Volume 143

April 2024

Looking for an adventure? Check out the upcoming and ongoing events at our fantastic participating sites.

Events This Month

Play Date in the Garden

Museum of Ventura County

Friday, April 5th

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Explore your creative expression at our third Play Date in the Garden! In partnership with Filipina/x cultural organization, Pinaysphere, we will have eco-friendly arts and crafts to help you reconnect your heart and soul with the wonders of nature. Join us in this unique blend of creativity and nature appreciation, forging lasting memories and rekindling the joy of imaginative play. Adult supervision is required.

Art activity by local youth arts nonprofit, PINAYSPHERE. Learn more: www.pinaysphere.org

Admission: Free with registration

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Artist Workshop: “Inheritance” with Trinh Mai

Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site

Saturday, April 6th

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Guests will discuss how art documents the history of our ancestors and the history we are writing now. Participants will write a postcard to their loved ones, design their own postcard, and reflect on Mai’s Still Quiet installation.

Admission: $15; tickets can be bought in advance on our website.

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2024 Docent Training

Drum Barracks Civil War Museum

Saturday, April 6th

Starts at 9:00 AM

Are you interested in Civil War artifacts and historic preservation, or want to welcome visitors at special events? There's a place for you as a member of the Drum Barracks Civil War Museum Volunteer Corps! During this four-week class, you will enjoy lectures, go behind the scenes with the curator and museum guides, and visit other historic sites in Wilmington. Classes are free but you must attend all four Saturdays to graduate. Contact the museum at 310.548.7509 to register or for additional information.

Classes repeat every Saturday until May 11th.

Admission: Free

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Baseball Day: A Tribute to Marge "Poncho" Villa

Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe Historic Site & Museum

Saturday, April 6th

12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Explore the legacy of Marge Villa, Montebello's Baseball Champion, at our special exhibit unveiling. Receive a free limited edition Marge Villa baseball card and enjoy complimentary popcorn and Cracker Jack giveaways. Rain or shine, join us on April 6th from 12 pm - 3 pm to honor this hometown hero.

Open Saturdays from 12 pm - 3 pm.

Admission: Free and open to the public

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First Sunday Concert with Dusty Strings

Rancho La Patera & Stow House

Sunday, April 7th

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Join the Goleta Valley Historical Society as we welcome Dusty Strings to the Stow House lawn! Dusty Strings is a dynamic classic rock band comprised of four highly experienced musicians dedicated to delivering the iconic sounds of the 70s. Tell your friends to tag along and bring your chairs, blanket, and a picnic!

Admission: Free

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Craig's Colorful Collection of Clutter

Bolton Hall/Little Landers Historical Society

Saturday, April 13th

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

For Bolton Hall Museum's April second Saturday program History Hunter Craig Durst joins us to reveal his unusual collection of historical oddities. The collection, assembled through his lifetime including 40 years of work in the television industry, will connect you to local, state, national and international history. You will see and touch pieces of the St. Francis Dam, the World Trade Center, his gifts from various celebrities and view a short 1928 film shot in Tujunga using a 1923 Pathe Baby Film Projector.

Craig's presentations are always educational, enlightening and entertaining. Plan to join us on April 13th for this special and unusual program.

Admission: Free - $5 donation requested

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White Bears of the North

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Thursday, April 18th

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Join Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) for its April Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series presentation of "White Bears of the North," featuring nature photographer Ralph Clevenger. The discussion will explore the habitats of two remarkable species of bears - polar bears and Kermode bears - highlighting their unique connection to the sea and emphasizing the fragility of the ecosystems upon which they are dependent.

Photo Credit: A spirit bear stands on a river bank in British Columbia. Ralph Clevenger.

Admission: The cost is free for SBMM Navigators Circle members, $10 for all other SBMM members, and $20 for the general public.

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The T. Wallace More Murder Revisited

Fillmore Historical Museum

Thursday, April 18th

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

T. Wallace More and his brothers had purchased Rancho Sespe from the Carrillo heirs. By 1877 settlers were encroaching on what he believed he owned. On the night of March 24, 1877, a group of hooded men set fire to More’s stable and More was shot multiple times. Seven men were charged, two went to trial and were found guilty. Only one served time. Looking back, was justice served?

This event will be held on Zoom.

Event is free but you must register HERE to get the link.

