Modesto, California

==Arts and culture==
The [[Rockabilly]] genre of music originated in Modesto with the formation of Maddox Brothers & Rose on KTRB Radio in 1937. The "Hillbilly Boogie" sound, featuring the string slapping percussive sound by Fred Maddox, would become popular on a national scale and would later be the foundation for Rockabilly.  Fred Maddox's bass is housed at the Experience Project Museum in Seattle, Washington.<ref>{{cite web|title=Modesto Music, History of Rock'n'Roll, Rockabilly, Maddox Brothers & Rose|url=http://www.modestomusichistory.com/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=www.modestomusichistory.com}}</ref>

The city's annual [[Modesto International Architecture Festival|Architectural Festival]] honors Modesto's history as a testing ground for [[mid-century modern]] architecture during the 1940s and 1950s. Modesto's mid-century buildings have been featured four times in Museum of Modern Art publications.

Filmmaker [[George Lucas]], who was born in Modesto, graduated from [[Thomas Downey High School]] in 1962 and attended Modesto Junior College, immortalized the city in his award-winning 1973 film ''[[American Graffiti]]''. Although it was not shot in Modesto, the film portrayed the spirit of [[cruising (driving)|cruising]] and friendship on Modesto's 10th and 11th Streets in 1962, and inspired a revival of interest in 1950s pop culture. Modesto celebrates Graffiti Summer annually in June. It attracts thousands of visitors and car enthusiasts, along with hundreds of classic and [[antique cars]].

The city has realized the importance of its connection to the award-winning film, and the city is preparing new tourist attractions and events to welcome ''Graffiti'' tourists as the Modesto Convention and Visitors bureau report that the leading request for information is ''American Graffiti''-related. Downtown Modesto as it stands has the Modesto Historic Cruise Route on 10th and 11th St, the Legends of the Cruise Walk of Fame, and the Classic Community Mural series of large scale art celebrating the history of ''American Graffiti''.

Music festivals include SummerFest, the Downtown summer concert series, featuring [[Chris Isaak]], [[Hootie & the Blowfish]], [[The Doobie Brothers]] and [[Styx (band)|Styx]].

X-Fest, deriving from its real name [[Xclamation Festival]], was a 21-and-over music festival in downtown Modesto. Begun in 2000, X-Fest evolved into a large outdoor event stretching for 15 blocks and featuring the world's largest disco which occupied four blocks on its own. In 2008 X-Fest featured 50 bands and a crowd of 15,000 people. Much of the profits ended up in local non-profit charities. Some business owners and citizens of Modesto complained of a rowdy and often drunk [[Mardi Gras]] atmosphere exhibited at X-fest. The last X-fest occurred in Modesto in 2015.

Located in downtown Modesto is the State Theater with music acts and independent films.

Downtown Modesto hosts a monthly Art Walk, with local artists displaying art for sale, artist demos, local gallery shows, in a multi-venue map self-guided tour.

===Music and performing arts===
The [[Modesto Symphony Orchestra]], which finds its home at the Gallo Center, held their first performance when Modesto had a population of 17,000 in 1931 and continues to be a staple in the community.<ref>[http://www.modestosymphony.org/history.sj Modesto Symphony Official Web Site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405114442/http://www.modestosymphony.org/history.sj |date=April 5, 2009 }}</ref> Not to be outdone by the Symphony, MoBand (Modesto Band of Stanislaus County), established in 1919, is one of the oldest continuously performing bands in the U.S.<ref>[http://www.modestoband.org/history.aspx MoBand Official Web Site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624144856/http://www.modestoband.org/history.aspx |date=June 24, 2009 }}</ref> The group performs a free 6-week summer concerts-in-the-park series with its 130 volunteer musicians.

Modesto is also home to Townsend Opera, founded in 1983 by the late Modesto-born opera singer Buck Townsend, and Modesto Performing Arts, as well as the Gallo Center for the Arts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallocenter.org |title=Gallo Center for the Arts}}</ref> Modesto is also home to the area's leading professional ballet company, Central West Ballet.

The Mexican culture and traditions are displayed by the Ballet Folklorico Group "Casa Cultural Tradiciones". Folklorico groups are often at Modesto events, sharing their culture with traditional dance and colorful attire.

The MAMA, Modesto Area Music Awards are held each October. Local radio stations and promoters nominate local bands and voting happens online. There is a black tie ceremony and trophies are given to winners in multiple categories. A lifetime achievement award is also presented. The MAMAs were created by Chris Murphy and Chris Ricci to support and encourage local musicians.

