Duarte Historical Society
Tour of Rubel Castle---June 1, 2008

A 20 foot high cinder block wall hides one of San Gabriel Valley's greatest curiosities: a medieval, bottle-studded castle brimming with oddities. The Duarte Historical Society's tour of this unique structure, owned by the Glendora Historical Society and open on a limited basis, on June 1 at 2:30 p.m requires reservations which must be made by May 20. To join the tour, mail a check for $10 per person payable to the Duarte Historical Society, c/o Claudia Heller, 277 Opal Canyon Rd., Duarte, CA 91010. Participants will meet at the Duarte Historical Museum, 777 Encanto Parkway at 1:45 p.m. that day and car pool to the Castle.

Rubel Castle, completed in 1986, also known as Rubelia, the Tin Palace, or The Bottle House, was built by Michael Clarke Rubel with help from thousands of volunteers over a period of 26 years, It is the subject of the book One Man's Dream: The Spirit of the Rubel Castle. There also stands the last intact citrus packing house from the early 20th century.

Castle visitors will follow the footsteps of past guests such as Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Alfred Hitchcock, Prince Philip, Henry Kissinger and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

For more information call (626) 358-0329.

Duarte History


Duarte Historical Museum


bronze model thumbnail
Duarte in Bronze--The Statue Project


Activities  and Publications


San Gabriel Valley Museums


Contacts

The Society was formed in the 1960's to record and illustrate the history of Duarte and nearby areas as a California rancho, a settlement, and most recently as a city.  It is entirely an unpaid, privately-funded, non-profit organization supported by membership dues, a small endowment, and contributions.   The Society is governed by an executive board of volunteers.

Activities of the Society include operation of the Duarte Historical Museum, craft and art fairs, educational interaction with local schools and the library, and bird walks in the adjacent course of the San Gabriel River.  The Society publishes a newsletter, the Branding Iron, participates in the work of the Foothill Curators and publishes their brochure "Locations and Operating Hours of the Historical Museums of the San Gabriel Valley".   Bimonthly programs open to the public are held in the Museum.

The Duarte Historical Museum

The main activity of the Society is the Duarte Historical Museum, located at 777 Encanto Parkway, Duarte, California.  The museum is staffed by docents who open for the public on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, from 1 to 3 pm, and from 1 to 4 pm on Saturdays.  The Museum is also open by appointment for groups and individuals. It is closed Saturdays on holiday weekends.

Duarte History

The City is named for Andres Duarte, a Mexican soldier who obtained a land grant in the waning days of Mexican ownership of Alta California.  Duarte ranched his grant well into the period of statehood for California but lost it in the 1860's. Duarte is now a residential community with a business sector, and is a City established in 1957. For more on Andres Duarte and his activities, see our separate page on Duarte History.
Duarte's 1843 brand
Andres Duarte's Brand, registered in 1843. It is used in the City’s seal and flag, and is reproduced on the hills overlooking the City


 

The Statue Project: Duarte in Bronze

Our current project has been to erect a large bronze equestrian statue, with Andres Duarte riding. The sculpture is installed in a new, but unfinished plaza---"Plaza Duarte"---located just north of City Hall. This is the largest public-art project in the San Gabriel Valley, and will become an icon for the City of Duarte. The dedication ceremony took place on March 31, 2007.

Here are further links to information about this project: