Paso Robles Area Historical Society

HELP PRESERVE

By Camille DeVaul

If you don't know where you came from, you can't know where you're going — and one of the best places to learn where we have been is the El Paso de Robles Area Historical Society and Museum.

The mission of the historical society is to collect, protect, and preserve photographs, documents, and publications related to the Paso Robles area, and to promote and share fuller knowledge of local history through exhibits, research, and educational efforts within the community. But they cannot make all of this happen without the help of some incredible volunteers and docents.

Denise Vandenberg, a docent on the Board of Directors for the museum, sat down to tell us a little bit about what it is like to be a docent with the museum. She became a docent five years ago after retiring and wanting a place to volunteer to her time with. "I like to talk, I like to meet new people ... it's been a fun thing for me to do," Denise explains.

The museum and historical society are located in the Carnegie Library, which sits within the heart of Downtown Paso Robles. Visitors from all over the world come to Paso Robles, and oftentimes, they find themselves in the Carnegie Library turned museum. People come into the museum looking for a visitor center and end up enthralled with the history they find there.

Others come to the museum looking for family history or to learn about their property. The historical society has an extensive research center filled with photos and documents going back to the earliest years of the area.

With different exhibits on display throughout the year, docents are constantly learning more about the city they call home. They pass that information on when they provide museum tours to visitors.

Denise says working in the museum is "not boring because there is always something new going on."

Being in the epicenter of town, docents get to know local businesses and participate in all of the city events held at the park. Studies have shown that volunteering has a positive impact on your mental health and happiness. It provides an opportunity for socialization and to making new friendships. "I don't think small towns could do a lot of the things they do or have the services they do if they don't have volunteers," Denise says as she thinks about all of the volunteer-run programs and events in Paso Robles.

With the museum's partnership with the Wine History Project, docents get an inside look into the many facets of wine history in Paso Robles. As part of the Wine History Gallery in the museum, docents get private tours and opportunities at various wineries in the area.

Many of the docents at the museum started out knowing very little about Paso Robles's history. And that's OK — you don't need to be a Paso Robles historian to be a docent. Denise explains that is the fun part: You are constantly learning together one day at a time. "If we don't know where we came from, we don't know where we are going, so history is important to everybody," says Denise. "When you learn about history, about individuals here, you are also going to learn about history in the town."

The El Paso de Robles Area Historical Society and Museum are honored to be located in the historic Carnegie Library at the center of City Park. To learn more, visit pasorobleshistorymuseum.org.

REASONS TO BECOME A DOCENT AT THE EL PASO DE ROBLES AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM