Museum of Ventura County

The visits of Presidents Nixon and Kennedy to Ventura County in the 1960s were in keeping with an old practice that goes back as far as George Washington. The Father of His Country toured through the nation, as it then existed, to observe in person the condition of the country and to learn at firsthand how the people felt regarding various matters. Other presidents, in their tours, have visited Ventura County. The earliest known such visit was on April 24, 1891 when Presiden...t Benjamin Harrison came in a four car special train. He reached Santa Paula about 2:30 p.m., where a large and enthusiastic crowd appeared at the depot. Samples of the county's beans were presented and also a miniature oil rig executed in various colored roses. After a few words from the rear platform, the party proceeded on to Ventura. President Harrison arrived at 3:20 p.m. to a crowd of over three thousand who had come to see a real, live president. This immense turnout was larger than had ever been gathered in the history of Ventura. At that time the city's population was only 2,320 and the county's was 10,071. The stop here was very brief, planned for 10 minutes, during which the president said a few words from the rear platform. William McKinley, the second president to reach Ventura, came on May 10, 1901. His eight car special train stopped for 10 minutes at Santa Paula. The president spoke from the rear platform to a crowd of three thousand, many from the eastern part of the county. The depot was decorated and an archway was covered with flowers and the word WELCOME. Ventura was allotted one hour for a program which consisted of a tour of the town and, of course, a talk by the president. The residences and businesses along the route were finely decorated, and the depot was transformed for the occasion from its dingy appearance to the most elaborately decorated building in Ventura. The masterpiece was a floral arch on Main between Fir and Ash Streets that was 25 feet high and 18 feet across between the pillars. It was covered with pepper leaves and more than 10 thousand calla lilies. Seventeen carriages were in the procession to carry the honored guests and members of the reception committee through the town. They travelled from the depot along Main Street to San Buenaventura Mission, which the president entered and was shown through by the Rev. Patrick J. Grogan, along Poli Street for a view of the ocean, then down to Plaza School where he spoke to the throng, then back to the depot. The Weekly Free Press had a supplement in its next issue showing about 10 or 12 views of this occasion. By Herbert F. Ricard Photo 14019 President McKinley on speakers stand in front of Plaza School. PN 14019, MVC Library & Archives Collection.

Happy President's Day! In recognition of President's Day, let's take a look at some of the presidents who visited Ventura County during their time in office. Image 1: While visiting San Buenaventura Mission, the president expressed a desire to go up in the bell tower; so he went up and rang the old wooden bells. At the Plaza School he spoke to an audience of five thousand for 16 minutes although his advisors warned him three times that he was running behind schedule. It was p...lanned and approved that the Pacific Squadron of our Navy would be at Ventura to participate in the welcome to the president, but at the last minute a problem of logistics made it impossible for the warships to appear. The next three presidential visits are not authenticated. It has been stated that Woodrow Wilson once waved to the crowd from the back of a train, and that Franklin Delano Roosevelt went through under wartime secrecy conditions. Harry Truman is supposed to have spoken at Santa Barbara from the back of a train; if so, that train must have passed through Ventura. President John F. Kennedy came on June 7, 1963. He arrived in a Marine Corps helicopter at Point Mugu. The gates were opened for this occasion and thousands came to greet their president. He spoke briefly through a microphone that was too low for him, and shook hands with those he could. After 22 minutes Kennedy left in the presidential jet. The Star-Free Press "Magazine" on the following day had a souvenir with pages of pictures that relate to the visit. President Richard M. Nixon landed at Point Mugu on March 21, 1969 for a helicopter inspection of the flood damage and of the offshore oil leak. He gave a greeting to the marines who were present, then took off after a stop of 17 minutes. The public was not admitted to Point Mugu for this occasion because of the brevity of the visit. Two of the three presidents who came to our county were assassinated a short time later: McKinley after four months and Kennedy after five months. In this connection, the guarding of these presidents was commented on in the newspapers at the time. The accounts of McKinley’s visit seemed to stress the careful guarding being given to him. Of Kennedy's, one account said, Secret service agents formed a human chain around the president as he walked into the throng shaking hands with anyone who could get to him. Image 2: In 1901, President McKinley visited Ventura. In this photograph, you can see McKinley’s parade view from corner of California and Main Street looking southeast. Odd Fellow's Hall (the tower) is shown on right of photo and a large banner welcoming President McKinley readings "Brother McKinley."

