PASSPORT 2 HISTORY MONTHLY NEWSLETTER January 2020, Vol. 94

This Month's Featured P2H Site: Preservation Resource Center at the Shotgun House

New Year, New Site! The Passport 2 History team welcomes the Santa Monica Conservancy to the P2H family! Visit them at their award-winning location, the Preservation Resource Center at the Shotgun House . The Preservation Resource Center has served the community since 2016. The house is LEED Gold certified; check out the Shotgun House Coastal Garden during your visit for inspiration on drought-resistant gardening! Keep your eye out for more from the Preservation Resource Center in future newsletters!

From the Santa Monica Conservancy: The Santa Monica Conservancy is thrilled to join the Passport 2 History program. We look forward to welcoming guests to our historic 1897 Shotgun House. The only intact house of its kind left in Santa Monica, this tiny dwelling was saved from demolition and lovingly restored. It is now home to the Conservancy’s Preservation Resource Center. Stop by for a docent-led tour. You can also explore our wall-sized map of Santa Monica landmarks, peruse our library of books on historic resources, and learn more about historic preservation. We have activities for kids, too, so bring the whole family. See you soon! Visit Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from noon to 3pm. 2520 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405 For more information, visit smconservancy.org or leave a voicemail at (310) 496-3146.

Learn More

Social Spotlight: Christmas Trees of P2H

The Aviation Museum of Santa Paula collected toys to donate to local kids during their First Sunday event in December. Check out the post here.

Volunteers dressed and draped the Banning Museum for the holiday season. See more on Facebook!

The Pasadena Museum of History decked the halls of the Fenyes Mansion with Edwardian-style holiday décor. Read more on their Facebook post.

About the Passport 2 History Program

Step 1: Get Your P2H Passport Booklet! Step 2: Visit great institutions! Step 3: Share your adventure! ‌ ‌ ‌

Make the most of P2H! Tag your adventures #passport2history on Instagram! And join the P2H community in our Facebook Group ! Visit every site? Bring your completed booklet to P2H HQ at the Leonis Adobe Museum for a prize!

About Us Passport 2 History unites the sites, collections, experiences, and organizations that tell the story of Southern and Central California and its people. We celebrate the institutions that take visitors back in time, showcase local experiences and talent, and preserve the artifacts and monuments of our state's rich heritage. We proudly invite you to enjoy all they have to offer. Participating sites submit events, exhibits, and announcements to be included in this newsletter each month. Keep scrolling to browse this month's activities!   For more details, visit us at  passport2history.com  or check out our social media pages above.

Passport 2 History is facilitated by the Open to the Public Fri 1:00 - 4:00 PM Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sun 1:00 - 4:00 PM Plus special events! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Passport 2 History is brought to you by the Leonis Adobe Museum in beautiful Old Town Calabasas. The Leonis Adobe Museum is Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1 and operates as a living history museum. Feed animals and explore one of the oldest residences in Los Angeles County. Learn the story of Miguel Leonis, a French Basque immigrant who became the King of Calabasas, and Espiritu Leonis, his Chumash-Gabrielino commonlaw wife who, following Miguel's death, won a 16-year court battle for a wife's share of his estate despite the odds against her.   To learn more about the Leonis Adobe Museum, check out KCET's Visiting with Huell Howser episode about us, available on YouTube ! Leonis Adobe Museum Events Springtime at the Adobe | Saturday, April 4th, 1-4pm Lil Ranchers Summer Days | Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30am July 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th; August 4th, 11th Pumpkin Party | Saturday, October 24th, 1-4pm Holiday Roundup | Saturday, December 5th, 2-5pm

Events Calendar*

Sat, Jan 4 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Planes of Fame Air Museum Living History Flying Day - Fokker-Wulf Fw190 Planes of Fame Air Museum (Chino, CA) presents its monthly Living History Flying Day on January 4, 2020, featuring the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. A speaker panel of distinguished aviation experts and historians is featured, followed by a question & answer period and flight demonstration when possible. The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 will be on display and perform a flight demonstration (subject to change). Admission General: $15 Children 5-11: $6 Children 4 and under: Free Parking: Free   More Information

