Temecula Valley Museum

   Until the 1980s Temecula was a tiny ranching town with a population of about 200 people. Interstate 15 was completed in the early 1980s and sprawling subdivisions took over the ranchland. It also became a tourist attraction after the  first grape vines were planted in 1968. The area now has more than 40 wineries.

    The museum which has two floors has very good exhibits. The first floor is basically one large room with the early human history of the area – Native Americans, Spanish explorers, Spanish missions and ranchers. The second floor features changing exhibits, a fun hands-on kid’s area, and an exhibit on  Erle Stanley Gardner, one of Temecula’s most famous residents. Gardner wrote 80 books starring Perry Mason which were adapted for both radio and television.

    The museum is accessible with an elevator to the second floor.

    RVs are not permitted to be parked on any residential street in Temecula “No person shall park or leave standing upon any residential public street, highway, or right-of-way within the city limits of the city of Temecula any of the following: Motor vehicles and motor vehicles with an attached trailer or nonmotorized vehicle, of a length, or combined length, in excess of twenty feet, or a height in excess of eight feet, or a width in excess of ninety inches, which width is measured from the widest portion of the body of the motor vehicle or attached trailer or nonmotorized vehicle, not including mirrors.” We parked in the far end of the shared parking lot behind the museum which is marked as Senior Center parking. The spaces are not long enough for vehicles over 25’.  Museum  33.49777, -117.15053