Today is the day! Come on out to the Agriculture Museum beginning at 10:00 AM!

Follow along on a driving tour of the mid-century designs of Santa Paula-based architectural firm Wilson Stroh Wilson! Hop in the car, open Google Maps http://bit.ly/WSWDrivingTour and begin your exploration! Based on the Museum of Ventura County’s Wilson Stroh Wilson Architectural Drawings Collection, this driving tour has thirty-seven total stops across Southern California with the majority in Ventura County. Tour stops are broken up by city so that you can learn wherever... you are. Directions to each stop are available through Google Maps upon selecting a site to visit. Enjoy Wilson Stroh Wilson’s designs and learn about local architectural history with this driving tour across Ventura County! This driving tour was created with the help of intern Jessica Schott, an undergraduate history major attending Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia.

JUST ANNOUNCED! After the wildly successful, MVC Members-only Zoom series "Behind the Scenes with Ivor Davis" wrapped up this past fall, the Museum of Ventura County is thrilled to present "Ivor Davis: Up Close and Personal", a new Zoom series featuring a rotating guest list of notable and celebrated Ventura County residents, including Chris Hillman, Malcom McDowell, Miriam Arichea, and more. This new series is free and open to the public with registration! You are invited to... join us on Zoom on Thursday, January 21st, 2020 @ 6:30pm7:30pm for the first in this series with musician Chris Hillman. Members and past visitors might recall "An Evening of Song & Stories with Chris Hillman" in January 2019, when Chris Hillman and Herb Pederson performed classics by the Byrds and Chris’ solo albums in the Museum’s Pavilion in support of the exhibit, Chris Hillman: Time Between. Among the topics of conversation, Ivor Davis will interview Chris Hillman about his recent memoir, Time Between: My Life as a Byrd, Burrito Brother, and Beyond, his time living in Ventura County, his rock ‘n roll roots, and much more. This is not to be missed! See more

On February 10, 1964 the United States House of Representatives passed the Civil Rights Act outlawing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It provided equal access to public places and employment. It enforced desegregation of schools and the right to vote. By the time this act passed, Shirley Verrett, opera mezzo-soprano from Oxnard, had already made a name for herself, overcoming discrimination and racism in the world of classical m...usic. Born in New Orleans, Leon Verrett moved daughter Shirley and the rest of the family to Southern California during World War II to escape the overt racism in the South. The family settled in Oxnard to be close to her father’s brother, Harrison who was stationed in the Navy at Port Hueneme. A devout 7th Day Adventist, Shirley first sang in her church choir in Oxnard. Her father encouraged her to study voice as he had hopes that his daughter would become the next Marian Anderson. Shirley studied with voice teachers in the San Fernando Valley and learned everything from spirituals to German lieder (songs). She was encouraged to audition for Juilliard where she tied for first place in the Marian Anderson Voice Competition and began moving toward a career in opera, something she never saw herself doing. In 1959 conductor Leopold Stokowski asked her to sing with the Houston Symphony but the offer was withdrawn by the symphony board because of her race. Never discouraged, Shirley moved on to become an opera sensation in Europe, where she was the first African American woman to sing with the Bolshoi Opera. Shirley returned to the United States and, even though she had had a contentious relationship with the Metropolitan Opera in the past, she agreed to come to New York in 1974 and sing opposite Beverly Sills who was making her Met debut. Shirley continued her singing career on Broadway and in films. In 1996 she accepted a professorship at the University of Michigan where she was endowed as the James Earl Jones Distinguished Professor of Voice. Shirley Verrett died on November 10, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan but she will always be remembered as one of a handful of African American opera singers who changed the game.

