Imagine you are at Rancho Los Cerritos in 1876 celebrating the 100th birthday of the United States with the Bixby family. As the evening approaches you are sitting with Sarah Bixby Smith waiting for the sky to be enveloped in a glorious display of “sky-rockets.” The Fourth of July is one of the most important[…]
Celebrating Independence Day at Rancho Los Cerritos
By Curatorial Intern Uncategorized Jun 29, 2021
National Pollinator Week
By Christa Weston Uncategorized Jun 23, 2021
National Pollinator Week! National Pollinator Week, a worldwide celebration, is from June 21-27 and is initiated and managed by Pollinator Partnership. The sole purpose of this week is to celebrate and encourage others to learn ways that we can protect pollinators. Many pollinators are increasingly being affected by the possibility of extinction and National Pollinator[…]
Juneteenth is Now a National Holiday
By Christa Weston Uncategorized Jun 17, 2021
Juneteenth National Independence Day has just been made a national holiday. It is celebrated on June 19th to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. The holiday dates back to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that enslaved people were free.[…]
June Garden News
By Christa Weston Uncategorized Jun 01, 2021
Plant of the Moment: Justicia carnea – Brazilian Plume Flower. Located in the backyard’s shaded planter beds to the east of the wisteria arbor, this delightful perennial generally has two, and occasionally three, waves of brilliant color in the summer. And it’s not just a pretty flower! Scientists have been looking into its medicinal qualities,[…]
A Missing Part of History
By Rancho Intern exhibits, Uncategorized May 01, 2021
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI): How Chinese women were erased from history. For Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, we want to also acknowledge the Chinese women that are missing from our history. When talking about the past, it is important to acknowledge what is there but also what is missing and[…]
In Honor of Julia Bogany
By Sarah Wolk FitzGerald Uncategorized Apr 12, 2021
Rancho Los Cerritos mourns the passing of Julia Bogany. We had the privilege of collaborating with Ms. Bogany on our most recent exhibit, Tevaaxa’nga to Today: Stories of the Tongva People as well as on children’s programming related to the exhibit. Julia Bogany shared her knowledge and wisdom with the curatorial team for the exhibit’s[…]
The 1930s in Long Beach, California
By Curatorial Intern Uncategorized Apr 05, 2021
The period of the 1930s in America was a tumultuous one. The nationwide economic crisis that resulted from the stock market crash in 1929 was affecting families across the country. After being elected in 1932, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) began implementing his New Deal programs to benefit the country, with varying results. The Great[…]
The Great Backyard Bird Count
By Christa Weston Uncategorized Feb 11, 2021
Each February 12-15, the world comes together for the love of birds. We invite you to visit RLC and count as many birds as you can find and report them to the Great Backyard Bird Count. These counts help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations. You can count birds[…]
February Garden News
By Christa Weston Gardens, Uncategorized Feb 10, 2021
Plant of the Moment: Viola odorata (Sweet Violet). Native to Europe, Africa, and Asia, this violet’s bright and delicate flowers helped ensure its popularity as it spread far and wide. Said to be one of Avis Bixby’s favorites, it is now scattered throughout the RLC backyard. Its deep purple flowers stand above the foliage and[…]
Celebrate Black History
By Christa Weston Uncategorized Feb 01, 2021
Celebrate Black History Month this February by checking out these virtual events and organizations: African American Firefighter Museum African American Heritage Society of Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, Virtual African-American Festival Association for the Study of African American Life and History, February 20th Virtual Festival Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, virtual Black History Month[…]