The Mono Basin Historical Society

presents the

Mono Basin History Museum/Old Schoolhouse

and the

Upside-Down House

Mono Basin Historical Society, PO Box 31, Lee Vining, CA 93541

760 647-6461, EMAIL [email protected]

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On Mattly Avenue, adjacent to Hess Park, in Lee Vining (behind the CalTrans yard)

THE MUSEUM IS OPEN EVERY DAY 10 to 4 PM

Donations and membership dues keep our doors open and help us maintain exhibits.

Suggested donation when visiting the museum: $2/adult (persons over 13).

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

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Located in Mono Lake's Old Schoolhouse, this museum displays both the commonplace and delightfully odd artifacts, photographs, books, maps and equipment chronicling the cultural history of the Mono Basin. Outside exhibits feature Nellie Bly's legendary Upside-Down House, along with farming and mining equipment. Inside the museum see Native American artifacts, gold mining implements and the wheel of the Venita, the Tour Boat that operated on Mono Lake in the 1930s.

History of the Upside-Down House

The Upside-Down House was created by Nellie Bly O'Bryan (1893–1984), visionary, entrepreneur, and long time resident of the Mono Basin. Originally located along US-395 north of the Tioga Lodge, it was inspired by two children's stories—“Upside Down Land” and “The Upsidedownians.” Upon her death in 1984, the Upside-Down House fell into disrepair until it was rescued and moved to its current site in October 2000. The house became Mono County's first “man-made” tourist attraction in 1956.

In 2009, Huell Howser's California Gold television series shown on PBS channels featured the Upside-Down House in a show titled “Places I've Wanted to Go.” Watch a 2 minute edited version at Huell Howser visit to Upside Down House on YouTube Visit to order a dvd.

We had very successful 12^th Annual Ghosts of the Sagebrush event on Friday evening, August 28 and Saturday, August 29, 2015, with good attendance, excellent history talks, and another good year of fundraising, despite last minute changes due to high winds and smoky skies. We served 67 dinners catered by Linda Dore on Friday and had 50 people inside the museum on Saturday to hear old timers speak about their school memories and enjoy a very special visit from Nellie Bly O'Bryan (Terri Geissinger). Many thanks to our volunteers who decorated, checked ticket-holders in, served food, and sold raffle tickets...they made it happen. We thank the National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center for allowing use of their theater on Saturday afternoon to show video. And are grateful for our very generous supporters who bought hundreds of raffle tickets and bid on auction items (one item went for $100 and another for $300!). We have video of the speakers and of our Friday visitor from the past, teacher Nora Archer (Shanda Duro). The two performances by Shanda and Terri were exceptional; they delved deep into the history of their characters and are amazing actors.

The 12th Annual

Ghosts of the Sagebrush

BACK TO SCHOOL

A Grand Day in the Park

Saturday August 29^th – 10 AM to 4 PM

Celebrate History Museum's 25^th year in Old Schoolhouse

Special visits from historic figures:

NELLIE BLY O'BRYAN, creator of the

Upside Down House. See Nellie with Charlie Chaplin in a silent film!

TOUR INSIDE THE UPSIDE DOWN HOUSE! 

SPIN THE HISTORIC WATER WHEEL AND WIN A PRIZE!

OLD TIMERS' STORIES ABOUT OLD SCHOOL DAYS! 

Historical Music Performances

$25 ticket includes all of this plus a BBQ PICNIC IN THE PARK

the night before...

Friday August 28^th DINNER catered by Linda Dore

RAFFLE! HISTORIC VIDEO!! A VISIT FROM NORA ARCHER!!!

Lee Vining Community Center 6 PM

MONO BASIN HISTORY QUILT RAFFLE!

This raffle raised over $900!

Quilted by

Calico Quilters, Out of the Box Group

Big Pine, CA