Mark Your Calendars! 

     For more information, call (562) 570-1755.
 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS         

 

 

 Summer Concert Series

Friday evenings, 6-7:30 p.m. Free

This summer surrender to a dynamic musical selection as you enjoy your  picnic dinner with family and friends under a serene canopy of historic trees.   Please bring a lawn chair or blanket for your comfort.   On-site parking is severely limited, so plan to park on Virginia Road--or ride you bike!  

June 25:    Voxinglero  --  Sizzlin' Latin rhythms!

July 23:     Steel Parade  --  Chillin' Reggae

August 27: Sligo Rags -- Soulful Celtic with a twist of                                      Bluegrass                       

The adobe house will be open for tours during the concert. No pets allowed.

 

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Garden Tours

Second & Fourth Sundays Each Month Thru November

Don Juan built a garden miles from anywhere;

Fenced in from the mesa, four wide acres there.

To mark off beds and pathways he brought brick around the Horn,

And there behind his ten-foot fence, a garden rare was born.

Sarah Bixby Smith penned these words about the Rancho’s gardens back in the 1920s.    First planted by John “Don Juan” Temple in the 1840s, the gardens and grounds reflect over 100 years of change.  Some trees date to the 1840s when John Temple, owner of the 27,000-acre Rancho from 1844-1866, planted the first garden.  In 1931, renowned landscape architect Ralph Cornell created an estate garden for Llewellyn Sr. and Avis Bixby, preserving Temple’s remaining trees, reintroducing flora that was here in the 19th century, and adding fruit trees and native plants. 

Explore the landscape with a docent-led tour, offered the Second & Fourth Sundays of each month through November.   Tours are free and are offered on the half hour between 1-4 p.m. 

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Living History Tours: Visitors of the Past

 

August 29

1-4 p.m. (Last tour leaves at 4 p.m.)

Free

 

 

(Additional tours on October 31)

   

Tour the 166-year-old adobe house with "visitors from the past" who step forward in time to conduct tours of the Rancho. Explore the Rancho through the eyes of previous owners, workers or guests as they share their personal stories and experiences.

 

Living History Tours Flyer

 

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 Volunteer Opportunities Coffee

Saturday, September 11 at 10 a.m.

Discover the "actor" in you as a living history character, find out how you can share Long Beach history and culture as a tour docent, learn about opportunities in the historic gardens, explore work on the historical collections and research needs, and see if your talents are a fit with our museum shop operations.  Staff and volunteers will also share information on the Rancho’s educational programs and events, including our award-winning fourth grade school program Adobe Days Revisited, and our seasonal family activities:  Christmas Candlelight Tours, Summer Concert Series and Mud Mania.

This is a great way to make new friends, see how a museum operates “behind-the-scenes,” learn about local history and antiques, and give back to your community in a meaningful way.

A complimentary continental breakfast will be provided. 

For reservations, call (562) 570-1755. 

 

 
PAST EVENTS                        Did you miss these?

 

 Rancho Summer Adventures

“Summer Adventures" at the Rancho is an engaging and educational program for children on summer vacation.  Participants will learn all about life in Old California through historic crafts, hands-on activities, games and stories.  Historically-themed programming will focus on daily life at the rancho—participants will get to churn butter, dip candles, punch tin, tool leather, stomp mud and more!

This history-themed camp is designed for children entering 1st - 5th grade.  Each session runs Monday - Friday, 10am - 2pm. and costs $90

Vaquero Adventures:   July 19-23           

Adobe Adventures:      July 26-30                                        

 Old Time Adventures:  August 2-6

Please call Meighan or Jan for more information (562) 570-1755

Summer.Adventures.flier.10.pdf

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Rancho Spring Festival:  A Visit to   Old California

Sunday, May 23, 12:30-4:30 p.m.

$5, $3 for children ages 4-12

Explore the legendary life of Mexican rancheros through period music, dance, costume and ranching activities.  Experience daily life in Old California when cattle were raised for their hides and tallow, and ranchers celebrated with great fiestas!

This family-friendly festival features music my "Los Californios," visits from Father Serra and Lotta Crabtree, living history skits, demonstrations of blacksmithing and leather-tooling, and hands-on period crafts and games.  The horno will be fired up for bread baking, and guests can churn butter, make tortillas, and try cactus.

Refreshments available for a nominal charge.

Christmas Candlelight Tours

December 12 & 13 (Saturday & Sunday)

Tours begin every 10 minutes starting at 6:30 p.m.

$10 per Person

 

Step back to Christmas 1880 and explore holiday customs and daily life at Rancho Los Cerritos as experienced by the Bixbys, their guests, and ranch workers from other nations.  Tour the historic adobe by candlelight with costumed living history characters, and eavesdrop on theatrical vignettes for the latest gossip on social activities, business and the economy in Los Angeles.  End the evening with some shopping for unique gifts, and enjoy live holiday music, warm cider and gingerbread out on the lawn. 

