[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 110 (Friday, July 8, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1075-E1076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE EXPANSION OF THE FRESNO COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 8, 2016

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the grand opening 
of the Fresno

[[Page E1076]]

County Historical Museum, an expansion of the award-winning Big Fresno 
Fair Museum. The Fresno County Historical Museum will provide the 
opportunity for many individuals to learn about the diverse and rich 
history of Fresno County.
  The first phase of the Fresno County Historical Museum was initially 
opened to the public during the 2015 Big Fresno Fair, and will be 
expanded to include an additional 7,000 square feet of exhibit space. 
This space will serve to highlight historical items in both permanent 
and temporary displays from the Fresno Police Department, Fresno Fire 
Department, Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame, Sheriff's Office, Fresno 
Historical Society, Legion of Valor, the Fresno County Farm Bureau, and 
many more.
  The Fresno County Historical Museum is one of the largest capital 
improvement projects in years at the Fresno Fair Grounds. It will 
reflect the diverse communities that call Fresno County home by 
commemorating Mono Indian, Armenian, and Japanese American histories 
and the positive impact they have had on our county. Displays will pay 
tribute to the famed inhabitants of our county through photography, 
artifacts, and memorabilia. For example, the museum will provide the 
first permanent venue for the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame that will 
showcase photos and sports memorabilia of its 300 inductees, including 
the late beloved coach Jerry Tarkanian, U.S. Olympic softball medalist 
Laura Berg, and Major League Baseball player Frank LeRoy Chance. In 
addition, other exhibits are planned to honor notable members of Fresno 
County, including the famed Oscar and Pulitzer-prize winning author, 
William Saroyan.
  The Fresno County Historical Museum is a place for the community to 
learn more about the county's past, and to further appreciate what 
makes Fresno County the great place it is. It is an honor to celebrate 
this momentous occasion with the Big Fresno Fair Board of Directors, 
The Fresno County Historical Society, and the community members through 
Fresno County who have made this museum a reality. Without the 
unwavering commitment of these individuals, projects and facilities 
such as the Fresno County Historical Museum would not be possible.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the Fresno 
County Historical Museum expansion to the Big Fresno Fair Museum. This 
museum will allow the residents of Fresno County to learn and 
appreciate the rich history of our Valley for many generations to come.

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