Imperial Valley community archive exhibition opens at El Centro Library
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Local history is coming alive this week as a deeply personal look at the people, families, and milestones that shaped the region goes on display.
The El Centro Library officially opened its highly anticipated Imperial Valley Community Archive Exhibition Monday, welcoming the community to explore a curated collection of local historical keepsakes.
Titled “Our History. Our Stories. Our Community,” the self-guided exhibition features photographs, historic documents, and unique keepsakes entirely contributed by residents.
The initiative was launched to preserve memories and provide a grassroots perspective on the history of the Imperial Valley for future generations.
Visitors navigating the display can explore dedicated sections representing the history of local law enforcement, regional schools, and the agricultural industry that built the valley.
For project creator and library assistant Ruby Duran Ramirez, building the collection was a profound learning experience.
“I didn’t realize how pulled in I was going to get into it and how much more I learned about our valley,” Duran Ramirez said. “And how many people in our community have contributed, learning about our community, bringing people forward, learning these stories about what built us and who built us.”
Duran Ramirez hopes the exhibit shifts how residents view the library as an institution, viewing it not just as a building for books, but as a hub for personal empowerment and lifelong growth.
“Remind the community that the library is a place for everyone, it’s a place for learning,” she added. “It’s a place for encouragement to pursue higher education on your own as well.”
Organizers encourage visitors to drop any preconceived expectations and step through the doors with an open mind, promising that everyone who attends will walk away having discovered something cool or learned something entirely new about the Imperial Valley.
While the exhibit features sprawling coverage of civic life, Duran Ramirez noted that one particular piece of local history stands out as her favorite: A display dedicated to the historic Barbara Worth Hotel fire, which includes rare, original on-scene audio recorded by KXO Radio broadcasters.
“My favorite part of the exhibit is we have a part of the Barbara Worth fire, and we have the original audio of when two people from KXO radio went in and was on scene, and we do have the audio of that,” Duran Ramirez said.
Location: El Centro Library, 1198 N. Imperial Ave. (Community Rooms) Dates: Monday, Sept. 21 through Saturday, Sept. 26 Admission: Free (No library staff check-in or appointments required) Hours: Monday–Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, contact the El Centro Library at 760-337-4565.
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