In honor of International Women’s Day, we are highlighting the life story of Rafaela Cota de Temple. She was the wife of John Temple, who established a cattle ranch at Rancho Los Cerritos in 1844 and commissioned the construction of the Rancho’s adobe home. Rafaela Cota was born in March 1812 at the Santa Barbara Presidio to[…]
Rafaela Cota de Temple: Hija del Pais (Daughter of the Land)
By Sarah Wolk FitzGerald history Mar 08, 2021
STEM Fun @ RLC: Water
By Christa Weston Feb 15, 2021
Shared Science will be onsite at Rancho Los Cerritos for a Long Beach history and STEM lesson. Guided by an RLC educator, students will explore how water moves – both naturally and by design – around Rancho Los Cerritos and learn why water was so important on a working ranch while they do a hands-on[…]
Shared Science
By Christa Weston Jan 18, 2021
Shared Science will be onsite at Rancho Los Cerritos for a Long Beach history and STEM lesson. Guided by an RLC educator, students will learn how the adobe house was built – and why it has lasted for over 175 years – as they construct model adobes and find out which might withstand an “earthquake.” Then, alongside[…]
Candlelight Tour
By Christa Weston Dec 14, 2019
Experience a century of holiday traditions, as you stroll the Rancho by candlelight and encounter costumed characters from the Rancho’s colorful past preparing for the holidays. Guided tours start every 15 minutes and last approximately 45 minutes, concluding with festive holiday music and treats in the backyard. $20 general admission $15 for members. Members,[…]
Library Exhibit: The Bixbys’ 1930s Remodel
By Rancho Staff exhibits, history, Long Beach, rlc175 Oct 31, 2019
This October, Rancho Los Cerritos installed the third in a series of special exhibits in the library display case that commemorates the demisemiseptcentennial. (175th anniversary) of the adobe’s construction (built in 1844). This latest display focuses on the remodel of the adobe during the 1930s. Brice Burtness (pictured with the exhibit), RLC’s Fall 2019 Creative Long Beach intern[…]
Happy 175th Birthday to RLC’s Historic Adobe!
By Rancho Staff Events, history, Long Beach, rlc175 Oct 02, 2019
We celebrated the 175th Anniversary of our historic adobe last Saturday, September 28th, and we even had a proper birthday cake to commemorate the occasion! Cutting the RLC 175th birthday cake are (L-R): Rick Alsagoff (board member), Barbara Bixby Blackwell (board member), Susan Wise (board chair), Craig Carter (board member), Councilmember Al Austin, Jean Bixby[…]
Fun Facts about 1844
By Rancho Staff history, rlc175 Jul 15, 2019
In commemoration of Rancho Los Cerritos’ 175th Anniversary year of when the adobe was built in 1844, the blog will feature a series of stories as submitted by our followers and fans – “back in the day,” historic, nostalgic, and other tales – throughout 2019. These accounts will highlight fun facts, personal perspectives, and other viewpoints from staff,[…]
Library Exhibit: The Bixby Sheep Ranching Period 1866-1890
By Rancho Staff exhibits, history, rlc175 Jul 03, 2019
In late June, Rancho Los Cerritos installed the second in a series of special exhibits in the library display case that commemorates the demisemiseptcentennial. (175th anniversary) of the adobe’s construction (built in 1844). This latest display focuses on the time from John Temple’s sale of the Rancho to the Bixbys and the remarkably multi-cultural sheep[…]
Workshop: Clapper Stick Instruments
By Jennifer Rice Epstein Jun 15, 2019
Join us for a series of special events connected to our latest exhibit, “Tevaaxa’nga (Te-vaah-ha-nga) to Today: Stories of the Tongva People.” In this workshop, Tongva artist Craig Torres will guide participants in creating traditional clapper stick instruments from elderberry bush branches. This workshop is recommended for adults and children ages 8 and up. About[…]
Workshop: Victorian Language of Flowers
By Jennifer Rice Epstein May 18, 2019
In this workshop, Rancho Los Cerritos Horticulturist Marie Barnidge-McIntyre will lead a presentation on the meanings of various flowers and herbs, and then participants can arrange their own small bouquet, called a tussie-mussie, to bring home.