Signature Sundays: Living History Tours and Garden Tours
Rancho Los Cerritos is open for unique and memorable tour experiences! Garden Tours and Living History Tours available.
Garden Tours:
Enjoy the seasons at Rancho Los Cerritos where the gardens and grounds reflect over 100 years of change. Tours take place at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 on October 9, 16 and 23.
Some trees date to the 1840s when John Temple, owner of the 27,000-acre Rancho from 1844-1866, planted the first garden. In 1931, renowned landscape architect Ralph Cornell created an estate garden for Llewellyn Sr. and Avis Bixby, preserving Temple's remaining trees, reintroducing flora that was here in the 19th century, and adding fruit trees and native plants.
Explore the variety of historic roses, exotic plants, and the herb garden. Learn about the importance of water to the development of the area as you stand by the wooden water tower and tank, or explore the history of the hide and tallow trade while examining the old tallow pot. Hear stories about the challenges faced when restoring the orchard, or familiarize yourself with the magnificent Moreton Bay Fig tree that dominates the backyard. And enjoy the beauty and aromas of the seasons as you return again and again to stroll the serene gardens!
Visitors from the Past Living History Tours:
Explore Rancho Los Cerritos through the eyes of Visitors from the Past, costumed living history characters who share stories of daily life and work at the Rancho between the years 1844-1940. Tours take place at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.
This is a unique and entertaining way to explore the history of Rancho Los Cerritos and the surrounding area. Each Visitor from the Past character will have a different story to share. You may encounter:
Rafaela Cota de Temple, whose husband built the 1844 adobe as headquarters for his cattle ranching operations;
Margaret Bixby, who will discuss the challenges of raising a family and living in the isolated adobe ranch house in the 1860s and ‘70s;
Charlie Emerson, who as blacksmith for J. Bixby & Co. focuses on the work involved in maintaining an active sheep ranching business;
Llewellyn Bixby, Sr. and his wife Avis, who will talk about how they transformed the crumbling adobe into a modern home in the 1930s.
Entertaining and informative, you’ll be surprised how much you learn about the history of the area as you tour our furnished two-story adobe home!
For more information, please visit our website or call (562) 570-1755.
FREE
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