The Western Hotel Museum
The Western Hotel Museum plays host to permanent displays of historical artifacts from the Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery’s permanent collection. Most of these objects, ranging from Native American stone tools to old mining equipment to photographs relating to well-known residents of Lancaster, have been donated by members of the public and so constitute a preserved record of the history of the area. Exhibitions on view include: Antelope Valley Mining, the California Missions, Fashions from the Past, Antelope Valley Native Americans, and many early Antelope Valley photographs and historical items.
Built around 1888, the Western Hotel Museum is downtown Lancaster’s oldest surviving structure. As a hotel, it has gone through several names, including the Antelope Valley Hotel, the Gillwyn Hotel, and lastly, the Western Hotel (c. 1895). Its most famous owners were George and Myrtie Webber. Myrtie died in 1978 at the age of 110.
Western Hotel2Preserved and saved by the Western Hotel Historical Society, the Western Hotel has been a City of Lancaster Museum since 1989. Annual special events include a summer outdoor silent movie and old-fashioned ice cream social. During the holiday season the interior parlor is decorated in a Victorian Christmas style.
Step outside for the historic Western Hotel Museum’s annual ice cream social and outdoor silent film screening. Bring the family and friends to a special evening of summer activities that includes delicious ice cream provided by Cold Stone Creamery in the museum’s backyard patio, and an outdoor screening of the 1928 film “The Wind.” Lillian Gish stars as Letty, a Virginia woman who resettles in the Texas prairie, battles relentless suitors and an even more relentless wind for her happiness and sanity. From 6-8 pm, visitors can enjoy ice cream, sip lemonade, drink a root beer float or take a museum tour. Activities for kids include face painting, or the pinwheel art activity that explores the elements of nature. The film begins outside the museum at dusk (about 8:45 pm). Limited seating is available, but visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Adult admission is $5 for the event; $3 for the movie OR ice cream only. Youth admission (under 12) for the movie is free; ice cream is $2. LMAGA individual members receive one free ticket; family members 2 free tickets.
Hours:
11-4 pm on the second and fourth Friday and Saturday of every month.
Admission:
Free
Free school tours (Please schedule in advance)