Sponsor Natalie Hodges and event chairwoman Sharon Bradford attend La Fiesta del Museo at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. 
From left, April Walstad, Saint Barbara Debra Fedalea, Jennifer Sautot and Philippe Sautot. 
Museum supporters Mimi Michaelis, left, and Pat Hinds. 
Debbie Bruce, left, and Lynn Kirst. 
Museum board president Bill Reynolds with Kristen Reynolds. 
Ben Feld and Rhonda Henderson. 
Spirit of Fiesta Sophia Cordero with her parents, Rosemary and Michael Cordero. 
Fiesta revelers Maribel Jarchow, left, Diane Brighton and Constance Chinery. 
Denise Peterson, left, the Rev. Larry Gosselin and Tom Peterson. 
More than 300 supporters attend La Fiesta del Museo. 
Guest Bruce McRoy enjoys a glass of wine offered by Nita Davanzo of Grassini Wines. 
Junior Spirit of Fiesta Paloma Valenzuela performs. 
The band Elements entertains the crowd at La Fiesta del Museo.
A large crowd of more than 300 supporters gathered at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum on a beautiful Saturday evening July 21 to celebrate the culture, cuisine and history of Old Spanish Days. The museum gets an early start to the Fiesta season with its annual fundraiser, La Fiesta del Museo.
Event chairwoman Sharon Bradford greeted supporters in the Covarrubias Adobe Courtyard during the social hour, which featured a silent auction, wine and margaritas, tequila tasting and a taco bar.
Guests were also able to enjoy the museum’s latest exhibits in the main gallery. “Project Fiesta!” is the latest installation celebrating Old Spanish Days history. “Great Photographers in Santa Barbara History” features photos from the museum’s Gledhill Collection 1860-1960. For a special Fiesta treat, entrance to the museum is complimentary during Fiesta, which starts Wednesday and runs through Aug. 3.
Sophia Cordero, the 2019 Spirit of Fiesta, and her parents, Rosemary and Michael Cordero, mingled with guests and later performed on stage. Junior Spirit of Fiesta Paloma Valenzuela also chatted with attendees and danced outdoors in the intimate Covarrubias Courtyard.
The band Elements provided music in the main Adobe Courtyard, where the sit-down dinner, program, fund-a-need paddle raise and dancing took place later in the evening. An exclusive auction featured items such as a rare bronze Blackfoot Warrior by Edward Borein (1872-1945) and a framed Borein etching.
Museum board president Bill Reynolds took an active part in the live auction and led a paddle raise to support the Collections Environmental Project.
“At the very heart of what we do here is protect and preserve history,” Reynolds said. “This museum has an extraordinary collection of artifacts — the true representation of our past. Artifacts are at the center of how we interpret and share history with our visitors, educate and build an appreciation of the past through our school programs and much more. As many of you know, stored in our underground 10,000-square-foot vault are thousands of artifacts.
“With increasing temperatures and a space that was not made to handle humidity, these treasured pieces could be in danger. Our board has acted fast, but we need your help tonight! In 2014, the museum contracted with Page & Turnbull to perform a historic buildings assessment. One of the issues uncovered was poor air circulation, particularly underground.
“Although the museum has a central air handling system that was installed in the 1990s, it was determined inadequate — most importantly, it does not cool the air. They recommended making significant modifications to our subterranean storage.”
The cost of the project is $500,000, with $100,000 already committed by the board and a goal of raising $100,000 at La Fiesta del Museo.
Top supporters were sponsors Geri and Jerry Bidwell, Sharon and David Bradford, Natalie and Brett Hodges, Marlene and Warren Miller, John C. Woodward, Aon, Marc Appleton, Terry Bartlett and Randall Fox, Gine and Martin Bell, Frank Schipper Construction Co., Cynthia and John Hall, HSBC Bank, Montecito Bank & Trust, Diana and Mark Vestal of Western Pacific Produce, Bella Vista Designs, Omni Catering, Ventura Rental Party & Events and many others.
Entertainers included guitarist Sam Adams, Grupo de Danza Folklorico, Qetzalcoatl, Flamenco Santa Barbara Dancers, and flamenco dancers Manuel Gutierrez, Jose Cortes, Andres Vadin, Gerardo Morales and Tim Nunez.
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum, at 136 E. De la Guerra St., features relics from Chumash, Spanish, Mexican, Yankee and Chinese cultures. Established in 1932, the museum is a landmark for the preservation and celebration of Santa Barbara’s regional history.
Click here for more information about the museum, email membership@sbhistorical.org or call 805.966.1601. Click here to make an online donation.
— Noozhawk contributing writer Rochelle Rose can be reached at rrose@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkSociety, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Become a fan of Noozhawk on Facebook.