Happy New Year, #VenturaCounty! Ring in the new year by becoming an MVC Member. You'll help provide virtual education lessons and field trips to students, present free livestream programs and online content, and make history accessible for all. Join the MVC family today https://bit.ly/MVCMembership

Today, we’re featuring the work of Gail Faulkner from the MVC Gallery Marketplace. You can view and purchase Gail’s artwork at the link below, as well as numerous other Ventura County artists. Support local artists, buy local art! MVC Gallery Marketplace https://bit.ly/MVCGallery With her passion for still life, Gail Faulkner loves exploring the interplay of her compositions arranging and rearranging to find the perfect balance. From the reflection on a favorite cerami...c piece to the intricate weave of a basket, to the never ending shapes and colors of complementary fruits and items of nature, Gail captures it all with a lush, yet precise detail that makes us wonder if it is really watercolor. Art has always played a role in Gail’s life in some capacity, but it wasn’t until retiring from a career in the medical field that she studied at the Philadelphia College of Art to pursue her love of the arts. Following careers in the medical field and in business, Gail now devotes herself to her love of painting. Her award winning watercolors have been featured in numerous museum exhibits and can be found in collections across the country. Gail’s artwork is part of the Carnegie Art Museum of Oxnard, California’s permanent collection and the collection of Ventura, California’s Community Memorial Hospital. She is an Artist Member of the California Art Club and an American Women Artists ‘Artist of Distinction’. Gail is represented by The Seaside Gallery in Pismo Beach, CA and Tartaglia Fine Art in Bainbridge Island, WA. Her home and her studio are in Ventura, California.

Gather your family around the computer and tune-in to Facebook Live this Sun., Dec. 27, 2020 at 11am Gather your family around the computer and tune-in to Facebook Live this Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 11am for "Story Time at the Museum!" Museum Docent and Ventura County Librarian Alberta Word will be reading "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly." Mark your calendars for Sunday, January 10, 2020 at 11am and tune-in for the season finale of Story Time at the Museum" w...ith MVC Deputy Director Denise Sindelar. If you need to brush up on your alphabet, join Denise for a reading of "A is for Activist" by Innosanto Nagara. Are you an MVC Member? Membership makes it possible for us to present exhibits, events and programs that serve the community and provide educational and cultural resources for visitors to explore even from home. Consider becoming an MVC Member https://bit.ly/MVCInsiderMembership. Visit www.VenturaMuseum.org for information on upcoming exhibits, events and special programming. If you'd like to become a Member of the Museum of Ventura County, sign-up here: https://bit.ly/2X9UGyp. If you'd like to subscribe to our e-newsletter and receive the latest virtual tours, games, family activities, articles, and more directly in your inbox sign-up here: https://bit.ly/3aYhk1vfor

The Museum of Ventura County and Agriculture Museum family wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and end to the 2020 year. This year has been unlike any other, and we've been fortunate to have this community to inspire and be inspired by! - during these unprecedented times. As we start 2021, we want to remind you that we are here for you, keeping our community connected through our online programming and activities. Visit www.VenturaMuseum.org for a varie...ty of family-friendly games and puzzles, local history, videos, and more. There's still time for one last stocking stuffer... give the gift of MVC Membership and unlock a year of invitations to all of our exciting members-only digital programs, discounts on events, access to regional history and art, and much more. Sign-up, renew or give the gift MVC Membership here: https://bit.ly/MVCMembership.

