly hunted house, and was completely blown away. For it being a museum I wasn't expecting anything amazing, but I was totally wrong. I loved how they let people in group by group so that each group could experience the haunted maze without having a bunch of people ahead of them. It made you feel like you were going through it alone, which made it feel that much more terrifying. The attention to detail was awesome, along with the lighting/special effects and performers. I thought they did an awesome job and the donation price point was perfect. I loved all of the extra stuff they did as well, like the market and hearse show. Made for a really fun evening out in uptown whittier too. I'm already looking forward to seeing what they come up with for next year, only 11.5 months to go!

    Elizabeth W.

    What a gem to be found in Whittier!!! A fantastic museum with an excellent collection, artifacts of the history of Whittier!!! I spent the entire afternoon going through an enjoying each of the galleries and was amazed at the richness of the history and background of Whittier - it's founders , citizens and culture. A very well maintained historical society and I learned so much. The executive director Tim Traeger was very hospitable sharing with me a comparison of city photos of Whittier 10 years apart. Nick was also very nice in the gift store and informative of the various events members are invited to attend! I received a very nice gift of an original drawing of old uptown Whittier by local artist Bob Baker as a gift for signing up to be a member!!! nice!!! Needless to say I'm a fan and will be back!!!

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    Review Highlights - Whittier Museum

    A lot of city (Whittier) history and cool antiques packed into this building, free parking and admission.

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    Rubel Castle

    Rubel Castle

    (58 reviews)

    I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience here at Rubel Castle. Our host, guide,…read moreand local "Rubelligent" volunteer, Ms. Kathleen had all the intel about this historical property. She was so knowledgeable and helped set the stage for us to slip into a forgotten era and get a glimpse of how imagination met inventiveness with a DIY charm. ~ A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR YOU ~ It's not pronounced Rubel as Barney from Flintstones. Rather, it's like Target is to Targét when we are trying to be fancy. So that's Rubel as in "Roo-bell." Unlike modern-day construction, Rubel Castle wasn't built overnight. It was made of collected recyclables and construction rubble that spanned many decades and took several friends and volunteers to build it. For Michael, however, the lifetime inspiration was first sparked at the age of 9. His love for canons was where it started and the rest is history you can hear about on the tour. But don't just show up like we did randomly one day. To book, visit RubelTours.org and make a reservation. ~ OUR TOUR EXPERIENCE ~ It's as if Michael Rubel, the creator and mastermind of this enchanted dominion had intended it to be--magical. Built in the castle period of wood and tin, every corner captured our interests, from antique cars to the 1890's Seth Thomas Tower Clock with a unique backstory (and only six in existence today). There were old vending machines, tools, trinkets, and machinery that time had long forgotten. Did I mention there was a drawbridge? Yes, and a dungeon too. I was just waiting for a dragon to come swoop down on us next. Walk in the footsteps of famous visitors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. It's a feast for the eyes no matter where you glance. I particularly enjoyed the bottle house that Michael built in 1968 as his "home" as a kid. That independent spirit was quite charming to see. ~ WATERCOLOR NATURESCAPE ~ We were fortunate to have our gracious host lead us on a tour and organize a special art crafting experience outdoors. It was absolutely lovely beneath the trees and between rusted vintage cars from the turn of the century. We each got a small canvas to paint our flowers in watercolor. (This particular experience takes place in the Spring and Fall, weather permitting.) We heard the squirrels rattling in the leaves and birds chirped and sang in the trees above. We discovered that peacocks apparently originated from this property, compliments of Michael Rubel. And did I mention that on the far side of the property, a custom garden was in full bloom? BOOK A TOUR Help support the Glendora Historical Society and keep this magnificently unique city-castle maintained. It's worth it.

    A castle in Glendora? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you--Rubel Castle is real, it's magnificent,…read moreand it's gloriously eccentric. Thanks to the sheer persistence (and probably delightful stubbornness) of Michael Rubel, we now have this quirky, towering State Treasure sitting right in the middle of Glendora like a fairy tale that accidentally took a detour through a hardware store. This place is beautifully done, and part of its charm is that it's a full-on hodgepodge of relics, antiques, crystal trinkets, and "wait... what is that doing here?" moments tucked into every nook and cranny. You'll marvel, you'll laugh, you'll squint in confusion--honestly, it's everything you'd want in a castle built with love, imagination, and a dash of madness. And let's talk about the makeshift cemetery. Quirky? YES. Fun? Absolutely. Slightly spooky? Only if your imagination is over-caffeinated. But it fits the vibe perfectly--like the castle whispered, "You know what I'm missing? A tiny cemetery." The tours are fantastic, the guides are passionate, and the whole experience feels like you're stepping into a living scrapbook of California history and charming chaos. Overall: Amazing, amazing place. Book your tour. They only do tours every first Sunday of the month, so set your alarms, mark your calendars, tie a string around your finger--just don't miss it. Rubel Castle is truly a California State Treasure, and an absolute must-see for anyone who appreciates creativity, history, and a little eccentric sparkle.

