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History


Due to circumstances beyond our control, Dancing in Old California, which was scheduled to take place on September 23, has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience. In honor of our state’s entry into the Union on September 9, 1850, we’ll host a nineteenth-century-style fandango! A dance lesson, covering waltzes, polkas, and set dances like[…]

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During the 19th and early 20th centuries, a variety of objects were used to compliment the activities of reading and writing. The Art Nouveau movement of the late 19th century influenced the use of elegant feminine designs on certain implements. These essentials were richly ornamented and beautifully made with creative craftsmanship and unique designs. The[…]

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Completed courtyard October 1931

The Bixby family owned and operated Rancho Los Cerritos as a sheep ranch, starting in 1866. Sheep raising continued until at least 1886, but as the ranch business was evolving additional portions of the land were gradually sold off. Llewellyn Bixby, Sr. purchased the then deteriorating Rancho Los Cerritos adobe and surrounding 4.74 acres from[…]

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hair art

It was very popular during the Victorian Era to make and wear jewelry out of a loved one’s hair. In Europe and the U.S., a lot of women made elaborate wreaths, necklaces, bracelets and all sorts of pieces out of hair and wire, often with floral designs. Wreaths made from the hair of one deceased[…]

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Valentine’s Day cards from the Victorian era reflect the style and sensibilities of that period. They also indicate the new technological innovations of the time that enabled the mass production of beautiful and intricate cards. During the 1850s and 1860s, American cards began to include more embellishments like paper lace, embossing, and multi-layered designs. During[…]

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The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft spans thirty-nine volumes and details four hundred years of history in the western hemisphere, from Alaska to Panama. The volumes in the Rancho’s collection range in date from 1883 to 1890. These nineteenth century books are bound in sheepskin and imprinted with the name J. Bixby at the bottom[…]

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Plant expert Frank McDonough visits the Rancho from his home base at the Los Angeles Arboretum to discuss African Plants. Learn about these warm-weather plants’ journeys to California.