Los Angelos, USA, October 27th, 2026, FinanceWire
The museum, scheduled to open in late 2027, will preserve more than a century of Los Angeles history while providing USC students with hands-on experience in museum development.
The Al Malaikah Shriners Museum announced in August 2026 the development of a new museum inside the historic Shrine Auditorium at 665 West Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles. Today, they share stories of their successful first semester as they look forward to the next semester. The museum, being developed with the participation of undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Southern California (USC), is expected to open in late 2027. Now, halfway through the first semester – Al Malaikah Shriners and USC students plan on doubling their staff and productivity for the next semester.
“We are experiencing overwhelming success,” said Adelheid Waumboldt. “We are doing things old school – meeting in person, working together in groups, receiving direct supervision from cohort leaders who are experienced in their fields, and ultimately – building a museum together.”
Located on the auditorium’s third floor, the museum will preserve and exhibit historical photographs, documents, ceremonial regalia, musical instruments, architectural records and other artifacts reflecting the Al Malaikah Shriners’ history and contributions to Southern California.
“Working at this museum has been helpful in seeing how I can apply architecture skills to a different design discipline,” said Mipo Okeowo, from the exhibition design cohort. “I’ve learned to utilize an unbiased historical lens to study a community I am less familiar with and to then showcase what I have learned to the future visitors through exhibition design.”
The museum will also document the Shrine Auditorium’s role in Los Angeles’ cultural and civic history, including its association with community events, entertainment and philanthropic initiatives connected to Shriners Children’s.
USC Students Participate in Museum Development
As a foundation of the project, USC undergraduate and graduate students are contributing to all areas of museum development, including architecture, collections management, cataloguing, exhibition design, photography, research, public relations and project operations.
The initiative provides students with practical experience in developing a cultural institution while working alongside experienced professionals and mentors.
Edson Barillas, a third-year student participating in the architecture team, described the professional experience gained through the project.
“Working with Kalani Jensen, the leader of the Architecture cohort, has given me the opportunity as an architecture student to work directly with someone who has extensive professional experience in the field,” Barillas said.
Museum CEO Raffi Barsamian acknowledged the students’ contributions and the professionals supporting their work.
“It is a great pleasure to work with our USC Interns,” Barsamian said. “They are doing outstanding work and I am very proud of our cohort leaders for dedicating their time and expertise to mentor these young students. I am looking forward to the beginning of the next semester.”
Museum to Preserve Historic Collections and Community Heritage
The Al Malaikah Shriners Museum will feature collections documenting the organisation’s ceremonial traditions, community activities and philanthropic history.
Planned exhibits include historic fez hats, instruments used by Shriners’ bands, memorabilia from philanthropic football games, archival documents and photographs. The museum is also exploring potential collaborative exhibitions featuring ancient Egyptian artifacts and historically significant works connected to Shriner symbolism.
The project will incorporate archival research, conservation, digital storytelling and exhibition development to make historically significant materials accessible to future generations.
The museum is currently focused on fundraising, partnerships and exhibition planning ahead of its anticipated late-2027 opening.
“Right now I am focused on fundraising and building partnerships that will fulfill our museum-related goals,” said museum director Adelheid Waumboldt. “Additionally, we are recruiting for next semester and increasing the number of cohorts as well as the number of students in each cohort.”
About Al Malaikah Shriners Museum
The Al Malaikah Shriners Museum is a developing cultural institution located within Los Angeles’ historic Shrine Auditorium. The museum aims to preserve and present the history of the Al Malaikah Shriners, the Shrine Auditorium and their connections to Southern California’s cultural, community and philanthropic heritage.
Scheduled to open in late 2027, the project involves USC students and professional mentors in research, preservation, exhibition development and museum operations.
For more information, visit www.shrinersmuseum.org.