Admission: There is no charge, but users must register through our website to receive a link to the event

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Californio Fiesta de Rancho Camulos

Rancho Camulos Museum

Friday, April 19th

11:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Award-winning cowboy balladeer Dave Stamey's April 19th concert will highlight the 2024 Californio Fiesta de Rancho Camulos at the Rancho Camulos National Historic Landmark Museum. This annual fundraiser for the 501(c)3 museum, which starts at 11:00 AM and ends around 3:30 PM, will also include an authentic Vaquero buffet and docent-led interpretive tours of the historic buildings and beautiful grounds. Step back in time for a unique experience where the History, Myth, and Romance of Old California still lingers…

This is a partnership event with the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival. Museum information is available at Ranchocamulos.org.

Admission: $50 tickets are available at Cowboyfestival.org



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Speaker Series - Richard Foss

Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum

Saturday, April 20th

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Come join us on April 20th at 2:00 PM for a lecture on the culinary history of early California. Richard Foss is a journalist, author, culinary historian, and lecturer based in Manhattan Beach, California, and he has a wonderful presentation that will be displayed in our carriage house. We will be transported back in time to see how the Californios of the period used the land and resources to make meals inspired by various cultures. Some samples MAY be provided. Dependant on supply.

This is a free public lecture. All are invited to attend.

Admission: Free

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3rd Annual Ventura County Wildflower & Weed Show

Agricultural Museum (MVC)

Saturday, April 20th

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Don’t miss the 3rd Annual Wildflower and Weed Show, a celebration of California’s diverse flora! At noon, Antonio Sanchez will deliver an enlightening lecture titled “Inviting California to Dinner: Bringing California Native Plant Foods into Your Life and the Future of Native Plant Agriculture.”

Dive into the rich world of local flora with a specimen show featuring wildflowers and weeds, accompanied by information on local plants and pollinators. Learn about biodiversity through an iNaturalist demonstration or enhance your garden with plants from the sale. Engage your little ones with special kids’ activities and explore the gardens on guided tours led by UC Master Gardeners.

Admission: Free

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Join us for the Annual Spring Arts, Crafts and Antiques Festival

Stagecoach Inn Museum

Saturday, April 20th

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Meet local artisans with their unique artworks, handmade crafts, and antique collectibles for purchase as you wander the lovely museum grounds and its welcoming setting. It's the perfect blend of art and nature.

Entrance to the Stagecoach Inn Museum Complex grounds is free for this one-day event which includes our Blacksmith Shop, Carriage House, Tri-Village and Timber School buildings plus the garden and trails. To tour our signature building, the Grand Union Hotel, is $5 per person.

If you would like to participate as a vendor or exhibitor, check our website or call 805-498-9441 for information.

Admission: Free for Festival and Museum Grounds; $5 per person for Grand Union Hotel Tour

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Shear Magic: A Wool Workshop

Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch & Gardens

Saturday, April 20th

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Join us for a hands-on workshop on the Barns Lawn at Rancho Los Alamitos, where we'll explore the history of sheep and the art of dyeing and spinning wool. Learn about dyeing wool with native plant dyes from artist Carly Lake and watch demonstrations of wool spinning by the Greater LA Spinning Guild. You'll have the chance to dye fleece and spin yarn samples. All supplies included. Recommended for ages 7+. Join us for an enriching experience!

Admission: $30 per person, $25 for Rancho Los Alamitos Members, Free onsite parking

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Wild Stories from Moorpark College

Stagecoach Inn Museum

Sunday, April 21st

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Join Mara Rodriguez, coordinator of Zoo Development at America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College as she shares stories of her exciting 30-year career working with wild animals and creating experiences that help educate people about the importance of wild animal conservation. She has trained and cared for over 175 species of wild animals including tigers, lions, and mountain lions. Mara received the 2022 Community College State Employee of the Year Award by the California State Chancellor’s office.

Admission: $10 per person

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Lost Landmarks of Orange County - Book Signing

Balboa Island Museum

Thursday, April 25th

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Chris Epting will be speaking at the museum about his new book Lost Landmarks of Orange County on April 25^th at 6:00pm. Refreshments will be served.

Chris Epting is the author of 40 travel/history books, including James Dean Died Here (Santa Monica Press), Roadside Baseball (McGraw Hill), Hello It's Me, Dispatches From a Pop Culture Junkie (Santa Monica Press) and many others. He is also an award-winning travel writer and has contributed articles to such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Westways and Travel + Leisure magazine, among other publications.

