Promoting interest in the history of Tulare County and preserving the heritage of our area for future generations

We thought you might enjoy reading an article from Los Tulares. This was published in our March 2012 issue (No. 256).

2012 - The Year of the Caboose!

The old railroad caboose at the Tulare County Museum is in dire need of restoration. This very popular exhibit has been a favorite of adults and children for over 40 years, but is currently deemed too dangerous to enter. The Tulare County Historical Society wants to restore it to its original beauty and at the same time install a protective cover over it, and we need your help! The society is holding three fundraising events this year to help make this happen. Our goal is to raise $25,000.

Our first event is Sunday, February 26^th from 2-4 pm at the Tulare County Museum in Mooney Grove Park. Railroad historian John Bergman will give a presentation on “Railroading in Tulare County” in the Museum of Farm Labor and Agriculture Theater. Louis Whitendale, Ron Humason and Ron Wyatt will share stories and demonstrate their working replica of the Visalia Electric Railroad which also ran through Exeter, Red Banks, Strathmore, Lemon Cove and so on. Tickets for the event are $15.00 which includes entry into the park.

Our second fundraiser will be held on Saturday, May 5^th . Western singer Juni Fisher will entertain us at the Buttonwillow Ranch in Drumm Valley at 2:00 pm. She is the 2011 Western Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year and Female Performer of the Year. Come early, bring a picnic lunch and visit with friends before the concert. Tickets are $20.00 and are on sale now.

Our final fundraising event will be our annual bbq on Sunday, September 9^th at the D-Bar-J Ranch where Dave Stamey will once again be our special guest. If you missed this popular cowboy singer last year, please make plans to join us in September. Last year, we sold out and had to turn people away, so make your reservations early. Tickets will go on sale soon.

In addition, a DVD is being produced related to the history of the Visalia Electric Railroad and a book is being written, both of which will be available in 2012. As you can see, we have some great events planned and we’d love you to “get on board!”

Visit our Events page.

About Us!

What’s Your Email Address?

The Tulare County Historical Society is in the process of creating an email list so that our membership can be notified of current happenings of the society as well as other news that we feel members would like to know about. Those without email will still receive important information about events, trips, fundraisers and so on through Los Tulares or special mailings, so don’t worry, you won’t be left out. If you would like to be included in future email notifications, please email your email address to Sharon Doughty at shazssd@comcast.net and just put “Add me to your TCHS email list” in the subject line.

The Society

In 1922, a group of people interested in the historical preservation of the original Tulare County organized Tulare County Historical Society. Much of the credit for that project must be attributed to Miss Gretchen Flower, a long time Tulare County Librarian at that time, and to George W. Stewart, who was known as the "Father of Sequoia National Park." For a time the Society prospered, but interest and membership gradually declined.

The Society was revived in 1943 and the group then identified three general goals. 1) Preservation of the past of original Tulare County 2) Construction of a museum, and 3) Observation of the Centennials of both Tulare County and Visalia. Adolph Sweet was elected the first President of the Tulare County Historical Society in October 1944. Several hundred people from all parts of the county attended the meeting in the old Visalia City Auditorium.

Today, the Society has accomplished its original goals set forth in 1943. We continue promoting interest in the history of Tulare County and preserving the heritage of our area for future generations!

Tulare County

Alpaugh - Badger - California Hot Springs - Camp Nelson - Corcoran - Cutler - Dinuba - Ducor - Earlimart - Exeter - Farmersville - Goshen - Ivanhoe - Kaweah - Lemon Cove - Lindsay - Miramonte - Orosi - Pixley - Porterville - Posey - Richgrove - Springville - Strathmore - Sultana - Terra Bella - Three Rivers - Tipton - Traver - Tulare - Visalia - Waukena - Woodlake - Yettem