July 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
By Debbie Benson, Director
“Taking a wrong turn allows you to see landscapes you wouldn’t otherwise have seen.”
Rick Rubin
Sometimes in the heat of July we find a reason to travel up to the cool. We may not have to take a wrong turn, but we may stop just to admire the shades of golden, dry grasses against the lavender hills. There may be a turnout on the highway where the only sound is that of a swiftly flowing river that cuts all other sound from our devices. A noisy peaceful rush of water. Worth the trip even to experience from the car window!
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June 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
By Debbie Benson, Director
“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes,
and every sunset is different.” John Steinbeck
The Maturango Museum is a busy place with our activities and visitors. It is beginning to be the season where travel is what everyone is planning for a day or even longer. It is always fun to meet the people coming our way and our lizards seem ready to greet our guests, with only an occasional scream! Enjoy watching them but please let them go about their business as inhabitants of our garden.
This month we are beginning our 2nd Annual Matching Funds fundraiser. We have some amazing donors so please match their funds as you can! Double the Impact!
This month we are setting up a “buy a brick fundraiser” as well. We will let you know the details as soon as we have the complete information on the laser engraved bricks. We will use them to be a part of the new pathways through the Gladys Merrick Garden.
Enjoy seeing the desert and remember to hydrate and listen for the birds! If out and about, use care and enjoy the coolness of the evening as the sun sinks in the west.
Be well.
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May 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
Debbie Benson
“May offers the genesis of our creative rebirth, unfurling the tapestry of genius with each step
we take…” ― Dr. Tracey Bond
One of the aspects of the Museum environment that involves decisions made in the past and our entering the future, are our permanent displays. We changed our flow pattern when we went through our expansion over ten years ago and rethought some of what we understood to be important. Our process continues. This last Friday we had an outstanding event that included Museum staff, volunteers, friends and family as the acrylic case was installed around the Paleontology Display. Along with a group of our volunteers who have worked for some time on this project, we had the pleasure of working with some of the workers from Sidewinder Solar as a 300-pound acrylic case was negotiated from the back of a transport trailer, through an entryway, through exhibits and into location for installation. While it did have a test install and a few redoes, it was hung and set in place in a matter of hours. It is a beautiful display and provides information about the extinct Pleistocene giants in our valley. Please come see it in person if possible! Sherry, our Natural History curator, who led this project, and the people who devoted time, energy and thought have much to be proud of. We are all thankful and proud of what came together. I’m sure more information will come in the future but we all wanted to share a bit now!
The flowers are still coming into bloom and there is much to enjoy! There are desert inhabitants out as well; use your eyes, ears and camera to share their habitat, but please let them be. Our best to you All!
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New Historical Video Screening about the Backyard Players
New Historical Video Screening about the Backyard Players
Sunday, April 21, 2 pm
The Maturango Museum will present a new historical video about Steve Lee and the Backyard Players.
Steve Lee worked on the base for 39 years (1954-1993), and while working here, he also wrote, produced, directed, and acted in nearly 40 plays and sketches. From this effort, he started "The Backyard Players" in the 1960s, a very popular acting group in which each performance pretty much sold out. Literally, all of their plays were staged in someone's backyard. For one stretch — eleven plays in a row—from 1967 to 1982 were performed in the same backyard on the base. It was often difficult to see the plays because you had to be invited by one of the cast members to attend. If you couldn't get an invitation, you couldn't see the play. These plays became legendary in their use of local people, customs and situations, and current events, dumb jokes, puns, simile's, metaphors and fractured English.
Steve retired from the base in 1993 and left the desert. About 15 years after his retirement, Steve returned to the desert to give one last performance and to recount the history of the Backyard Players. During this performance, a few of his actors who still lived in the area performed several skits from his earlier plays. Some of those skits will be shown in tonight's video, which was written, produced, and directed by Mark Pahuta.
The video, which runs a little over an hour, will be screened in the Coso Gallery, Sunday at 2 PM, April 21, 2024. Mark Pahuta will be present to talk about the making of the video.
April 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
Debbie Benson
“April Winds…Did you ever think the sun could turn cold?
Do you ever miss the freedom of the sand between your toes?… Joe Brooks
Again, as I write of April, the desert wind is my companion. A kite seems a likely resource as I watch the greening become more intense after the spitting cold of March rains and recent snows in the upper altitudes. I am watching the smallest of wildflowers bloom in the neighborhoods, along roads and paths. Some of the plants have been blooming for months. The evening desert primrose, with its waxy yellow flowers has been blooming for months and is trying to grow a topknot of leaves. The pincushions are waving in the winds much like small flags demanding some attention. Perhaps there is truth in the thought that wind makes each plant stronger as each does seem quite resilient. These are not weeds, they are native plants and we celebrate them! I have some optimism that our Annual Wildflower Exhibit will have many blooms for the enjoyment of all. The care and attention that goes into this exhibit is what makes it an event worthy of note and the time spent by all involved. We hope you can visit during the weekend of April 5-7 and hear some of our speakers as well.
At our Annual Meeting in March we offered our heartfelt thanks to Dave Kurdeka for his time on the Board of Trustees. He is a Docent and still on some committees so his input will continue to be enjoyed. At the same time, we welcomed Patty Wharton to the Board as we continue our work at the Museum and within the community. Our Annual Report can be found in the Newsletter section on our website.
