Valley Relics Museum

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox museum

| name = Valley Relics Museum

| image = Palomino neon sign at Valley Relics Museum 2017-05-07.jpg

| caption = Neon sign from the defunct Palomino Club displayed at the Valley Relics Museum

| alt =

| established = 2013

| dissolved =

| location = 7900 Balboa Blvd.
Van Nuys, CA 91406

| coordinates = {{coord|34| 12|44|N|118|30|3|W|display=it|type:landmark}}

| type = History museum

| collection =

| visitors =

| director = Tommy Gelinas

| website = {{URL|valleyrelicsmuseum.org}}

}}

Valley Relics Museum is a museum located in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. The LA Weekly named the Valley Relics Museum one of its 2017 winners of "Best Of L.A.: Arts & Entertainment".{{Cite news|url=https://www.laweekly.com/best-of/2017/arts-and-entertainment/best-little-history-museum-in-the-valley-8680266|title=BEST LITTLE HISTORY MUSEUM IN THE VALLEY: Valley Relics Museum|work=LA Weekly|access-date=2018-09-16}}

Founded in 2013 by Tommy Gelinas, Valley Relics Museum's collection spans from the 1800s to the present day, with over 20,000 items.{{Cite news|url=https://ktla.com/2015/06/12/learn-something-summer-valley-relics-museum/|title=Learn Something Summer: Valley Relics Museum|work=KTLA|access-date=2018-09-16}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/discover-valley-relics-museum-chatsworth|title=Step Back in Time at the Valley Relics Museum|work=Discover Los Angeles|access-date=2018-09-16|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2013-oct-11-la-me-valley-museum-20131012-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110191458/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/11/local/la-me-valley-museum-20131012|url-status=live|archive-date=November 10, 2013|title=New museum will bring San Fernando Valley's history to life|last=Pool|first=Bob|date=2013-10-11|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-09-16|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}} Notable items include the original signage of popular North Hollywood country music venue the Palomino Club, and other San Fernando Valley landmarks.{{Cite news|url=https://la.eater.com/2017/4/19/15362526/forgotten-restaurant-signs-valley-relics-museum-photos|title=LA's long-gone restaurants live on at the Valley Relics Museum|work=Eater LA|access-date=2018-09-16}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/suburban-glory/|title=If You Grew Up In the Valley, This Museum Will Bring Back Memories - Los Angeles Magazine|date=2017-03-27|work=Los Angeles Magazine|access-date=2018-09-16|language=en-US}} It also houses original costumes designed by and an made by North Hollywood-based rodeo tailor Nudie Cohn, costume designer for country music stars as well as Elvis Presley; two of the "Nudiemobiles", cars that were customized by Cohn, that remain in Cohn's family are housed at the museum (Cohen's 1975 Cadillac Eldorado convertible and 1964 Pontiac Safari wagon).{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/06/26/autos/nudie-cohn-cadillac/index.html|title=Driving Nudie Cohn's dazzling Cadillac|work=CNN Money|access-date=2018-09-16}}

The museum also houses items from outside the valley, including the West Hollywood Tiffany Theater sign. The museum was also instrumental in preserving and housing the Tail o' the Pup hot dog stand, previously located in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.{{Cite web|url=http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2017/06/tail_o_the_pup_hot_dog_he.php|title=Tail o' the Pup headed to Valley Relics Museum|website=LA Observed|language=en|access-date=2018-09-16}}

In addition, the collection includes over 150 BMX bikes from the 1970s to the 1980s (many were manufactured in the San Fernando Valley). The museum's total collection also includes vintage neon signs, postcards and fast food memorabilia, as well as a letter written by Isaac Newton Van Nuys, a 19th-century businessman and namesake of its Van Nuys neighborhood.

In 2018, the museum relocated from Chatsworth to a location near the Van Nuys Airport. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, despite increase in size of the Van Nuys location (over 10,000 square feet), the museum will only display about 45 percent of its collection at a time. It was only able to present 30 percent of its collection at a time at its Chatsworth location.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2018/08/04/the-valley-relics-museum-is-moving-to-van-nuys-for-even-more-history-and-more-room/|title=The Valley Relics Museum is moving to Van Nuys, for even more history and more room|work=Los Angeles Daily News|access-date=2018-09-16}}