Summary
Organization name
Friends of the Irving Museums
Tax id (EIN)
20-0591363
Causes
Arts & Humanities
Operating Budget
Less than $100,000
Counties Served
Dallas
Address
PO Box 170142Irving, TX 75017
You saved the sign... Now, we need your help to GET THE MAPS OFF THE FLOOR!
Help create safe, professional storage for Irving’s historic maps, artwork, and artifacts.
The Irving Archives preserves the records, photographs, maps, artwork, and artifacts that tell the story of our community. But part of this important collection does not yet have the safe storage it deserves.
When the archives storage room was completed in 2019, available funding allowed the museum to reuse existing shelving and install a section of donated compact shelving. A large portion of the room, however, remained unfinished. Today, historic maps, framed artwork, and other two-dimensional materials are stacked against walls, while many artifacts are stored on folding tables, crates, or the floor. This makes the collections difficult to access and leaves irreplaceable materials vulnerable to damage.
For North Texas Giving Day, the Friends of the Irving Museums has set a goal of raising $8,000 toward the installation of eleven professionally designed archival shelving units. The Irving Archives and Museum has committed an additional $15,000 in its upcoming budget, meaning every dollar raised through the campaign will help leverage nearly two dollars in museum funding.
The shelving system has been designed specifically for the archives and the materials it will hold, including historic maps, framed works, community artifacts, and limited-edition bronze sculptures by Robert Glen, the artist who created the Mustangs of Las Colinas. The shelving will be raised above the floor and fitted with protective top canopies to help reduce the risk of water damage.
This project is about more than getting objects off the floor. Proper storage will allow staff to safely organize, catalog, photograph, and retrieve more than 100 items that can then be added to the museum’s digital archives portal. Teachers, students, researchers, families, and community members will all benefit from greater access to Irving’s history.
The Irving Archives has served the community for more than forty years, and interest in its resources continues to grow. In 2025 alone, staff responded to 298 research inquiries, while the launch of the online digital portal has created new opportunities for the public to explore the collection.
Help us raise $8,000 to get the maps off the floor and give Irving’s history the safe, accessible home it deserves.
Mission
The Friends of the Irving Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the ongoing mission of all of the City of Irving museums. We are a 100% volunteer organization such that 100% of funds raised are available for museum programs.
ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF THE IRVING MUSEUMS:
Formed in 2003, the Friends of the Irving Museums was created to advocate for and support museums in Irving, Texas. However, the organization’s roots trace back to 1975 as a truly community-driven effort by dedicated citizens of Irving. This group of community volunteers worked toward the long-term goal of establishing a museum for the city. After years of advocacy and fundraising, the Irving Archives & Museum (IAM) opened its doors in 2020.
The Friends of the Irving Museums is committed to engaging and serving Irving’s community through meaningful outreach, cultural programming, and exhibits that celebrate the diverse heritage of the city. The organization has collaborated with other nonprofits, including the Irving Heritage Society and the Irving Black Arts Council, to promote cultural inclusivity. Among its many contributions, the Friends sponsors free Second Saturdays at IAM, supports the Smithsonian Spark!Lab, provides scholarships and transportation stipends to schools and youth camps, funded the Mustangs' 40th Anniversary Celebration, and organized the pep rally fundraiser, “1st & 10: GO BIG State!” which allowed them to meet and surpass their $10,000 fundraising goal to save the Big State neon sign!
The Friends is a 501(c)3 that provides essential support to the Irving museums. This support funds exhibitions, public programs, educational opportunities for students, and care of our historical collections. Your contribution will help us continue to bring quality programming and learning experiences to our community.
ABOUT IRVING'S MUSEUMS:
The City of Irving’s museums preserve and share powerful stories that connect our community to its past and inspire future generations.
At the Irving Archives and Museum, visitors explore The Irving Story, a nationally award-winning permanent exhibition that traces our community’s history from early settlers to today. The museum also houses Texas’s first Smithsonian Spark!Lab, where young innovators engage in hands-on activities that blend STEM, art, history, and creativity. With multiple gallery and program spaces, the museum hosts a variety of traveling exhibitions and its nationally-recognized community partnership program.
The Ruth Paine House Museum tells the events leading up to President Kennedy’s assassination through the unique lens of two young mothers. In 1963, Ruth Paine befriended and sheltered Marina Oswald, while Lee Harvey Oswald spent the night before the assassination in the Paine home.
The Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center, located in one of the oldest freedman communities in Texas, interprets the African American experience from 1619 to the present day. Its three historic structures and exhibitions on Bear Creek’s unique history bring this powerful story to life.
The Mustangs of Las Colinas Museum and Visitor Center welcomes visitors from around the world to discover Robert Glen’s iconic sculpture and serves as a gateway to Irving’s vibrant cultural attractions.
Needs
Historic maps, framed artwork, and artifacts in the Irving Archives are currently stored against walls, on folding tables, on crates, and on the floor. The Friends of the Irving Museums is raising $8,000 to help install professional archival shelving that will protect these irreplaceable materials and make them easier to catalog, digitize, and share with the public.
The Irving Archives and Museum has committed $15,000 toward the project, so North Texas Giving Day donations will leverage nearly two dollars in museum funding for every dollar raised.
Help us get the maps off the floor and preserve Irving’s history for generations to come.
Equity Statement
The Friends of the Irving Museums is committed to helping the museums serve and reflect Irving’s multicultural community—one of the most diverse in the United States. Through support for programs, exhibitions, and community partnerships, the Friends helps expand access to meaningful cultural and historical experiences and supports opportunities for people from across our community to see their histories, cultures, and experiences represented.
Media gallery
Organization Data
Irving, TX 75017