By Susan Jesuroga In 1953, Harriet Alexander took office as the first woman ever to serve on the Salida City Council. A proponent of creating a museum in Salida, she became chairman of a city committee charged with establishing one. With the help of Byrd Fuqua, they opened the first museum in the front part of the Salida Hot Springs Building in 1954. It included items from Harriet’s personal collection, Byrd’s Native American artifacts and loans and donations from the public. By 1955, they had collected enough artifacts to fill three rooms, and the museum became home to a Porter ...
