Take A Stroll Through Southern California's Past At This Historic Ranch And Gardens
By Natasha Kayes|Published September 25, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Southern California has a fascinating history and there are many different ways to learn about and experience it. Throughout the state, you can visit museums, historic landmarks, old towns, etc. But I recently learned about a particularly special place – a historic ranch in Long Beach, CA – that truly encapsulates the development of this part of California… and it is a beautiful place to explore.
Rancho Los Alamitos, literally meaning “Ranch of the Little Cottonwoods,” is a historical home dating back over 1,500 years and is a living piece of history that perfectly parallels the expansion through and settlement of Southern California.
The earliest people to inhabit the property were the Tongva tribe of Native Americans from around 500 C.E. until the 1780s, followed by Spanish and Mexican colonists, and finally by Yankee farmers during the 20th century.
The property includes a ranch house that dates from 1790, a restored barnyard, and four acres of historic gardens. The original adobe ranch house now houses a museum where visitors can learn the history of the area.
The stunning pair of Moreton Bay Fig trees, with their broad canopies and sprawling above-ground roots, provide a dramatic frame for the ranch house.
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The 7.5-acre Rancho Los Alamitos is a portion of a much larger Spanish land grant that was made up of five ranch partitions and takes its name from the native Cottonwood trees growing there.
In 1968, the Bixby family donated the ranch to the City of Long Beach, after which it was opened to the public. The Rancho Los Alamitos Foundation has worked to carefully restore and preserve the ranch and its history.
The 1920s and 1930s were a significant period in Southern California, during which grand gardens often suggested social prominence and innovative landscape artists were hired to design beautiful gardens. It was during this decade that the last private owners of the ranch, the Bixby’s, developed the gardens here.
Guests can wander through the various gardens and learn from docents and volunteers who are happy to share the property’s rich history and fascinating stories of California’s past.
The ranch also offers a variety of community and school events, including arts and crafts, workshops, live demonstrations and performances, and docent-led tours.
When you visit the restored barn, you can meet the resident livestock in the barnyard, including sheep, horses, rabbits, goats, ducks, and chickens.
No trip to Rancho Los Alamitos would be complete without a stop inside the Museum Gift Shop where you can purchase books, locally-made products, unique jewelry, and fun gifts.
This historic ranch in Long Beach has aptly been called a “microcosm” of Southern California’s expansion. Have you ever visited the ranch and gardens? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Learn more on the Rancho Los Alamitos website. If you go to Long Beach to tour the ranch, you might also enjoy the nearby Naples island where you can enjoy a little shopping, dining, and even a gondola canal ride!
