Construction on the Irving Archives and Museum is currently underway, but a soft opening for the Smithsonian Spark!Lab and a temporary exhibition is planned for Dec. 19.
Residents can view a sneak peek of the museum as it helps celebrate Irving’s 116th birthday. The event kicks off from noon to 2 p.m. with an opportunity to view the Smithsonian Spark!Lab, a temporary exhibition titled “Pools, Patios, and the Invention of the American Backyard,” and the museum’s Community Space.
The event will include free cupcakes, and a food truck will be on hand with cuisine available for purchase. The celebration continues at 7 p.m. with remarks from Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer and birthday cake.
The museum is expected to formally open in February 2020. For more information, including updates on the museum’s grand opening, visit IrvingArchivesandMuseum.com.
An outdoor kitchen could fit any budget, from a simple store-bought grill to a permanent stone hearth with space for tool storage and food preparation. Photo Credit: Lakewood Plaza, outdoor living space. Long Beach, CA, 1950s. Maynard L. Parker, photographer. Courtesy of The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Few suburban developments had extensive public amenities. Residents turned instead to the own backyards for entertainment. Photo credit: Jim and Grace Dent’s picnic, August 1957. Scurlock Studio Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
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