Are You A Nature Lover?

The Natural History Museum is currently accepting applications for new Docents & Volunteers. We’re a 100% volunteer based organization and operate year round through the contributions and efforts of those who support the NHM with their time and enthusiasm for the Natural World. If you have an interest in becoming a Docent or volunteer for the Natural History Museum we would like to talk with you. No experience is necessary. Just a willingness to learn and share your love of Natural History.

Prospective Docents need to be at least 18 years of age. If you’re a teen age nature lover we are also accepting applications for High School students for our new VolunTeen program.

All prospective volunteers will be subject to background screen and interview.

If you’d like to get involved with the Natural History Museum please contact us here to fill out an application.

Also come like our Facebook Fan Page!

This Is How Our Garden Grows…

The Native Garden at the Natural History Museum of Santa Maria is in full bloom. It has been a few years since the opening of the Native Garden and we’re very excited with the progress and growth of the garden. The pictures don’t tell the whole story. You have to come see it and smell all the wonderful scents for yourself!

Calling All Collectors

Are you a collector? Do you have an amazing collection you would like to share with the public? The Natural History Museum of Santa Maria is looking for collections to feature in our collectors exhibit. Collection submissions can range from the natural history focused to the whimsical or traditional.

If you’re interested in sharing your collection with us, please contact us here with a brief summary of your collection along with photos.

Penny Project

Your contributions towards our Penny Project will help us maintain our Native Garden.

For more information on the Native Garden please click here.

In Memoriam

Onorina “Rena” Perry

Co-Founder, The Natural History Museum of Santa Maria

Onorina Rollini Perry passed away suddenly but peacefully on October 15. Rena was born January 24, 1928 in Santa Maria to John and Caterina Rollini. She grew up on her parent’s dairy farm and attended Santa Maria High School, class of 1946. She married a Santa Maria native, Samuel (Sam) Perry, an officer in the Army Air Corps, during World War II. They had one child, Virginia. Rena and Sam built their own home on Miller Street where she was still living happily until her death.

Rena was much beloved and remembered as a Camp Fire Girls leader and a member of the Miller Street Mother’s Club. She was an inspiring home maker and a dedicated fruit and vegetable gardener. She knit and sewed many items for her family, most notably her granddaughter Lindy’s wedding dress. Rena was a patient teacher, and especially enjoyed teaching her granddaughters and great-grandsons how to make her blackberry pie. Pies made from her backyard fruit were favorites of everyone who knew her.

Rena and Sam founded Perry’s Electric Motors & Control in 1967. She was active in the business until it was sold after Sam’s passing in 1989. She and her daughter founded the Natural History Museum, Santa Maria, in 1996 and she volunteered there as secretary/treasurer and as a docent until the week of her passing. Also in retirement Rena enjoyed traveling through the United States with her women friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Virginia Perry Souza; her granddaughters, Angela Hoxsey, Paula Stein and Lindy Boisvert; grandsons-in-law David Hoxsey and Joel Boisvert; and great grandsons Ellis Boisvert, Samuel Boisvert and Matthew Stein.