The Armenian Museum of Fresno Offers Self-Guided Tours

These tours take interested visitors around Fresno to many sites that are significant to the Armenian Community. The information provided will allow visitors to learn and experience an extensive tour at their own pace and convenience. We hope that this will be a helpful resource for enriching your experience of Fresno, California.

Monument Tours

Armenian Genocide Centennial Memorial

The Armenian Genocide Centennial Memorial is located on CSU Fresno’s Maple Mall at the walkway’s central intersection. The monument was designed by Fresno architect, Paul Halajian, and consecrated and unveiled on April 23, 2015. The memorial’s design is modeled after Dzidzernagapert, the Armenian Genocide memorial in Yerevan. It consists of nine pillars, facing inwards, that represent the six provinces of Historic Armenia, the region of Cilicia, the Republic of Armenia, and the Armenian Diaspora, which are crowned by a broken halo that symbolizes the sundering of the Armenian People by the Genocide, and includes some soil from Armenia. It is the first of its kind to be constructed on any college campus in the United States. (CSU Fresno, Shaw and Maple Ave., 93740)

Soghomon Tehlirian Monument

The monument to Soghomon Tehlirian in Masis-Ararat Cemetery marks his burying place. Soghomon Tehlirian was part of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Operation Nemesis, a plot assassinate all the men in the Ottoman government who orchestrated the Armenian Genocide. Tehlirian was selected to assassinate Talaat Pasha –one of the Young Turks, the Minister of the Interior and Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, and mastermind of the Armenian Genocide—in Berlin in March 1922, in broad daylight in front of many witnesses. He was found “not guilty” by the German court and eventually settled with his family in California, where he died in 1960. He is regarded as a hero of the Armenian People, and this monument was built to honor his memory. (Masis-Ararat Cemetery, 250 N. Hughes Ave, 93706)

Statue of David of Sassoun

Varaz Samuelian’s statue of David of Sassoun is of two-fold interest, first for its subject matter and next for its creator. The sculpture depicts the legendary hero riding his horse, sword in hand, poised to strike, and with a supernatural fierceness and grandeur about him. Varaz Samuelian himself is a native of Armenia who moved to France and settled in California after World War II. He was a prolific artist and dear friend of William Saroyan. Numerous carvings of Armenian motifs are found in the pediment of the monument. (Courthouse Park, 1100 Van Ness Ave, 93721)

Church Tours

Holy Trinity Armenian Apostilic Mother Church

Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church is the first Armenian Apostolic church in the western hemisphere to use Armenian architecture for its design, and the second oldest Armenian Church in the United States. The first Divine Liturgy - Holy Badarak was offered in 1895. The Church was formally registered in 1900. The Church was first located on Monterey and F Streets, however, that building was tragically destroyed in a 1913 fire that engulfed much of downtown Fresno. Fortunately, the congregation had decided the previous year that the church needed a new building, and in 1914, the new church on Ventura and "M" Street was finished and consecrated, this location has been serving the church to this day. The Church sanctuary is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is the only building of the Armenian architectural style listed there. Morning services are held at 9:30 AM followed by the Holy Badarak at 10:00 AM; an English morning service is held on the last Sunday of each month, beginning at 9:15 AM. (2226 Ventura St, 93721)

First Armenian Presbyterian Church

First Armenian Presbyterian Church is the oldest Armenian church in the United States. Founded in 1897, this is the church that William Saroyan attended in his youth. The church had its origins in the Armenian Ladies’ Patriotic Society, an organization dedicated to aiding orphans and ministers in Armenia, in 1892. It was organized in 1897 by a congregation of 40 men and women in Major Daniel E. Nicholls’ Hall on what are now Broadway and Mariposa. Its first permanent location was on Santa Clara and Fulton, which served the church until 1942. Its current location on First and Huntington was built in 1942. The current sanctuary was built in 1970s and the social hall was completed in early 1980s. FAPC offers Armenian services at 9:30 AM and English services at 11 AM every Sunday. (430 S First St, 93702)

Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church

Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church was founded in 1901 by Armenians who came from the Armenian Congregational Church and sought that spiritual home. It is a part of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America and follows the legacy of the 19th century movement for reformation. The church has had three locations throughout its history, the first was on Van Ness and Inyo on the site of First Congregational Church from 1911 to 1921, next was on Merced and M Street which served the church for forty years, their current location is on First Street, near Dakota, which was built during the 1960s with the sanctuary completed in 1970. Armenian services are held on the third Sunday of each month, with English worship held every Sunday and Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month. (3673 N First St, 93726)

Saint Gregory Armenian Church

In an impressive ceremony, St. Gregory The Illuminator Church of Fowler was consecrated on April 17, 1910, by Bishop Hovsep Sarajian, in the presence of a large congregation. The Church became the fourth established Church in North America. One week after the consecration ceremonies, Ghevont and Hayasdan Shahbazian were the first couple married in the new church. Over the years, the original Church Building has been enlarged and a Church Hall and Sunday School classes have been added. In the last four years, the Church site has been enhanced by a park, basketball and volleyball courts, playground, and courtyard, all of which are frequently used and enjoyed by parishioners. (220 S. Third, Fowler, CA 93625)

Saint Paul Armenian Church

Saint Paul Armenian Church was founded in 1943 and consecrated in 1954. Its first services were held at St. James’ Episcopal Cathedral in 1943 before St. Paul purchased First Armenian Presbyterian Church's former location on Santa Clara and Fulton, its next location was on Merced and N Street at the former site of First Baptist Church which was consecrated in 1954 and served the church until 1977. In 1977, St. Paul moved to its current location on First and Dakota. Morning services are held at 9:30 AM followed by Holy Badarak at 10 AM. (3767 N First St, 93726)