In addition, Chris is a memoirist and has co-written Def Leppard's Phil Collen's memoir Adrenalized, John Oates' memoir Change of Seasons, and Long Train Runnin’ with the Doobie Brothers among many others. Originally from New York, Chris now lives in Southern California.

Admission: Members $20, Non-Members $25

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Grand Estates to Intimate Retreats: The Artistry of CA Landscape Architect Florence Yoch

Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch & Gardens

Thursday, April 25th

6:00 PM - 7:15 PM

Join us for a lecture at Rancho Los Alamitos to learn about the career and legacy of landscape architect Florence Yoch (b. 1890 - d. 1972). A trailblazer, she is known for shaping Southern California's landscapes. Yoch's work includes the Geranium Walk at Rancho Los Alamitos, commissioned by Florence Bixby. Rancho staff will discuss Yoch's connection to the Bixby family, showcasing archival materials. Erin Chase, Associate Curator from The Huntington, will spotlight Yoch's career and projects from their archive. Gain insight into Yoch's influential career and her lasting imprint on Southern California.

Admission: $10 per person, Free for Rancho Los Alamitos Members, Free onsite parking.

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City Nature Challenge at RLC

Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site

Starts Friday, April 26th

1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

City Nature Challenge is a 4-day community science event dedicated to documentation of local urban wildlife.

Participants will document wildlife on their tours around the Rancho and share their findings on the app, iNaturalist.

Cities will compete for who can document the most observations, find the most species, and get the most participants involved.

Rancho Los Cerritos will be offering City Nature Challenge tours on Friday 4/26 through Monday 4/29. See below for the schedule:

- Friday, 4/26: 1 pm – 5 pm

- Saturday, 4/27: 10 am – 5 pm

- Sunday, 4/28: 10 am – 5 pm

- Monday, 4/29: 10 am – 5 pm

For more information: https://www.citynaturechallenge.org/

Admission: Free

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85th Anniversary of 1st Flight of Japanese Zero

Commemorative Airforce Southern California Wing

Saturday, April 27th

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

April 1st, 1939, at Kagamigahara Air Base outside Nagoya, Japan, the first Mitsubishi A6M1 prototype takes to the air with test pilot Katsuzo Shima at the controls. The test flight went well, with only a slight tendency to vibrate noted, corrected by changing from a two-bladed variable-pitch propeller to a three-bladed constant speed Hamilton-Standard propeller license built under agreement with the US company. Mid-1943, the Solomons, enter the US P-38 Lightning and the Vought F4U Corsair, and things start going south. In between, the Zero rules! Mark your calendars to hear about the legendary start and subsequent painful ending of the iconic Imperial Japanese Navy’s A6M Type 00 fighter.

Admission: A suggested $15 donation per adult is requested to attend.

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Ongoing Exhibits and Collections

New Location

Balboa Island Museum Historical Site

In 2019, the Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach moved up the street to 210 Marine Ave.

Since our move, we have seen over 300,000 visitors!

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Museum Closure

Mullin Automotive Museum

The Mullin Automotive Museum is now closed. Thank you for your support over the past 14 years!

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Ice Bear

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Now through May 31st

In this liminal space, photographer Ralph Clevenger captures moments of hunger and hope as bears wait for the ice to freeze over so they can safely venture back onto the tundra for their first real meal in months.

Admission: Adults: $10, Seniors (65+): $7, Students w/ID: $5, Youth (6-17): $5, Children & Military & SBMM: Free

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FREEDOM WEST: RESISTANCE AND TRIUMPH IN CALIFORNIA

Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site

Now through June 30th

Freedom West: Resistance and Triumph in California will look at how the Fugitive Slave Act coupled with the admission of California into the Union as a “free state” set the stage for the dissemination of abolition and civil rights in the West.

Admission: Free

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Rising Tide: The Human Consequences of Rising Sea Levels

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Now through September 4th

Rising Tide debuted in Spring of 2021 at the Het Scheepvaartmuseum, National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam. Rising Tide visualizes the human costs of the climate crisis. Dutch documentarian photographer Kadir van Lohuizen illustrates the dramatic consequences of climate change across the world through photographs, video, drone images, and sound.