I appreciate the success of our Second Saturday events and other events the docents and our affiliates provide for the community. Bringing families and individuals to participate in these activities is a great way to strengthen the bonds within our community. I also thank the people who participate in the garden and property clean-ups; a worthwhile way to promote involvement in an activity that beautifies and benefits us
Please find our April 2024 Newsletter below
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March 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
Debbie Benson
Dear March – Come in, How glad I am, I hoped for you before, Put down your hat, You must have walked, How out of breath you are — Emily Dickenson
As we enter a time of seasonal change, the greening of our hills and the blooming flowers, though somewhat unusual, remind us of the living that has been carrying on all winter. One cannot help but feel that change is now on the move. The early flowers that cannot seem to wait, are giving us the energy to appreciate and enjoy them. I enjoy seeing our gardens come to a greater activity as the lizards spend more days in the sun as the sand and rocks become warmer. The plant life under the care of our garden volunteers, shows us daily how pleasant it is to walk through the paths. The occasional cottontail silent under a creosote and our attendant hummingbird sitting at the very top of a desert willow. The work done by the volunteers is worth so very much and is appreciated by all.
We have work we continue to do, both inside the museum and out, and we appreciate the support and donations from our membership to ensure they happen. We have so many positive irons in the fire right now and it is the membership that makes it happen. We also appreciate the work of the docents and volunteers to put on events to support and encourage families to come visit. This is for our community and its visitors and we are glad to be able to share.
On March 23 at 3 pm we have our Annual Membership meeting. Hope to see you!
Be well, take care, and enjoy the Spring vistas!
Please find our March 2024 Newsletter below
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History of the Kawaiisu
Presentation: History of the Kawaiisu People in the Ridgecrest Area Sunday, February 25, 2 pm
David Laughing Horse Robinson will present topics that provide a glimpse into how the Kawaiisu lived, their culture, art, science, and religion. Born and raised in Kern County, CA, where his native elders taught him the traditions and knowledge of his tribe. This includes an understanding of the role of the petroglyphs, pictographs, and geoglyphs as an ancient source of knowledge for the Kawaiisu.
February 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
Debbie Benson
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller
There are times I question if February, much like January 2024, will be a bit confusing as to what season it is. After a winter that did not, as of yet, hold us in ice for a time, there are plants that have bloomed and already seeded from the heavy rains last summer. We’re already enjoying waist-high mustard plants that have thick stalks and dark rich leaves. It’s all very interesting but does raise the question of the coming activities of spring growth. We are optimistic about the wildflowers!
Here at the Museum, it is good to see the work done to keep our gardens ready for the coming warmer seasons and many weeds cleared. A great job was done on the last clean-up but the request was made to come to pull weeds when possible or join us on February 2 at 10 am-12 noon to celebrate Groundhog Day and help clear the grounds. Either way, the help is always appreciated!
This is an active time of year when we start planning more outside tours and activities. Please watch our website and check out our events. If planning some outings of your own and would like some ideas on where to go, we have information and books in the Gift Store as well as some great advice. Make sure to have your photo-taking device charged and ready; there is much to see!
March 23 at 3 pm. will be Maturango Museum’s Annual Meeting. We will be meeting in person at the Museum. Next month we will publish more information about this event but we hope to see you there! Thank you for your help and support for these many years and your belief in the importance of what we do and contribute to our community. You make all the difference. We hope you will have a chance to stop by and see.
My best to you all!
Please find our February 2024 Newsletter below
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January 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
Debbie Benson
“Kindness is the connection that links us all together and strengthens the bonds within our communities, neighborhoods, and families.” Rosalynn Carter
As we leap into 2024 there is that moment of silence when we remember the generosity shown to us. The kindnesses that have helped us through to this day. We open our calendars to see this next year of days. We will fill them with the activities of living with those around us. This year gives us that extra day to fill with care for our family and friends and for ourselves. It may be a walk in the beautiful outdoors or possibly volunteering for something you believe in. It brings up the thought of how to spend that extra 24 hours in 2024. It’s very possible it could be more fun than you think!
Thank you to each person who volunteers for and helps the Museum in any way possible. As a local non-profit who is not supported by any governmental entity, you are the ones to make a difference not only to the Museum but to our community of neighbors.
Happy New Year! Be well, be safe, and take care. Our best to you all!
Please find our January 2024 Newsletter below
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Sidewinder, Simply the Best Heat-Seeking Missile Ever
In September 2004, The Technical Library on the base started a monthly lecture series called “Have I Got a Story for You!” The series ran for close to 30 months. The lectures were given by scientists and engineers from the base. Each lecture was on a topic of historical interest such as “Solving the Mystery of the Roseville Bomb Train”, “Remembering the 9/11 Attack on the Pentagon from Someone Who Was There”, and “Combustion Hazards and Small Scale Testing”. All the lectures were videotaped. All the lectures were approved for public release.
For our December 7 video, we will be showing the 21st lecture of that series, “Sidewinder, Simply the Best Heat-Seeking Missile Ever” presented by Dr. Bob Smith. Bob, who is now retired and is currently heavily involved in the China Lake Museum next door to us, will be present to talk about that lecture and update any information that he gave back in 2006.
The video will be screened in the Coso Room at the Maturango Museum. As always, admission, popcorn and sodas are free. Donations are sincerely appreciated. Seating is limited, doors open at 6:15 pm.