This artificial Christmas tree was used as a store prop by the old Montgomery Wards store when it was located on Main Street in Ventura. It was found behind the store after Christmas, tossed out with other decorations, by two youngsters: David Drapeau and Don Armistead. The tree found a new home with the Drapeau family and was used for many years. David Drapeau was the son of Judge Louis Drapeau, appointed to the Superior Court in 1937, then in 1949 to the Appellate Court. Th...e first judge from Ventura County to be appointed to the Court of Appeals. What type of Christmas tree do you have on display in your living rooms this year 8ft of 2ft? Artificial or Douglas Fir or Flocked? Let's see some photos of your festive trees on full display in the comments! Accession #2011-14.1.

Join us for the Season 2 premiere of MVC Insider" this Friday, October 23rd at 10am! Artists Emma Akmakdjian and Bob Privitt will join us from the Museum of Ventura County and the Ventura Botanical Gardens to discuss their sculptures on display at Arte Forastero, a two-location collaborative exhibit featuring 14 regional artists. Mark your calendars for Friday, November 6th at 10am and tune-in for another episode of MVC Insider! Are you an MVC Member? Membership makes ...it possible for us to present exhibits, events and programs that serve the community and provide educational and cultural resources for visitors to explore even from home. Consider becoming an MVC Member bit.ly/MVCInsiderMembership. Learn more about Arte Forastero bit.ly/MVCArteForastero.

What special treats are you whipping together for the upcoming holidays? Here are a few recipes from a cookbook in the museum’s collection. These aren’t just any ‘ole recipes they’re 1983 Ventura County Fair prize winning recipes! Without revealing century-old secret family recipes, share in the comments what delicious desserts and dishes you'll be serving at home this holiday season. Don't hold back on mouthwatering photos from the dinner table share those, too!

Snow Comes to the Coast! We wouldn't put it past 2020 to give the central coast a snowstorm. Several Museum staff members have "Snow on the Beach" on their 2020 bingo cards. If you think that's unlikely, you might be surprised to know that Ventura County's coastal areas have seen snow several times in recent history. The winter of 1948 - 1949 was a cold one and by January 8, 1949 the County suffered over $1 million in crop losses. There was a cold snap the first week of Ja...Continue reading

Have you hung your stockings by the chimney with care, yet? These stockings were handmade as a gift by a member of the Underwood family. Are your stockings handmade? Do you have a festive stocking display strung across your fireplace? You're encouraged to share images in the comments. Accession #2014-16.25 & 26.

Patty Hernandez shared her home altar including the papel picado and papel maravilla that her family created with the Day of the Dead Craft Bag that they picked up this past weekend at the museum! Please send us your home altar pictures so we can inspire others.

The Museum of Ventura County thanks everyone who joined us for a "Zoom Workshop: Creating a Family Altar with Dr. Roberto Vargas." If you missed it, you can watch the entire workshop below! Dr. Vargas has also generously provided PDF instructions on 'How to Build an Altar and Facilitate a Family Gathering' that can be downloaded in both English and Spanish. Watch + Download http://bit.ly/AltarWorkshop "Thank you very much for your participation last evening! Your comments in the chat and Q&A conveyed your deep appreciation for the Dias de los Muertos tradition and your commitment to learning and extending its practice in a loving way. Please keep in touch via my blog at Porvida.org or RobertoVargas.com, or email me at [email protected]. Blessings to you and familia!" Dr. Roberto Vargas

Concepción Concha Sanchez pulled this apron over her head when she went to work supporting her family. The Sanchez family migrated to the United States from Guanajuato, Mexico in 1906. The family worked to support themselves in a variety of ways, first as railroad track workers in Kansas and Texas, by working in the citrus industry in Riverside, California, and finally opening a grocery store in Fillmore. However, during the Great Depression, the grocery store failed, and t...he Sanchez family looked for another source of income: masa and tortillas. With the help of her family, Concepcion Sanchez sold masa and tortillas out of her home to her neighbors and local grocery stores in Ventura County. Sanchez was in her 80s when she stopped. Her story is featured in Smithsonian American Women: Remarkable Objects and Stories of Strength, Ingenuity, and Vision From the National Collection. Learn more about Sanchez's story here: https://s.si.edu/2nhaqjY

