Rancho Los Cerritos

The Bixby family farm is an 1844-vintage Spanish-colonial adobe that to this day provides a step into the past. Rancho Los Cerritos echoes Long Beach’s history from a sprawling ranch to a modern, urban society. Once part of an early Spanish land grant, the 27,000 acre Rancho Los Cerritos evolved from cattle ranch to sheep ranch to private home before becoming a City museum in 1955.

Now a national, state and local historic landmark, the Rancho offers workshops, lectures, educational programs and tours of the historic ranch house and gardens. The 4.7 acres of landscaped grounds include trees from the mid-19th century, historic roses, exotic vegetation and the old water tower. The site also features a Visitors Center, Museum Gift Shop, California history reference library and picnic area.

Rancho Los Cerritos is open year-round, Wednesday through Sunday, from 1:00-5:00 p.m.  Admission is free. 4600 Virginia Rd. Long Beach, CA 90807. For information on current events, please call (562) 570-1755, or visit www.rancholoscerritos.org.