 

Advance reservations are required; please call (562) 570-1755.  Tickets go on sale November 2.

 

Candlelight Tour Tickets

 

 

 
 

Christmas Open House

December 6

1-4 p.m.

Free

Experience 19th century Christmas traditions while learning about Long Beach’s local history at Rancho Los Cerritos’ “Christmas Open House.”

Guests can explore the adobe home, decorated for the season, and discover 19th century Mexican and American holiday traditions.  Children can participate in crafts and activities from the California frontier, and will be able to take home their own hand-made decorations. Piñata breaking, bi-lingual storytelling and a visit from Santa will certainly make this a memorable event!

Free musical entertainment and refreshments will be provided.  Decorative ornaments, gourmet jellies, children’s toys and handmade Christmas crafts will also be available for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop. 

 

Living History Docent Training – June 12, 2010                               7-9 p.m.

Casting Call at Rancho Los Cerritos:  Seeking rancheros, Victorian housewives, sheepherders, Chinese cooks, gardeners, maids and more!

Learn to travel through time as a living history docent.

Discover the history, architecture, collections and gardens, then learn theater fundamentals and character development before adopting a historic persona for living history tours and programs.

Training offered Wednesday evenings, February – June, 2010. 

Intrigued?  For additional information or to register, contact Rancho Los Cerritos at (562) 570-1755.

 

Nacimientos Workshop

 

November 14

9:30 a.m. - Noon

Advance Reservations Required

$15 Adults/$8 Children (Ages 8-12)

 

Create your own Nacimientos (nativity scene) from wood, figures, cardboard and paint under the direction of artist and educator Daniel F. Martinez.  Explore the history of Nacimientos, traditional Mexican decorations displayed during the Christmas season.

 

Price includes all materials and refreshments.

 

 

Tea With the Hathaway Sisters

 

October 27              

2:00 p.m.

$20/ $17 FRLC Members

Spend a lovely afternoon at the Rancho by joining the four Hathaway sisters for tea and conversation. Learn how three of the women married into the Bixby family, and the roles all experienced as women living in Southern California during the second half of the 19th century.

A traditional tea will be served.

Reservations are required by calling (562) 570-1755.

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Winter Lecture Series

 

2010 Saturday Lecture Dates and Topics:

 

January 30th

Dr. Craig Hendricks will present a talk on “Mexican Independence and its Effect on California.” He will address the outside influences on the movement, the reaction of local residents, changes in governing policies from Spanish to Mexican rule, the opening of trade and the incursion of various western powers on the territory. Dr. Hendricks is history instructor at CSULB and LBCC.

 

February 20th

“The U.S.-Mexico War in Southern California” (1846-48) will be the topic of a presentation by Steve Clugston, living history presenter, event organizer and former curator at March Field Air Museum, on February 20.  He will discuss the major battles leading to the Treaty of Cahuenga that ended hostilities in Southern California in early 1847, touching on the actions of American and Californio forces in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties. Both Rancho Los Cerritos and neighboring Rancho San Pedro were involved.

 

March 20th

“More Than Mrs. John Temple: The Life of Rafaela Cota” will be presented by historian Kathie Schey on March 20. Rafaela Cota de Temple, daughter of a prominent Spanish military family, was one of many elite women who were born in Colonial California, married Yankee newcomers following Mexican Independence and then remained in California following American annexation.  These women left scant records of their lives and are often understood only as their husband’s wives. Thanks to a generous grant from the James Irvine and Rancho Los Cerritos Foundations, new research has shed important light on the remarkable life and times of Rafaela, the first mistress of Rancho Los Cerritos.

 

April 17th

As an extraordinary postscript to this lecture series, Rancho Los Cerritos will host “An Evening With Zorro” on Saturday, April 17. Who was this mythical Robin Hood of early California, and how has Hollywood portrayed him through nearly a century of film?  How have foreign movies added to the worldwide legend, and how has television elevated Zorro’s place in popular culture?  The FRLC Hispanic History Committee will provide film clips, a talk on the origin and a prize for the best Zorro costume.ts Only~

$15 regular admission/ $12 FRLC members

 

 

Mexican Independence Day Exhibit

 

September 12, 13 and September 16-18 

1:00-p.m.- 5:00 p.m. (During Public Hours)

Free

 

In honor of Mexican Independence Day, the Hispanic History Committee of the Friends of Rancho Los Cerritos will host a special exhibit at Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site, explaining the meaning of the day and the impact on Mexico’s distant province of California.

 

These themes will be presented in a special outdoor exhibit. Hispanic History Committee volunteers will be at Rancho Los Cerritos on the weekend to discuss the special meaning of the holiday and to describe how Mexico’s independence affected the residents of California, its northern-most frontier territory. 

 

 

 

School Docent Training

 

September 16-November 4

Wednesdays (8 Week Commitment)

9:30-12:30 p.m.