Sat, Jan 4 12:00 – 4:00 PM Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site Creation Station   Recurring: first Saturday of the month through June   Get creative with history! Using a wide variety of colorful materials, children can experiment with natural materials to create seasonal arts and crafts. This drop-in program takes place rain or shine. January’s theme, Winter Wonders, celebrates the season.   More Information

Thur, Jan 9 8:00 – 9:30 AM Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site Monthly Bird Walk Recurring: monthly, 2nd Thursday of the month Stroll through the grounds of the historic rancho and watch both resident birds and seasonal migrants. Participants will also listen to calls and songs and potentially observe other specific seasonal behaviors. Meet in the lower parking lot at 8 a.m. sharp. Wear comfortable closed toed shoes and bring a hat and binoculars, if you have them. We also have a limited number of binoculars to lend, thanks to the generosity of Vortex Optics. Free and open to all. Rain cancels. More Information

Sat, Jan 11 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Bembridge House Long Beach Heritage Tours Recurring: 1/11 – East Village Arts District 1/18 – Historic Downtown 1/25 – Willmore City Historic District Walk off those holiday treats and enjoy local history -- all with a Long Beach Heritage tour! Monthly walking tours explore the Downtown and the unique neighborhoods that contribute to the heart of one of California's largest cities. Admission $10-15 More Information

Sat, Jan 11 10:00 – 11:00 AM Banning Museum Alchemy & Art - An Exploration into Wet Plate Photography Learning wet plate photography can seem like an incredible hurdle. The equipment is expensive, the chemicals are illusive, and the process can feel as much like alchemical magic as it does technology. In this lecture, Matthew Schnittker will reveal how he overcame these hurdles and went from pouring his first plate to working his first public event as a wet plate photographer. He’ll also demonstrate the process live and talk through the steps from a technical perspective. Admission General: $5 Museum Members: Free More Information

Sat, Jan 11 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Mullin Automotive Museum Mullin Automotive Museum Open Day   Recurring: monthly, 2nd and 4th Saturdays The Mullin Automotive Museum is open to the public today! Current Exhibit: The Art and Times of the French Coachbuilders Semi-private visits are offered Tuesdays at 10am and Thursday at 11am. Please call (805) 385-5400 for reservations. Admission General: $16 Senior (65+): $14 Students w/ID: $14 Children (3-12): $10 Children (under 3): free Active Military w/ID: free Groups 10+: $14 each More Information

Sat, Jan 11 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe Historic Site & Museum Battle of Rio San Gabriel   Uniformed American and Californio soldiers will recreate the Battle of Rio San Gabriel in Montebello! Experience the smell of the black powder from the musket firing demonstrations. Featuring fun activities for kids. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Join us as we set off our new historical replica canon!   More Information

Sat, Jan 18 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM International Printing Museum Benjamin Franklin's Birthday Celebration Performances at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm Join the good Doctor's 314th Birthday Party where he will host a family version of his life and inventions at 11 am and a more adult level at 1 pm and 3 pm. Following the second show there will be a special Question and Answer segment with Franklin's Revolutionary friends. Enjoy refreshments and birthday cake with Dr. Franklin, print your own historical keepsakes on the Museum's antique presses, as well as special tours! Come and wish Franklin and his friends well, and thank him for all of his inventions and help in creating our country! Admission Adults: $10 Students/Seniors: $10 More Information

Sat, Jan 18 2:00 – 3:30 PM Pasadena Museum of History From Silent Flicks to Talkies Developing technologies transformed the world in the early twentieth century. There were new ways to travel, to communicate, and to be entertained! In the early 1900s, Pasadena residents flocked to movie theaters, including Clune’s, the Crown, the Strand, and Jensen’s. It was an exciting way to enjoy a new art form. Film historian and musicologist Galen Wilkes will take us back in time and explore how the development of motion pictures took us from silent films to the first talkies. He will also demonstrate equipment of the period and show rare and unique films and videos from his collection. Admission General: $12 PMH Members: $10 More Information

Sun, Jan 19 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Heritage Museum of Orange County 2020 HMOC Bridal Show Meet, greet, and interview local wedding professionals! Free parking! Walk-ins welcome! Admission Presale: $8 At Entry: $10 Tickets & Information