    Supera Tours - Beautifully presented sushi boat appetizers for our first banquet meal

    Supera Tours

    (147 reviews)

    This review is for the January 2026 Thailand tour…read more What an amazing trip, as we are still talking about it. Supera did an excellent job in showing us the highlights of this beautiful country. We were spoiled and treated like VIPs throughout. Highlights include: Temples - so many Buddhist temples, beautiful and unique. Elephant sanctuary - A highlight! Up close and personal with these majestic creatures. We walked with them, made and fed them medicinal treats. Tuk Tuk tour - a VIP tour of the streets of Chang Mai. So fun and enjoyable. Hotels resorts - beautiful, elegant and top service including massages and buffet breakfasts. Food - Supera goes out of their way to handpick local specialties that most tourists don't know about. The food was unique and delicious. A real treat. Transportation - buses, longboats, flights - all handled for us, including all luggage transfers. Our tour guide Betty Tsai. What a pro! She's the perfect mix of organization and keeping it fun. Her attention to detail kept us moving smoothly through the trip. She even managed to work with the Mandarin Oriental to get me a personal item I accidentally left at the hotel after checkout. Ms A - so cute, with excellent knowledge of Thai culture and history. This was our third Supera tour, and it won't be our last!

    My wife and I have been very happy travelers with Supera/Signet tours in the past. But they…read moredemonstrated awesome above-and-beyond customer service for our latest trip to Hokkaido. A family emergency necessitated my cutting my trip short and return to the U. S., and as soon as the tour staff learned of my predicament, they reached out to me and had the return flight arranged for me within 2 hours. I cannot describe how valuable it is not having to find my own flights during that stressful period. They made sure I was taken care of from the hotel taxi all the way to the airport drop off. Many thanks to Roy, Junko, and Eriko for their 5-star customer service! We will be back!

    San Gabriel Ghost Seeker - One of our many Meet Ups. Cobb Estate.

    San Gabriel Ghost Seeker

    (1 review)

    I'm totally into anything paranormal. Ghost, aliens, Bigfoot, La Llorona.....I like! Don't get me…read morewrong I will sleep with my night light on. After watching stuff on TV I decided to Google, not expecting to find a group in my backyard! (practically) So I jumped at the chance to go on a local History & Haunt Tour with them. We walked around the Mission museum (behind the Playhouse), HS, church, cemetery and ending at the doors of the Playhouse. As we were walking up to the doors of the Playhouse their was a strong floral scent. As the organizers thanked everyone for attending they walked towards the sidewalk. My daughter, Michelle (organizer), and myself stayed behind. I love old buildings so I asked my daughter to take a few pictures. As we walked away we heard the Playhouse doors open and slam shut!! Now these doors are huge. So you can imagine how loud that was. Before the tour ended Michelle had pulled on the doors and they were locked. We stood still for a second, turned around expecting/wishing someone to be standing there. The 3 of us ran up to the doors, we tried pulling on the doors again and they were locked and now the inside lights were on. My daughter and I stared at each other and then at Michelle. It was the weirdest feeling. We eventually caught up with everyone else and told them what they missed. We've also attended their Scary Movie Night at Savannah Cemetery. That was cool. We also made it to Paranormal Night II which I convinced my husband to attend. We're planning on going to the meet-up at Devils Gate Dam. I listened to Michelle's GB session on Facebook, can't wait! On the car ride home from their events I always tell my daughter...."we found our people"! So believers and non-believers attend one of their local events. You may never know what you'll see/hear/experience.

    From the owner: Ghost Tour Dates: Sept 28, October 5, October 12, October 19, and October 26…read more This tour is centered around the Historic Mission San Gabriel Ditrict. This is a two hour tour that is designed to amaze you. Fisrt, you will see actual photos of ghosts on a big screen. This presentation takes place in one of the historic buildings that is actually haunted. After this you will walk through the Historic Ditrict to the most haunted buildings where some of the ghosts still reside. Most guests capture orbs, mists and other unexplained phenomena! Keep that camera handy! Book early. We only take about 20 guests at a time. San Gabriel Ghost Seekers Private tours upon request.

    Hocus Pocus The Devil’s House - Hocus pocus

    Hocus Pocus The Devil’s House

    (1 review)

    A MUST DO! A FREE EVENT EVENT & FREE PARKING! This is someone's home not a museum so Please be…read morerespectful & DO NOT BOTHER THE HOMEOWNERS they live there. Just take a look from the sidewalk. The Devil's House is the famous house from the movie Hocus Pocus with the Sanderson Sisters Bette Middller, Sarah Jessica Parker & Kathy Najimy. The movie was filmed in multiple locations including Whittier & Altadena California, Salem Massachusetts & Warner Ranch. This is the home where in the movie you meet the Devil - Gary Marshall & Penny Marshall from the TV Show Laverne & Shirley. There are also Trick or Treating Scenes filmed here as well with several houses right next door. There is also a park across the street you can check out as well. You can also drive by East Whittier Middle School which was Jacob Bailey High School in the movie. Some Interior Shots were filmed there on 14421 Whittier Blvd. To make it worth your trip check out some other Cool Local Spots in Whittier. Back to the Future Mill Valley High School was filmed @ Whittier High School on 12417 Philadelphia St. King Richard's Antiques is one of the largest antique shops in California. It is Fantastic with multiple levels with over 60,000 Square Feet of Vintage Merchandise. Also check out Nixon Plaza - Richard Nixon's Law Office was located here in a historic 100 year old building that has now been transformed into a Food Hall There are multiple restaurants with a Large Indoor & Outdoor Dining Area. You can grab something to eat & a brew @ Whittier Brewing Company in the Food Hall. Also check out the Whittier Village Cinema. It is a small beautifully restored Art Deco Movie Theater that was originally called The Wardman Theater which was built in 1932. The Architecture, the Tile & the Lights are really beautiful. It is located in the Uptown Section of Whittier that has lots of nostalgic charm & charisma. Also check out some of the other restaurants & breweries in the area too. So Much Fun in Whittier! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

    Whittier Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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