Through an exploration of various global locations, including Greenland, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Panama, Kiribati, Fiji, Jakarta, Miami, New York, and his native Netherlands, Van Lohuizen seeks to shed light on the irreversible force of climate change.

The exhibit is open daily and included with general admission.

Admission:

Adult 18+: $24.00

Senior 62+, Military w/ID, Students 13-17 years: $18.00

Child 12 to 3: $12.00

*Child 2 & under: Free (*General Admission is free for children 2 and under but requires payment for any add-on activities)

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Defending America & the Galaxy: Star Wars and SDI

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

Now through September 8th

Join us at the Reagan Library for a fun and informative exhibition on Star Wars – both the real-world technology of Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), as well as items from the movie phenomenon. The exhibition will include original items from SDI, including an authentic Command Launch Equipment Console, as well as props, costumes, and concept art from the Star Wars franchise, including a Landspeeder made for A New Hope, master replicas of Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber made from the original mold of The Last Jedi, and an original script signed by Dave Prowse (the actor who portrayed Darth Vader).

Admission: Adults $25, Seniors (65+) $22, Youth (6-17) $18, Children (3-10) $15, Active Military with ID and Children 2 & under are Free

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Touchstones, Our Rocky Beginnings

Bolton Hall/Little Landers Historical Society

Now through Autumn 2024

Join us for a new exhibit at Bolton Hall Museum. The Museum is open for your visits and exhibit viewing on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1-4 pm.

Touchstones: Our Rocky Beginnings explores the important role local Arroyo stone played in our community's early development and how this rare sub-theme of Arts and Crafts architecture became the character-defining feature of early 20th century Tujunga. The exhibit contains many rare images from our archives chronicling the use of river rock in everything from houses to hospitals, check-dams to churches. Learn what steps Little Landers Historical Society takes to protect and preserve these important links to our pioneer past and how you can help.

Admission: $5 suggested donation

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Wild West Legends: Joaquin Murrieta & Tiburcio Vasquez Exhibit

Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe Historic Site & Museum

Exhibit Open Now!

Unmask the Wild West Legends: Joaquin Murrieta & Tiburcio Vasquez Exhibit! Explore the captivating lives of these enigmatic figures through a collection of photos, drawings, books, and wanted posters. Discover the mysteries surrounding their legacy—were they outlaws, Robin Hoods, or social revolutionaries? The exhibit continues, offering a fascinating journey into the past. Don't miss your chance to catch the Wild West outlaws! #MontebelloHistory #JoaquinMurrieta #TiburcioVasquez #Outlaws #HistoryMatters

Admission: Free

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Rancho Los Cerritos: Then and Now



Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site

Now Through May 27th

Discover the growth and evolution of Rancho Los Cerritos through historical and contemporary photographs in our newest exhibition, Rancho Los Cerritos: Then & Now. See how the Rancho has changed from its early days as a cattle ranch to its current status as a National Historic Landmark. Historical photos, predominantly from the Rancho’s archive and contemporary photos from local professional photographers, will highlight the relationship between people, nature, and the land, taking visitors on a journey through the Rancho’s fascinating history.

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Celebrate! Quilts On The Wall

Pasadena Museum of History

Now through May 12th

Celebration! kicks off Pasadena Museum of History's centennial year offerings, showcasing an outstanding and diverse collection of fine art quilts by members of the Southern California group of textile artists, Quilts on the Wall. The 46 decorative quilts were chosen to illustrate that we all have something to celebrate, big or small, significant to others or only to us. It will run concurrently with Cabinet of Curiosities: Celebrating 100 Years of Collecting Pasadena History. 

Admission: Adults $9, Seniors (62+) $7,

PMH members, students, & visitors under 18 FREE

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Steam and Splendor: Treasures from the Ocean Liner and Cruise Ship Ephemera Collection



San Diego Maritime Museum

Exhibit Ongoing

Steam and Splendor: Treasures from the Ocean Liner and Cruise Ship Ephemera Collection are staged in the Compass and Gould Eddy galleries aboard the Museum’s elegant 1898 Victorian-era steam ferryboat Berkeley.

