Here's the famous portrait of Bernardo Yorba (1800-1858) that hangs in the Rancho Room at Bowers Museum. Be sure to visit Bowers before the last of the Orange County history artifacts are tucked away for good. (I hear that day is coming fairly soon.) Pay special attention to the old wing (both upstairs and downstairs), which includes the Rancho Room, an exhibit on local Indians and utterly beautiful decorative ceilings. Also note some of the significant artifacts in the entry courtyard and the great Spanish-themed WPA architecture. Wonderful stuff!.
The Tustin Area Historical Society will meet Nov. 17, at 7pm, in the multi-purpose room at the Tustin Senior Center, 200 South C St. Jim Cortese will portray Bernardo Yorba in “The Passions of the Rancho Period,” a interactive and educational program featuring “storytelling, laughter and song.”
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California Heritage Day will be celebrated Sunday, Nov. 14, from 10am to 4pm at the Heritage Museum of Orange County (a.k.a the Kellogg House). The day marks the signing and ratification of the original California Constitution which took place (actually on Nov. 13,) in 1879. Activities throughout the day will include music of early California with dance demonstrations, Fiesta Grupo Folklorico, oral histories, a blacksmith demo, panning for “gold,”, exhibits, crafts, and more. (Be sure to say hello to the grizzled prospector at the gold mine!) A reenactment of the Constitution signing will be held at 2pm, and descendants of the actual signers will be honored. Admission is free.
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I will be the featured speaker at the Nov. 18th meeting of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society. I’ll be discussing the Orange County Archives and the resources available there. The meeting will be held at 7pm at the Community Center in the Sports Park at 25925 Camino del Avion.
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One more reason to attend the Orange County Historical Society's meeting Thursday night: The new 2010 Orange Countiana historical journal is now available! OCHS members will each receive a free copy, which they can pick up early by attending the meeting. Copies are available to non-members for $20 each.