Thur, Jan 23 5:00 – 7:00 PM Muckenthaler Cultural Center "Art for All Ages" Book Signing with Author Cori Mller Join us for the launch party and book signing of former Muckenthaler board member Cori Schaff’s new book “Art for All Ages.” In her book, Cori encourages everyone to create art regardless of age or talent level. Cori shows how the act of creating art is not only fun but also therapeutic. The book’s activity lessons draw from Cori’s thirty-five years of experience teaching art in public schools. More Information

Sat, Jan 25 1:00 & 3:00 PM Rancho Camulos Museum Helen Hunt Jackson Returns to Rancho Camulos On Saturday, January 25 at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, experience bestselling author Helen Hunt Jackson’s January 23, 1882 visit to Rancho Camulos, which inspired her to include this site as one of the settings for her novel Ramona. Re-enactors will engage and delight you as they portray this event that forever changed the peaceful life at Rancho Camulos and brought tourists from across the nation to Southern California. A meet and greet reception with Helen Hunt Jackson and the Del Valle family will follow each performance. Tickets can be reserved online at ranchocamulos.org, or purchased at the gate. The museum is located on Highway 126, 10 miles west of the I-5 freeway near Piru. Details at 805-521-1501. Admission $10 More Information

Thur, Jan 30 6:30 – 8:30 PM Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch & Gardens Water Changes Everything Film and Panel Discussion   RSVP Required; Email programs@hslb.org   Part of a year-long project of the Long Beach Historical Society entitled "Water Changes Everything." The Moderator will be Joe VanderHorst, Historical Society of Long Beach board member and retired senior administrator of the Metropolitan Water District. Featured speakers include Larry Rich, Sustainability Coordinator for Long Beach, and Dr. Craig Hendricks, author and retired History Professor at LBCC. There will also be the public unveiling of "Rancho Los Alamitos and the Story of Water," the new film recounting the region's adaptation to the changing water cycles and water needs from the areas earliest Tongva inhabitants to the expanded population of today.   More Information

Thur, Jan 30 7:30 – 9:30 PM Muckenthaler Cultural Center Concert: Hannah Kim Our first 2020 concert is Soprano Hannah Kim who enjoys performing a wide range of musical styles including opera, art songs, and musical theater. She was selected to perform alongside Andrea Bocelli as part of his west coast tour in 2009 and performs regularly with Pacific Chorale and the LA Chamber Choir. Admission Non-Member: $30 Student/Senior: $20 Member: $15 More Information

Exhibits*

Opening Jan 29! Through Feb 16 Muckenthaler Cultural Center Pre-Season Showcase of Fullerton Union High School District Student Art   Reception: Wed, Jan 29, 6:30PM. Free and open to the public.   Before we officially open our gallery with the accomplished artists in our 2020 season, join us to celebrate the artists of tomorrow! This annual exhibition showcases the best work by local students from La Habra, Fullerton, Troy, Sunny Hills, Sonora, Buena Park, La Vista, and La Sierra high schools.   More Information

Closing Jan 19! Ojai Valley Museum Legacy: Krishnamurti and Ojai   Whether you know all about Jiddu Krishnamurti or you're not quite sure what he was all about, you'll enjoy our newest exhibition. You can watch him talk in the Oak Grove, view a timeline of his life, and learn about the lasting impact he had on the Ojai valley through the many schools and organizations that are in Ojai because of him.   More Information

Through Feb 16 California Oil Museum Vintage Toy Wonderland: Memories of Our Youth from 1960s-1980s Opening Reception Sat, Sept 21, 12:00 - 2:00 PM Featuring toys, trivia, and prizes Test your knowledge in vintage toys of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, and view a wonderful collection of vintage toys. Be sure to stop by the California Oil Museum to check out all the fun!   More Information

Through May 31 Maritime Museum of San Diego Wish You Were Here Exhibit Opening at MMSD   MMSD announces the opening of Wish You Were Here , a new exhibit featuring an array of vintage postcards and photography from around the globe.   Raymond Ashley, Ph.D., K.C.I., President/CEO, explains the experience as “an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to stroll down memory lane as the Museum unveils a collection of scenic San Diego backdrops that stun and inspire pride and return visits to America’s Finest City.” From landmark events to world-class attractions, guests will see why the region has for more than 100 years earned a reputation as one of the world’s most popular spots for travel and adventure. Visitors to the exhibit will also receive a commemorative postcard to send to friends and family.   More Information

