Sam & Alfreda Maloof Foundation

Rancho Cucamonga, United States

4.8

18 reviews

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 909-980-0412
Website:
www.malooffoundation.org
Address:
5131 Carnelian St, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91701
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
2.7 miMetro
2.8 miOmni
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Today

Today –
Local time (Rancho Cucamonga) 12:58 AM Thursday, June 5, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
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Description

Specialties

Our unique and beautiful botanical garden features a water-​wise garden alongside the historical residence of Sam Maloof, a famed woodworker whose mission was to promote and enable other artists to do what they love.

The botanical garden and his treasured house are available to the public, with The Foundation seeking to inspire woodworkers, artists, craftspeople, and collectors by leading educational tours, exhibits, and programs.

We look forward to seeing you for our Centennial events, which begin January 2016 and celebrate what would be Sam Maloof’s 100th birthday. There will be a unique and special event held each month of 2016 so be sure to check out our calendar to join!

History

Established in 1994.

Sam Maloof (1916 – 2009) was one of the foremost woodworkers of his time.

In 1990, the Sam Maloof residence and woodshop were deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Today the relocated residence is open as a living museum. Once again, each room is filled with treasures that give this unique home its spirit.

The Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation, established in 1994, is committed to creating a pre-​eminent center that preserves the Maloof’s legacy and fosters the arts and crafts movement. The work of the Foundation recognizes the ever increasing role of the crafts in our world of machine-​made products — the reconnecting of human values with natural forms and materials.

A principal responsibility of the Foundation is protection and conservation of the art, furnishings, structures and grounds entrusted to it. The residence itself is one of the most treasured parts of the collection.

Meet the Business Owner

Sam M.

Business Owner

The story of Sam Maloof (1916 – 2009) is the quintessential story of a first generation American, born to immigrant parents who struggled to support their large family. From this inauspicious beginning, through ceaseless dedication to his craft voicing singular artistic vision, Sam not only earned a living doing what he loved best, woodworking, he found fame and fortune as the first craftsman awarded the prestigious MacArthur Foundation «Genius» Fellowship.

His vision exemplifies the innovation and creativity of mid-​20th century California arts and crafts. Maloof furniture, including iconic rocking chairs enjoyed by U.S. presidents and everyday admirers, is represented in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian and other public and private art collections.

Sam was a man who lived and worked with passion. He found success in love and business and surrounded himself with an equally passionate team.

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18 reviews of Sam & Alfreda Maloof Foundation

