Clovis-Big Dry Creek Museum
History of our Museum
Once a Bank,
then a Courthouse,
Now a Museum
The First State Bank of Clovis was built in 1912. It was robbed, not once, but twice within a 10 month period between 1923 and 1924. The most famous of which was the Bank Robbery of 1924. A reenactment of this robbery is held February of every year.
Later the bank was used as a post office and then a courthouse where many a resident had to appear before the judge for infractions as small as a speeding ticket.
Today the building houses the Clovis-Big Dry Creek Museum operated by the Clovis-Big Dry Creek Historical Society.
The original bank vault is still containted within the building and today houses a large collection of Clovis Pioneer family histories, along with original Clovis High School Yearbooks.
The museum has many exhibits.
All Clovis High School Senior Photos up to 1966 are on display. Other displays feature information, photographs and artifacts related, but not limited to, the Founding Fathers of Clovis, The Great Flume.,The 1924 Bank Robbery, The Clovis Rodeo, The native Yokut and Mono people, Gold Star Military Veterans and of course one of Clovis' most famous residents, Festus, actor Ken Curtis' legendary character from the famed television show "Gunsmoke".
Municipal Court
The Clovis-Big Dry Creek Museum & Historical Society is a nonprofit organization in Clovis, California committed to preserving and presenting the city's history of its founding and pioneer families. To protect and display historic artifacts, maps, photographs and documents of local origin.