Through Jul 3 Pasadena Museum of History Starting Anew: Transforming Pasadena, 1890-1930   Opening Reception: Sun, Dec 8 1:00 - 4:00 PM   Starting Anew explores Pasadena's private and public sector development by examining themes such as: Why did people come to Pasadena? Why did they choose to stay? Where did they live and what did they see and do? What local, national, or international influences served as a catalyst for the city’s remarkable transformation? Historic images, documents, artwork, clothing, and ephemera, many selected from the Museum's collection – along with research compiled over decades by scholars, PMH staff, and volunteers – illustrate the scope of these vibrant decades in Pasadena’s history.   More Information

Ongoing Los Angeles Maritime Museum SS Poseidon   Visitors to the L.A. Maritime Museum will find a movie star on the second floor! The model of the SS Poseidon was the original prop in the 1972 classic film “The Poseidon Adventure.”   Fifteen men built the model over a period of three months. Poseidon is 21.5 feet long, and weighs one ton. The builders relied on the plans of the RMS Queen Mary , now permanently docked as an attraction in Long Beach, California.   The film’s plot required Poseidon to suffer repeated explosions and a rollover, but the model was successfully repaired and used in television commercials before arriving at the Museum.   Loan Courtesy Fox Studios   More Information

Announcements*

Ranch House Docent Training Will Rogers State Historic Park Pacific Palisades   Do you love meeting people from all over, history, storytelling, and Americana? Volunteer 4 to 8 hours a month at Will Rogers State Historic Park. No previous knowledge of Will Rogers required.   Training starts Feb 22nd and is for 3 consecutive weekends, Saturdays 9am–12pm and Sundays 12-3pm   More Information

Volunteers Who Love History Olivas Adobe Historical Park Ventura If you love history and dressing in 1800s costumes, become a Volunteer with the City of Ventura’s Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters. There are many opportunities in which to participate such as giving tours, working the gift shop, and helping with special events.   Training Classes are scheduled based on availability. All docents are trained by current long standing members. Call 805-658-4728 or email greyes@cityofventura.ca.gov   More Information

Volunteer & Teen Volunteer Open Houses Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site Long Beach Volunteer Open House Fri, Jan 24, 10:00-11:30am Teen Volunteer Open House Thurs, Jan 30, 4:00-5:30pm   Learn about our upcoming volunteer opportunities! Volunteering at RLC is a great way to learn about Long Beach history. Volunteer opportunities include greeting visitors, leading tours, gardening, helping out at special events, working behind the scenes, and representing RLC in the larger community. Use the link, email Rancho@RanchoLosCerritos.org, or call (562) 206-2040, to RSVP.   More Information

Animals for Sale Hathaway Ranch House   Hathaway Ranch Museum at 11901 E. Florence Ave. in Santa Fe Springs has chickens, eggs and pygmy goats for sale including does, yearling and newborn kids. The museum is open 11am to 4pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and by appointment other days and times. Please call the museum at 562-777-3444 for more information.   More Information

Docent and Volunteers Needed Maritime Museum of San Diego   The 13-week Maritime Museum of San Diego Docent Training Program gets underway January 7, 2020. Persons interested in the history of exploration and engaging in enhanced social interaction with Docents and the public are urged to attend. Docent volunteers will learn about worldwide maritime history with a special focus on the 16th through 21st centuries represented by the vessels and artifacts in the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s collection. Docents will engage with museum visitors, fielding their questions and sharing knowledge to enrich the guest experience. Training includes a series of lectures at the Museum staged aboard the historic 1898 steam ferry Berkeley, suggested readings and walking tours.   Training runs 13 weeks, with sessions occurring Tuesdays, 9am-12pm, followed by a 45-minute walking tour of one of the ships. Volunteers interested in the program but unable to attend the Tuesday morning training classes can participate in the Museum’s special mentorship program whereby docent recruits work one-on-one with an experienced docent to build the necessary skillset. Membership in the Maritime Museum of San Diego is required to be a docent.   More Information

* Kindly note that while we strive to list the most accurate information available at the time of publishing this newsletter, it is always best to contact the site / museum directly to confirm the dates and times of events, exhibits, and announcements listed. Thank you!

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