Tucked inside two airplane hangars near Van Nuys Airport is one of L.A.’s most unexpected museums. It’s not filled with fine art or ancient artifacts. Instead, it holds neon signs and old menus, all pieces of a place many people drive through but rarely stop to think about. This is the Valley Relics Museum, and it’s dedicated entirely to preserving the history of the San Fernando Valley.
The Valley Relics Museum offers visitors a unique journey through decades of Los Angeles history. It’s a destination that appeals to history buffs, families, photographers, and anyone who loves classic California culture.
A sanctuary for under-documented history
Founder Tommy Gelinas gave us a tour of the incredible collection he’s spent years preserving. Gelinas started the Valley Relics Museum to counter what he sees as a lack of historical documentation for the region. Today, its collection includes more than 20,000 historical items dating from the 1800s to the present. The warehouse space is filled with illuminated neon signs, vintage cars, and rescued statues from bygone local businesses. As you walk through the exhibits you will encounter salvaged pieces from recognizable neighborhood staples, including the Tiffany Theater and Pioneer Chicken.
The giant green dragon that once perched on top of Kids Castle now resides at the Valley Relics Museum. Long before it became a museum artifact, the giant green dragon watched over generations of children visiting Kids Castle on Empire Avenue in Burbank. Although Kids Castle eventually closed, the dragon survived. Rather than disappearing into storage or a landfill, it was preserved as a piece of local history. Tommy Gelinas, the museum’s founder and curator, received a call two years ago asking if he was willing to save the dragon. For Gelinas, preserving the piece was an obvious choice.
For anyone who grew up in Burbank, seeing the Kids Castle dragon at Valley Relics is like reconnecting with a childhood friend. It stands as a colorful symbol of the community’s shared memories and the museum’s mission to preserve the everyday pieces of Los Angeles history that might otherwise be forgotten.
- ⏱️ Saturday & Sunday 10AM-3PM
- 📍 @valleyrelicsmuseum
- 🎟️ $15 admission.
