Click on photos for more information.Porterville Historical Museum — “Your Resource for Porterville History”
by Laurie Schwaller
Porterville Historical Museum opened in 1965, in the classic Mission style Southern Pacific Railroad Depot that served the railroad from 1913 until the late 1950s. The museum has changed the historic structure as little as possible while installing a wonderful variety of exhibits, indoors and out, including Native American crafting, Porterville’s Pioneers, farm and fire equipment, Native Wildlife, a Salute to Veterans, and much more, along with special events such as lectures and appraisals, a big annual holiday toy and model train show, ghost hunting tours, and fundraising parties. Porterville’s history is kept alive and growing here.
December, 2025
NOTE: The Project Team will be conducting research for a full article page as volunteer time allows. Contact Us if you’d like to help research, write about, and/or illustrate this Treasure!
Address: 257 North D Street, Porterville CA 93257
From Visalia, take Hwy 198 east to exit south (right) onto Hwy 65 toward Exeter and Porterville.
In Porterville, take the W. Olive Ave. exit and go east (left) to North D Street (has a stoplight).
Go north (left) on D St. to W. Putnam Ave. (has a stoplight).
Go left on Putnam for a very short distance to your first right turn: into the parking lot behind the museum.