The new exhibit transports visitors to a time when ocean travel was sedate, luxurious, and exclusive and draws upon some of the Museum’s hidden treasures, never shown to the public. Its collection of ocean liner and cruise ship ephemera, numbering thousands of individual items, is one of the largest in California. Curators of the exhibit have gathered rare ocean liner-related artifacts from both the Maritime Museum of San Diego collection as well as those generously loaned by local private collectors.

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The Heritage Memorial Rose Garden



Stagecoach Inn Museum

Exhibit Ongoing

Our garden is filled with roses and other colorful and fragrant flowers. The walkway meanders through the garden, leading to a flora-covered archway and a bench for resting and enjoying the splendor.

The walkway grows each year, for it is truly a memory lane. As you look at the bricks, you will see tributes to people, families, and businesses carved in. If you want to leave a lasting memorial to your family or loved ones, say it in stone! A donation fee covers the purchase and installation of bricks. 

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Programs, Upcoming Events, etc.

Aviation War Museum Needs Help

Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing

Now Accepting Applications

The WWII Aviation Museum at Camarillo Airport needs more volunteer docents. Join our dedicated team of volunteers from all walks of life. Our mission is to educate, inspire, and honor through flight and living history. Share your knowledge of past conflicts and aviation history with visitors worldwide. Meet other like-minded folks and get a chance to experience a ride-along in one of our warbirds (conditions apply). Current hours are Friday through Sunday, but we hope to expand hours with your help. CAFSOCAL wants you! Contact us for more details.

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Cinco de Mayo Sunset Sail Weekend

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Saturday and Sunday, May 4th & 5th

5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

This one-of-a-kind sunset sail experience for 21+ is hosted by Maritime Museum of San Diego Cinco de Mayo weekend. Choose either Saturday or Sunday, May 4th & 5th to spend time on San Diego Bay with your friends as you cruise aboard the San Salvador, a replica of Explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo’s vessel, the first European to reach America’s West Coast in 1542.

Your evening includes Spanish guitar, custom tequila cocktails, and delicious light appetizers, all while underway on the Bay aboard this lovely vessel representative of Spanish Pacific Heritage. Cinco de Mayo is the perfect holiday to celebrate aboard the Museum’s Spanish galleon replica San Salvador. Cash bar will also be on board.

Admission: $140 per person, $260 for couples

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Spring Tea Party (Mother's Day Weekend)

Heritage Square, Oxnard

Saturday, May 11th

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Enjoy an elegant tea party served by costumed docents in a historic Victorian setting. Menu includes sweets and savories, freshly baked scones, three types of delicate tea sandwiches, fruit, and dessert.

Table games and prizes for a favorite hat contest. Shop in our boutique. Ticket includes a docent-led tour of Heritage Square, optional.

Please indicate if you have friends who are purchasing tickets separately so we can seat you together. Intimate tables seat 5-6 people.

Well-behaved children over the age of 6 are invited to join their parents or grandparents, at a ratio of one adult per each child.



We can also provide a customized tea for your own party. Please call for more information: (805) 657-1970.

Admission: $50

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BOARDED! A New Pirate Adventure presented by San Diego Pirate Adventures

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Saturday, May 18th

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM & 12:45 PM - 2:15 PM

These popular 90-minute performances are staged aboard the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s 16th century Spanish galleon San Salvador. Guests will be fully engaged in pirate theatrics at the dock and underway on San Diego Bay. Tickets include general admission to explore the Museum fleet and exhibits before or after your performance.

Admission: $85 for adults. $35 for 12 and under.

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The Leonis Adobe is Seeking Tour Guides!

The Leonis Adobe Museum

Join the award-winning team at the Leonis Adobe Museum as a part-time tour guide! Bring California's 1880s ranching era to life through knowledge and interactive activities. We are looking for enthusiastic team players who are passionate about history, working with children, and interacting with guests. Lead private school tours for children grades 1 - 5 and meet the community during open hours on the weekends. Join our amazing team and make some new friends. Must be available to work an average of 12hrs per week. Morning, afternoon, and weekend shifts available. This is a paid position. Please reach out to our team at contact@leonisadobemuseum.org with your resume or call (818) 222-6511 to chat about the position.

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About the Passport 2 History Program

Step 1:

Get your P2H Passport Booklet!

Step 2:

Visit great institutions!

Step 3:

Share your adventure!

Passport 2 History is facilitated by the

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-Tongva common-law 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, as well as our channel on YouTube!

Keep in Touch!