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Escondido, CA
The Maloof house and tour was such’a beautiful time spent with my husband and 10 strangers. The house has a warm and welcoming ambiance. The art work, pottery, photos and woods work will definitely inspire the artist within us.
Place rating: 5
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
I had a great time here. Beautiful grounds. Nice nature habitat. The museum has very interesting art exhibit. The tour was awesome.
Place rating: 5
Hacienda Heights, CA
I had an absolute blast here.
For 10 dollars, you can book a legacy tour that is approximately 1.5 hours long. There is another tour that they offer for every other Saturday that is longer in duration but also costs a little more. You can also pay a little more for lunch (packaged from Panera I believe).
Our tour guide was lovely and really knew just about everything about Sam and Alfreda Maloof. The house was spectacular and you really just have to go see it in person to understand. I like that we were able (with permission) to touch certain furniture. At the end of our tour, they let us sit in one of his chairs. It was the most comfortable wooden chairs I have ever sat on, that’s for sure. I have a greater appreciation for woodworking now.
Note: Cameras were not allowed in the house, but we were allowed to take pictures on the outside. There is an area where we were able to store our purses safely.
I definitely recommend coming here. It is not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
Place rating: 5
Irvine, CA
This Legacy Tour ($ 10) included a 1.5 hour tour of the house by a very pleasant, knowledgeable, and entertaining guide. The groups are kept appreciatively small. Quality pieces of furniture, with unbelievably high price tags. I now have a new appreciation for woodworking; I wasn’t so taken with the furniture styles, but loved the whimsical door locks, window frames, and how Maloof made some of his chair surfaces so smooth and shiny. Very fascinating, entertaining, and inspirational.
Note: large purses or cameras are not allowed inside the house, during the tour.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Found this gem just yesterday when I was browsing Unilocal and I immediately got in the car and made my way there. I had no idea a place like this existed just five minutes from my parents’ place!
$ 10 for a guided tour of the house, and it is just such a beautiful house (no photography). Each one of Sam’s pieces looked incredibly well-​made and visitors are allowed to touch the furniture but not the art pieces. The tour was only about an hour, but it is well worth your time. After the tour, I walked around the discovery garden where they have art pieces and a whole lot of different types of plants. I took a few photos and left shortly after – my whole trip only lasted about 1.5 hours.
If you’re a local, definitely come check it out. If you’re not, don’t come expecting Huntington Library. Just think of it as another relaxing way to spend your Saturday afternoon.
Place rating: 5
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
I am lucky enough to be a docent here.
When I first visited the foundation my heart was overflowed with a peaceful joy. I learned the story of the house and found out about the wood worker Sam Maloof. I knew I wanted to be a part of such a wonderful piece of history in the Inland Empire’s own back yard. This is a true artistic oasis in the heart of Rancho Cucamonga. It is beautiful. The house, the garden, and the art contained in this space are beyond important Come see it for yourself, but be prepared to fall in love.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
I visited the Maloof foundation a couple of years ago and really enjoyed the tour. I believe the tour guide said he had personally worked with Sam Maloof. He knew a lot about woodworking and the pieces around the home. You’re able to walk freely around most of the house and get a close look at all the objects and rooms. The home is nestled in the foothills near Mt. Baldy and it’s a really beautiful area. They also host family friendly events occasionally.
It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.
Place rating: 4
Temple City, CA
You can tell the home of Sam and Alfreda Maloof was really a labor of love. The house itself, the grounds, the furniture Mr. Maloof built, the gardens — everything was beautiful. The tour isn’t too long, just an hour and at the end you get to sit in the very chair that Sam built himself. Purchasing a chair though? whoo… I think they said it runs around 15 to 25,000 dollars.
I love that throughout the tour, they’re OK with you touching all the furniture. Apparently skin oils are good for the wood products.
Place rating: 5
Irvine, CA
The Maloof house is a magnificent legacy and reflection of the life of Sam and Alfreda Maloof, master furniture maker and artisan. Although their house no longer sits on its original location (now where the 210 freeway sits) it’s still beautiful against the backdrop of the foothills.
The docent led tour takes you throughout the house, and there’s plenty of examples of Sam’s work inside and the art that he and Alfreda collected.
This isn’t the Huntington Library, and it’s not the Eames, but if you can come out to see it, I think it’s worth your time.
Place rating: 5
Louisville, KY
Sam Maloof, who died last year, was a furniture designer and woodworker from Chino. This is where you come to relish his legacy.
Are you sold yet?
Well, he was darned successful. His chairs are in the Smithsonian, where he was once called «America’s most renowned contemporary furniture craftsman.» It’s a shame he became so renowned, since that basically means I can’t afford to buy anything he made.
But I’m very glad to be able to afford a tour of his old home ($ 10), where I can at least briefly sit in one of his chairs, and gaze at his other masterpieces.
If you’re turned on by artisan woodworking, then by all means, it’s worth a trip here. If that’s not necessarily your cup o’ joe, a visit still has several things working in your favor. (1) The house and gardens are gorgeous; (2) they also have a gallery here that currently includes some of the art the Maloofs collected during their lifetimes; and (3) the people working and volunteering here are really, really nice. Our docent/​tour guide was awesome.
Place rating: 5
Fontana, CA
Today was my first time going to the Maloof Foundation and I have to say, the gardens are beautiful! If you live in the area and have never been, I suggest you go the next time you get the chance. I didn’t get to take the house tour, but I’ve heard amazing things about it.
By the way, their employees are so nice! The woman at the visitation center was extremely helpful and friendly! I’ll definitely be back soon to check out the tour.
Place rating: 5
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Thank You Unilocal,if it weren’t for you i wouldn’t have found this place…
I took my 15yr old cousin with me one Saturday afternoon, and we had a blast. So many pretty flowers with it’s vibrant colors which make great photo opps…
We missed the tour when we went, so we definitely plan to return.
Who knew you could find a place like this in Rancho: P
Place rating: 5
Westminster, CA
One of the best kept secrets in Southern California! Beautiful house and garden. Historic site. Wonderfully designed furniture by one of the best woodworkers in the world. Great collection of Native Amerian and Mexican pottery, rugs, and wood works by other great American craft artists.
Place rating: 4
Covina, CA
A nice little place to see if you don’t have any particular plans on the weekend (now Saturdays only).
At the start of the house tour, I thought how ridiculous to spend over twenty thousand for a wood chair? Be patient for enlightenment. At the end of the tour, they let you sit in an original Maloof chair. It feels SO GOOD like Sam made a mold of your ass to carve it personally for you. A perfect chair for those without much junk in their trunk.
Place rating: 5
Irvine, CA
Even though it was pouring rain, it was a great day to visit the Maloof Residence and Gardens today. We went for the Mexican Folk Art Festival and Open House. The Mexican art was much better than we anticipated, and there were some beautiful ceramics and artwork for sale.
We were given a free lunch of tamales, enchiladas, rice, and beans while we waited for the house to open. I walked around the garden a little, even though the rain was really coming down. There are fruit trees (fig, lemon, tangerine, etc) everywhere along with cacti and other native plants, and if you look carefully, you’ll see art hidden among the plants.
The house itself is amazing. Besides the beautiful wood furniture crafted by Sam Maloof, you’ll see an impressive collection of art and ceramics. I loved the relaxation/​reading room, and don’t miss the canoe hanging from the ceiling and the spiral staircase.
Place rating: 5
Orinda, CA
The house and gardens are amazing. Walking around, you feel inspired to make art a part of your life, at every moment. Stone-​bodied ostriches, balancing whimsical metal sculptures, a profusion of flowers, a view of the Cucamonga valley. On top of the world!
Place rating: 5
Pasadena, CA
I was sad to read of Sam Maloof’s passing this afternoon. Of course it made me remember my trip to the Foundation last summer. We got to see Sam sitting outside, sorting through mail, chatting with his wife.
The grounds are beautiful, the docents are knowledgeable and engaging.
The art collections, the furniture, the architecture… it’s all amazing.
A tour of the foundation is like a guided tour through history, art, craftsmanship and a beautiful love story all in one. I can’t recommend it enough.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Sam Maloof is an American icon — a master woodworker whose signature rocker was in the opening collection of the Smithsonian’s Renwick Museum of American Arts and Crafts, who received a MacArthur «Genius» grant, and who is still — at the age of 93 — working every day in his studio. The rocker has a 6-​year waiting list and costs $ 25,000 — and is absolutely worth it. His foundation does great work and will sustain his legacy after he goes, including his home and studio.
He still teaches «A Day with Sam Maloof» through UC Riverside, and Unilocal would need to add another star for me to rate it. How’s this for a comparison — imagine being a cellist and getting to spend a day with Yo Yo Ma. Or being a painter and spending a day with Pablo Picasso. Or being a dancer and spending a day with Mikhail Baryshnikov. That’s how good this day is for woodworkers and those who love arts, crafts and working with their hands.