Muckenthaler House

Muckenthaler House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton, California
Coordinates:	33°52′33″N 117°56′35″W / 33.87583°N 117.94306°W / 33.87583; -117.94306Coordinates: 33°52′33″N 117°56′35″W / 33.87583°N 117.94306°W / 33.87583; -117.94306
Area:	8.5 acres (3.4 ha)
Built:	1921
Architect:	Benchley,Frank; Herbert,E.J.
Architectural style:	Spanish Colonial Revival, & Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals
Governing body:	Local
NRHP Reference#:	80000829[1]
Added to NRHP:	May 31, 1980

The Muckenthaler House, now the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, is located in Fullerton, California. It is a large Spanish Colonial Revival residence that was built in 1921.

Mission

The mission of the Muckenthaler is to provide our community with experiences that stimulate creativity and imagination, and to conserve the heritage of the Muckenthaler Estate. The Muckenthaler Cultural Center provides extraordinary exhibitions, performances and stimulating educational programs to Orange County’s diverse communities and beyond. We are a celebration of the human spirit through the arts.

History

Commissioned at an original cost of $35,000, the Muckenthaler home was built by Walter and Adella Muckenthaler in 1924 atop a hill in Fullerton. The 18-room mansion on 8.5 acres was donated to the city in 1965 by Harold Muckenthaler, who wished to see his childhood home used as a cultural center for the public to enjoy. In 1999, the Muckenthaler received designation by the National Register of Historic Places. In its 45th year, “The Muck” now showcases more than 100 performances, gallery exhibits and classes every year, and serves more than 25,000 people. The center hosts more than 75 weddings and corporate events each year. In 2008, the center won the “Best Historic Site” and “Best Cultural Center” awards from OC Parenting magazine. In 2009, the center won the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce “Quality of Life” award for best non-profit organization in the city. In 2010, the center won the “Best Arts Organization Award” from the county wide arts council, Arts OC.

History Timeline

• In 1965 the Muckenthalers donated the home and grounds to the City of Fullerton with the condition that it be developed into a cultural center.
• In 1966 The Cultural Groups Foundation of Northern Orange County was founded as a nonprofit organization to work with the City in operating the center.
• In 1967 The Center Circle Guild was founded to provide additional support and volunteers for the programs of the center. They also ran the gift shop, sponsored the annual Florence Arnold Young Artists Festival, the Holiday Home Tour, and support exhibition related and education programs.
• In 1980 The National Register of Historic Places recognized the Muckenthaler home as a historic site.
• A complete renovation of the site took place from 19811984.
• 1984 saw the creation of the first Master Plan outlining the future of the Muck.
• 1990-1993 held the construction of a new outdoor amphitheatre.
• In 1990 the Foundation changed names to the Muckenthaler Cultural Center Foundation.
• In 1994 the Muckenthaler changed hands with the foundation managing the center and the grounds. The Jane Deming Endowment was established to promote, preserve and assist the Foundation in its mission.

Architecture

The wrought iron staircase railing in the home’s entry was imported from Italy. The tiles that surround the fireplaces and cover the solarium floor were designed by the Ernest Batchelder Tile Company. The library and conservatory decor features period furniture including several heirloom pieces from the Muckenthaler family.

• Mansion with Italian Renaissance-style architecture.
• Picturesque front entry with stone work and balcony over nine acre property: wooded knoll, many trees & palms, large flat event lawns, gently sloping lawns, rose garden.
• Outdoor amphitheater with built in seating.
• Stone Gazebo at original citrus grove reservoir Italian Garden surrounded by palms, with iron gazebo Center Circle Patio is accented with decorative lights Gallery in the mansion with art from around the world with shows changing quarterly.
• Wrought Iron staircase in foyer
• Baby Grand Piano in main gallery

Articles

• Muckenthaler won “Outstanding Arts Organization”
• Korean Art
• Shirley Muckenthaler and Harriet Wieder

External links

• The Muckenthaler Cultural Center official site
• City of Fullerton: Muckenthaler Cultural Center
• Archiplanet: Muckenthaler House

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.