Free with membership to the Friends of Rancho Los Cerritos

4th grade students, teachers, and Rancho Los Cerritos volunteers are all raving about how wonderful Adobe Days Revisited, a hands on history program at the historic site is. The program is informative, historical, creative, and fun!  And as one 4th grade teacher states, “The trip to the rancho provides our kids with rich information. They walk away with a much better understanding of the history, a large vocabulary, memories they use to write about, and it all applies to our social studies and science. Our kids talk about the trip for years.” 

And now, it’s your opportunity to become a part of this award-winning program as Rancho Los Cerritos is currently recruiting enthusiastic volunteers to take on living history characters. 

Reservations for the training program are requested. Call (562) 570-1755 today to reserve your seat for the fall training class or for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities Coffee

 

September 5, 2009

10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Free

Rancho Los Cerritos is seeking new volunteers for a variety of program opportunities during the “Volunteer Opportunities Coffee.”  Find out how you can become a tour docent, help with the historic gardens, work on the historical collections, conduct research, or assist with the museum gift shop. You will also learn about the Rancho’s educational programs and events, including our award-winning fourth grade school program Adobe Days Revisited, and our seasonal events, Christmas Candlelight Tours, Summer Concert Series and Mud Mania. 

This is a great way to make new friends, see how a museum operates “behind-the-scenes,” learn about local history and antiques, and give back to your community in a meaningful way.

A complimentary continental breakfast will be provided.  For reservations, call (562) 570-1755. 

 

 

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

6-7:30  p.m. (Gates open at 5 p.m.)

FREE

All Ages (No pets allowed)

 

Bring a picnic dinner and get your groove on this summer at Rancho Los Cerritos! The concerts are free and will feature toe tapping bluegrass of The Witcher Brothers, old school blues with Bernie Pearl & the Bernie Pearl Band, a tribute to the surf and beach party bands of the ‘60s with Surfing Safari, and jazz sounds of The Christine Guter Quintet

 

Sunday, July 12

Witcher Brothers

Toe Tapping Bluegrass

Thursday, July 30

Bernie Pearl Blues Band

An evening of Old School Blues

Sunday, August 9

Surfing Safari

A tribute to the surf and beach party bands

of the ‘60s

Thursday, August 27

The Christine Guter Quintet

Jazz Vocals

 

MUD MANIA: A Celebration of Adobe

Sunday, August 16, 2009

12:30-4:30 p.m.

Kids (4-12) $3, Adults $5, Under 4: Free

Squish a little history between your toes at this delightfully muddy festival where you're not supposed to stay clean! Mud-tastic activities include adobe brick-making, muddy tug-o-war and mud relay races, plus clay sculpting, archaeology adventures and more! De-mudding stations available; bring old shoes (required), a change of clothes and a towel.

Rancho Adventure Tours

 

October 2009 - June 2010


Ages 6-11

Thursdays

4:15-5:30 p.m.

Reservations required

$3/Participant

 

A tour of the adobe home specially geared toward youth groups.  Program includes a fun and educational tour of the 1844 adobe house and hands-on activities that teaches children all about a 19th century ranch.

 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES COFFEE

Saturday

January 24, 2009

10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

RSVP By January 22

Free

Rancho Los Cerritos is seeking new volunteers for a variety of program opportunities during the “Volunteer Opportunities Coffee.”  Find out how you can become a tour docent, help with the historic gardens, work on the historical collections, conduct research, or assist with the museum gift shop.  You will also learn about the Rancho’s educational programs and events, including our award-winning fourth grade school program Adobe Days Revisited, and our seasonal events, Christmas Candlelight Tours, Summer Concert Series and Mud Mania. 

This is a great way to make new friends, see how a museum operates “behind-the-scenes,” learn about local history and antiques, and give back to your community in a meaningful way.

A complimentary continental breakfast will be provided.  For reservations, call (562) 570-1755. 

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

Sunday

December 14

1-4 p.m.

No Reservations Required

Free

Experience 19th century Christmas traditions while learning about Long Beach’s local history at Rancho Los Cerritos’ “Christmas Open House.”

Guests can explore the adobe home, decorated for the season, and discover 19th century Mexican and American holiday traditions.  Children can participate in crafts and activities from the California frontier, and will be able to take home their own hand-made decorations. Piñata breaking, bi-lingual storytelling and a visit from Santa will certainly make this a memorable event!

Also, enjoy live holiday music throughout the afternoon from the “Traditional Christmas Carolers”, the “International Peach Choir”, and more! Free refreshments will be provided.  Decorative ornaments, gourmet jellies, children’s toys and handmade Christmas crafts will also be available for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop. 

 

 

 

 

"Christmas Candlelight Tours: Navidad in Early California"

Friday & Saturday

December 5-6

6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Reservations required

$10.00/ person

 

Step back in time to Christmas 1850 at Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site for a magical evening as you explore holiday traditions and life in early California with the Temples, their guests and ranch workers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 
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