| Home of Rubel Castle and the Glendora Museum |
About the Society
The Glendora Historical Society was founded in 1947 to help preserve the history of Glendora, and the surrounding area once known as the Upper San Gabriel Valley. The Society cares for two historic sites that the public can visit: Rubel Castle and the Glendora Museum. The Glendora Museum is located in the original City Hall which also served as the city jail and firehouse. It now houses exhibition spaces displaying the museum collections. It is open most Saturdays as well as special Research Days. For additional information please visit the Museum Page. For special events and opportunities to visit the museum or conduct research in the archives, please check our calendar and our Events Page.
Rubel CastleRubel Castle
is a monumental folk architecture site nestled in the foothills of
Glendora. It was entirely built by hand by Michael Rubel and his
"pharmhands" over several decades. Its stone masonry was handcrafted of
river rock, recycled materials and an assemblage of the relics and
artifacts of Glendora's early agricultural and industrial eras.
Michael's innovative use of both natural and cultural materials makes
Rubel Castle an exceptionally important masterwork within the context of
folk art environments in California. It also serves as a rare resource
and physical reminder of the citrus industry, which played a significant
role in the development of the area in the late-nineteenth and
early-twentieth centuries. It is open for guided tours by appointment only. To visit the Castle please reserve a tour: rubeltours.org MEETINGSOur general meetings always feature presentations from guest speakers on historical subjects. Topics in the past have included "Los Angeles Theatres & Segregation," as well as "The Last Deputy of Wyatt Earp." The presentations are FREE and open to the public. For a list of upcoming presentations please visit our Events Page. Donate TodayDonations are needed and always welcomeYour donations help the Society preserve Rubel Castle, the Glendora Museum and their collections for future generations. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. | Upcoming events
Recent news
Become a memberMembership support helps the Society care for Rubel Castle, the Glendora Museum and their collections. Your support also helps us provide public access and educational programs. This is only possible through our partnership with history enthusiasts like you. |
