Downey Museum of Art

In the mid 20th century, Alice Woodrow came up with the idea of creating an exhibition space for local artists. Her vision resulted in the establishment of the Downey Museum of Art in 1955, Southern California's first facility dedicated exclusively to displaying and collecting modern art.

Her interests in artistic endeavors were not limited to a single medium, such as paintings, either. Art objects made of fiber, metal, and ceramics were soon added to the collection, as were the works of women, ethnic, and emerging artists. Avant-garde and contemporary pieces were added in abundance. Today, most of the items owned by the museum are by California-based painters, sculptors, print-makers, and photographers.

In 2000, the Downey Museum of Art formed an Armenian Arts Council, which is considered the first of its kind in the United States. One of the museum's recent exhibits called "Witness" a display of 13 photographs of Genocide survivors received the Armenian National Committee's Freedom Award for the artists.

Until quite recently, the Downey Museum of Art and its gift shop have been located in Furman Park at 10419 Rives Avenue, Downey, CA 90241-2241. However, it was recently announced that the museum is moving to a new public location, yet to be disclosed.