Motte Historical Automotive Museum - Menifee, California

The Motte Historical Automotive Museum in Menifee offers a distinctly local perspective on Southern California’s rural past, blending a modest but meaningful antique-car collection with the story of one of the Perris Valley’s earliest pioneering families. Founded through the estate of John and Evelyn Motte and operated under the JEM Foundation, the museum highlights the region’s agricultural heritage, early settlement patterns, and the Motte family’s multi-generation involvement in farming and community development.

The Motte family first established roots in the valley in the late 19th century, when Alphonse Motte and his brothers arrived from France to pursue agriculture. By the mid-20th century, the family’s farming operations, managed by successive generations, spread across Perris, Romoland, Nuevo, and Lakeview, cultivating crops such as potatoes, onions, and grains. As the area evolved, so did the family’s business interests, expanding into real estate and local development while maintaining a strong presence in the agricultural community.

The automotive collection traces its origins to 1951, when John Victor Motte purchased a Chevrolet Touring car for $15 and restored it decades later. That vehicle, a 1926 Chevrolet Touring, remains on display today and represents the beginning of what became a broader family passion for preserving early automobiles. While the museum’s collection is modest compared with larger regional institutions, it offers an intimate look at early motoring through the lens of a pioneering local family, with continued efforts to maintain and showcase restored examples.

The museum is housed in the Motte family’s Romola Farms Barn, constructed in 1985 by Leon E. Motte and architect Robert Morris using salvaged materials. The structure previously served as a produce stand and later housed food vendors before its conversion into a dedicated exhibition space. Its rustic character and Western-influenced design create an appropriate setting for exhibits exploring the area’s transformation from Romola Farms to Romoland, and eventually to the incorporated City of Menifee.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a member of both the National Association of Automobile Museums and the Western Museums Association, the Motte Historical Automotive Museum serves as a community resource aimed at preserving and interpreting local history. Visitors encounter not only early automobiles but also agricultural artifacts and regional narratives, offering an accessible introduction to the heritage of the Perris Valley and its longstanding families.