California note
Fullerton helped send the electric guitar around the world
The Leo Fender Gallery at the Fullerton Museum Center connects the city to electric guitars, basses, local workshops, and a music story that reached far beyond Orange County.
Fullerton has college-town energy, old downtown blocks, and north Orange County suburbia. It also has a music story with a much wider reach. Leo Fender lived in Fullerton. His important designs and products were made in Fullerton shops and factories.
The Leo Fender Gallery at the Fullerton Museum Center feels local and big at the same time. The gallery has focused on instruments, patent drawings, ads, electric basses, custom guitars, and the path from Fender’s early radio shop on Spadra Road, now Harbor Boulevard, to later work at G&L.
You do not need to be a gear expert to enjoy the idea. A practical shop skill from one Southern California city helped change the sound of country, blues, rock, pop, and countless garage bands. Fullerton is part of that sound.
Confirm the museum’s exhibit schedule before going. The Leo Fender Gallery is a steady anchor, but rotating exhibits and hours can change what you see on a particular day.
Where to see it
Fullerton Museum Center, 301 N. Pomona Avenue. Confirm exhibits and hours before visiting.
Sources
Sources for this story
Reviewed July 2, 2026
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