=== Historic places ===

====McHenry Mansion====
{{main|McHenry Mansion}}
The '''McHenry Mansion''' is a restored historic home located at Fifteenth and I Streets. The McHenry family built the house in 1883 after the patriarch of the family, Oramil McHenry, left $20,000 in his will.<ref name=":0" /> The mansion was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP) in 1978.

====Hawke Castle====
{{main|Hawke Castle}}
The '''Hawke Castle''' is a historic residence built in 1929. It was influenced by the Norman architecture, and is now the property of George Thayer Real Estate.

====Crow House====
or the Walter B. Wood House, was originally located at 814 Twelfth Street. The house was originally owned by Walter Wood and was constructed in 1884 in the Italianate style. The house has been removed from its original location, and modern renovation of the house has compromised its NRHP designation.

====Robert Walton House====
The '''Robert Walton House''' was constructed in 1957, as a development of Frank Lloyd Wright's New York Usonian Exhibition House concept.

====El Viejo Post Office====
The '''U. S. "El Viejo" Post Office''' is located on Twelfth and I Streets. Wall murals inside the post office were painted by [[Ray Boynton]], a Work Projects Administration artist. The post office was listed in the NRHP in 1983.

====Dry Creek Bridge====
The '''Dry Creek Bridge''', formerly on State Route 132, was recommended eligible for its design. The bridge is a major example of John B. Leonard's bridge designs.

====Southern Pacific Railroad Depot====
{{main|Southern Pacific Railroad Depot (Modesto, California)}}
The '''Southern Pacific Railroad Depot''' was constructed in 1915 in the Mission style at the corner of J and Ninth Streets. The City of Modesto was established as a town by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1870. The building has been restored and expanded as the City Transportation Center.

===Tourism===
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2012}}
Modesto is known for the following tourist attractions and historical sites:
[[File:McHenryMuseum.jpg|thumb|220px|right|The [[McHenry Mansion]]]]
[[File:Gallo Center for the Arts Modesto.JPG|thumb|[[Gallo Center for the Arts]]]]
* [[McHenry Mansion]]<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.mchenrymuseum.org/|title=McHenry Museum & Historical Society|website=McHenry Museum & Historical Society|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-25}}</ref> – Built in the early 1880s by Robert McHenry, a local rancher and banker. The mansion is included on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. Tours are given.
* McHenry Museum – Across the street from the McHenry Mansion. It is filled with tidbits from Modesto's history.
* George Lucas Plaza – ''[[American Graffiti]]''-inspired bronze statue made in honor of Modesto filmmaker [[George Lucas]], located at Five Points (the intersection of McHenry Avenue, "J" Street, 17th Street, Downey and Needham).
* [[Gallo Center for the Arts]] – Center for the performing arts opened in 2007 and located in downtown Modesto at 1000 "I" Street.
* [[Downtown Modesto]] – Known for having a variety of restaurants and night life, including 3 weekly farmer's markets. It also hosts a multi-venue Art Walk year-round on the third Thursday of the month, free to view with maps available.
* [http://www.thestate.org The State Theatre] – Dating back to the 1920s, it was recently renovated and serves as a local performance arts center and as a theater specializing in independent and foreign films.
* [[John Thurman Field]] – Renovated stadium, home of the [[Modesto Nuts]] baseball team (single "A" affiliate of the Seattle Mariners team).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.modestogov.com/facilities/facility/details/John-Thurman-Ball-Field-23|title=John Thurman Ball Field|website=Modesto, CA|language=en|access-date=2019-10-25|archive-date=October 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025165203/https://www.modestogov.com/facilities/facility/details/John-Thurman-Ball-Field-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Graceada Park neighborhood – An area of representative old homes (circa 1920s and earlier) with streets lined with large city-planted shade trees and a series of parks, a bandshell and other amenities. The name Graceada is based on two local residents, Grace Beard and Ada Wisecarver, who helped promote the idea of parks in the area and whose families donated the land for Graceada Park. This park was designed by [[John McLaren (horticulturist)|John McLaren]], who also designed and was the longtime superintendent of [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]]'s [[Golden Gate Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicmodesto.com/Landmarks/Trees%20%26%20Parks/graceadapark.html |title=Graceada Park |publisher=Historicmodesto.com |date= |accessdate=2022-03-09}}</ref>