Exciting Exhibit Amplifies Rancho Los Cerritos’ Commitment to Water Conservation
From above, Earth appears as a water planet with more than 71 percent of its surface covered with this vital resource for life. Water impacts climate, agriculture, transportation, industry, and more. It inspires art and music. Rancho Los Cerritos (RLC)will examine water as an environmental necessity and an important cultural element as it hosts “Water/Ways,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). “Water/Ways” is open now through November 9, 2025. Find details and more information at www.RanchoLosCerritos.org/waterways.
“Water/Ways” explores the endless motion of the water cycle, water’s effect on landscape, settlement, and migration, and its impact on culture and spirituality. It looks at how political and economic planning have long been affected by access to water and control of water resources. Human creativity and resourcefulness provide new ways of protecting water resources and renewing respect for the natural environment.
The exhibition includes interactives that will help visitors explore the deep connections between water, work, traditions, and faith. For example, a touchable relief map of the Elwha River watershed in Washington allows visitors to feel how terrain creates a watershed. Another interactive called “How Much Water” shows how many gallons of water it takes to grow or produce a variety of familiar goods, from milk to chicken to blue jeans. “Water/Ways” also includes two multimedia kiosks that provide a variety of short videos about water as a natural resource and its influence on the environment and human culture.
“Water is an important part of our lives and we are excited to explore what it means culturally, socially, and spiritually in our own community,” said Alison Bruesehoff, Executive Director, Rancho Los Cerritos. “We want to convene conversations about water to further understanding among our audiences. RLC has developed educational STEAM-focused programming and curriculum highlighting the Rancho’s history and its role in water resiliency. Likewise, RLC’s sophisticated stormwater retention and reuse project titled “Looking Back to Advance Forward” combines traditional and innovative water capture elements such as permeable surfaces, water basins, rain gardens, filter strips, and a 22,000-gallon underground cistern to capture and reuse 95% of water from each rainfall. The project positions the organization as a leader in water recapture in Long Beach and beyond. By strategically reclaiming rainwater, RLC has the capacity to withstand large storms without damaging its historic landscapes and is a complement to the Smithsonian exhibition.”
“Water/Ways” was developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. It was inspired by an exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org), and the Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul (www.smm.org), in collaboration with Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland; The Field Museum, Chicago; Instituto Sangari, Sao Paulo, Brazil; National Museum of Australia, Canberra; Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada; San Diego Natural History Museum; and Science Centre Singapore with PUB Singapore.
SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 70 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history, which are shown wherever people live, work, and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit www.sites.si.edu.
The mission of RLC, a recognized National, State, and Local Historic Landmark, is to honor diverse perspectives, enrich collaborative conversations, and inspire broader understanding through stewardship of Rancho Los Cerritos’ natural and cultural history. With a vision to cultivate an inclusive and sustainable world by exploring the historical connections between people and Rancho Los Cerritos the site welcomes visitors of all ages and backgrounds.
For more information about Rancho Los Cerritos and events, please call 562-206-2040 or visit www.RanchoLosCerritos.org. Media Inquiries: Deborah Castro, deborah.castro@creativeproductions.com, 562-985-1363.
