The early museum focused on the Colorado Desert and the Cahuilla and other Indigenous Americans. The museum grew and was temporarily relocated within a section of the town's library. During World War II, the museum was operated by biologist T. D. A. Cockerell.
Initially, the museum specialized in artifacts from the Colorado Desert and the Cahuilla people.  It later moved to a temporary location within the town library during World War II. The museum's operations were overseen by biologist T. D. A. Cockerell at that time.