Valley Relics Museum: Preserving the 818’s History One Neon Sign at a Time

When people hear “The Valley,” they either think of a reality TV show or blonde girls in the ’80s saying, “Like, totally for sure.” But there’s a lot more to this part of Los Angeles than the stereotypes, and Valley Relics Museum is a perfect example of that.

Valley Relics Museum has been on my to-do list for a long time. But like most Angelenos, I need a really good reason to leave my bubble. (Nothing personal, Valley people.) So when the opportunity finally presented itself, I made the drive to Van Nuys to see if it lived up to the hype.

What Is the Valley Relics Museum?

The Valley Relics Museum is part museum and part time capsule. Founded by Tommy Gelinas in 2013, the museum collects and preserves the history of the San Fernando Valley.

The only way to describe the collection is a smorgasbord of local “relics.” You’ll find everything from neon signs that once hung outside local restaurants and bars to movie memorabilia and even old menus and advertisements.

So, if you’re looking for a highly curated collection that focuses on Hollywood history, you won’t find that here.

What You’ll See at the Valley Relics Museum

Valley Relics Museum is divided between two very full airplane hangars.

Hangar 1

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When I walked into the hangar, I didn’t know where to look: right, left, straight or up.

The procession of packed display cases starts with a double-wide dedicated to actor Jack Oakie and his wife Victoria Horne Oakie. It had everything from film props and letters to accessories and expired passports.

Around the corner you’ll find a mix of Hollywood memorabilia, including a small shrine dedicated to the 1976 film Bad News Bears and items donated by Jayne Mansfield’s business manager.

Before you know it, you’re surrounded by toys, stuffed animals, Bob’s Big Boy menus, small models of iconic LA restaurants and even fossils. The more I walked around the more I felt like Jack Skellington asking, “What’s this? What’s this!?”

The star of this hangar, in my opinion, is Jeff Spicoli’s 1967 Volkswagen Microbus from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. (The movie was filmed throughout the San Fernando Valley.) 

The bus has a wild backstory. Robert Skinner found the van at Steve’s Auto Shop in Thousand Oaks and spent a year refurbishing it before it eventually found a home at Valley Relics Museum between special appearances.

The museum also has a smattering of other Fast Times memorabilia, including props, clothing and original copies of the novel and screenplay.

Hangar 2

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Between the two hangars, Hangar 2 was my favorite. I could probably walk in there a dozen times and still find something new to stare at. But once you realize there are 37 neon signs hung on all four walls and from the ceiling, that’s not an understatement.

When I say that Valley Relics Museum is like a San Fernando Valley time capsule, this is what I mean. With signs ranging from the 1940s to the 2000s, and many from businesses and restaurants that no longer exist, this room singlehandedly keeps their memory alive.

There’s even a neon Marilyn Monroe sign in the collection. It’s a fitting addition considering she lived in Van Nuys and attended Van Nuys High School.

Tommy Gelinas has said that people will bring their parents with Alzheimer’s, and after walking around for a while, the signs will start bringing back memories and get them talking about them.

The museum’s holy grail is the sign from the Palomino Club. Over the years it hosted music legends like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and more.

As much as I loved this part of the museum, it left a giant Nudie Mobile-shaped hole in my heart.

Legendary country western designer Nudie Cohn used to have a store in the San Fernando Valley on Lankershim Blvd. So of course Valley Relics would have a Nudie Mobile in its collection. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t the main reason for my visit.

So when I didn’t see it (and how could you not?), I asked one of the museum employees about it. He said the silver-dollar-lined 1975 Cadillac El Dorado is now at Nudie’s Honky Tonk in Nashville.

If I’d known that, I would have gone after seeing the other Nudie Mobile at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

While I was bummed, the free pinball machines did help.

Should You Visit the Valley Relics Museum?

Valley Relics Museum is a unique, off-the-beaten-path museum that probably won’t appeal to everyone. It’s small, niche and knows exactly what it is.

I didn’t grow up in the San Fernando Valley. But I have witnessed how quickly LA destroys historically significant places and things rather than preserve them. After visiting Valley Relics, I think LA needs more people like Tommy Gelinas who are fighting to preserve its history before it completely disappears.

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