The City of Folsom and the Folsom Historical Society are partnering to bring a one-of-a-kind, family-friendly cultural attraction to Historic Sutter Street ' The Museum of Wonder and Delight featuring the Collections of Dolph Gotelli.

The museum will be located in the parking structure retail space near the Folsom History Museum and Pioneer Village, which are both operated by the Folsom Historical Society. The museum's first exhibit will coincide with the opening of the Historic District ice skating rink in November. The full museum will open next spring.

'This new museum has the potential to be a huge cultural attraction, stimulating visitor traffic and economic activity during construction of the adjacent Historic Folsom Station Project,' says Mayor Kerri Howell. 'It will bring daytime visitors and families to the Sutter Street area and offer a family-friendly visitor experience. The new museum will provide a substantial public benefit to the Historic District.'

On Sept. 9, the Folsom City Council agreed to lease the parking structure retail space to the Folsom Historical Society for three years for the sum of $1 per month. The agreement, approved on a 5-0 vote, also includes a provision to reimburse the Folsom Historical Society for City-approved tenant improvements.

Gotelli is known internationally as an expert and collector on the subject of Christmas celebrations and rituals around the world. He has assembled one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of 19^th and 20^th century toys, ornaments, decorations and folk art. Gotelli combines his collections to create miniature fantasy worlds designed to stimulate the viewer's imagination and to evoke memories of childhood.

A professor at the University of California, Davis, Gotelli is the author of 'Wonder & Delight, A Dolph Gotelli Christmas', which documents his collections, exhibitions and installations. His works were featured in a special holiday collection at the Folsom History Museum in 2011 that attracted a large number of visitors.

To learn more about Gotelli, visit www.dolphgotelli.net. For more information about the museum, contact info@folsomhistorymuseum.org.