Gather your family around the computer and tune-in to Facebook Live this Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 11am for "Story Time at the Museum!" MVC Exhibits Staff Member Robert Bermudez will be reading "The Baby Blue Cat and the Dirty Dog Brothers," a story from his personal childhood collection of books. Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 11am and tune-in for another episode of Story Time at the Museum" with Museum Docent Alberta Word. Alberta will be reading ...There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback. Are you an MVC Member? Membership makes it possible for us to present exhibits, events and programs that serve the community and provide educational and cultural resources for visitors to explore even from home. Consider becoming an MVC Member https://bit.ly/MVCInsiderMembership. Visit www.VenturaMuseum.org for information on upcoming exhibits, events and special programming. If you'd like to become a Member of the Museum of Ventura County, sign-up here: https://bit.ly/2X9UGyp. If you'd like to subscribe to our e-newsletter and receive the latest virtual tours, games, family activities, articles, and more directly in your inbox sign-up here: https://bit.ly/3aYhk1v

The Museum of Ventura County has received a Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Planning Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities! Read more https://bit.ly/3iU60XG! The grant will allow the museum to create a collections risk assessment, a fire suppression assessment report, and a disaster response plan for the entire organization. The Museum of Ventura County serves county residents, researchers, scholars, and the public, caring for a vast collection of 180,000 historical artifacts, art works, official documents, and agricultural machinery and implements.

Have you mailed out all of your holiday cards, yet? Hurry! Down in our basement collections storage is an ordinary archival box Box 568. It’s an unassuming box. One you might be tempted to overlook. But like many of our archival boxes, the things inside are quite special. Box 568 in particular is full of holiday cheer. Inside is a collection of Christmas cards created and mailed each year by artist Mary Michel. Have you received a particularly festive or hilarious 'ugly' sweater family photo holiday card this year? You're encouraged to share them in the comments.

Today, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day to honor the Native American peoples and commemorate their histories and cultures. Petra Pico, Chumash Basket Maker. 1890. Research Library at The Museum of Ventura County.

As we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th, we bring you the stories and contributions made by our Latino community here in Ventura County. Latinos living in Ventura County come from many different countries including Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The Museum will be featuring some of these stories over the next month. Two small volumes in the Museum Research Library represent a long tradition of printing i...n Mexico, the political turmoil of early California and a connection with one of California’s first printers, José de la Rosa, who came to San Buenaventura in 1880. It is our belief this man carried these books with him throughout his travels in Alta California, beginning in 1834. The smaller volume, Devocionario Parte II, contains nine religious publications, dating from 1823 to 1832. The somewhat larger Quinario O’ Devocion de Cinco Dias contains five publications, dating from 1768 to 1832. Born in 1802 in Puebla, Mexico, José María Telésforo de la Rosa first studied for the priesthood up to the point of being ordained, but when Mexico declared its independence from Spain, he enlisted as soldier and worked at the government printing office in Mexico City. It was from his grandfather, Agustin de la Rosa, that José first learned the printer’s trade. In 1834, de la Rosa, his wife Maria Dolores and their two daughters joined over two hundred colonists gathered together by José Maria Hijar and José Maria Padrés, collectively known as Compania Cosmopolitana. The Compania left San Blas on August 1, 1834 on the corvette Morales and the brig Natalia; the latter arrived in Monterey Bay on December 21, 1834. De la Rosa set up shop and soon issued California’s first newspaper, Govierno Politico. In 1845 de la Rosa moved to Sonoma where he met Harald Ludwig Kamp and his wife Josefa Higuera Kamp. In 1880 Harold and Josefina Kamp moved with their friend José de la Rosa to San Buenaventura. De la Rosa, or Don Pepe, as close friends knew him, became a familiar sight on the streets of San Buenaventura, where he was known as the oldest printer in Californiaa term he did not dispute. José de la Rosa died on December 9, 1891, and was buried at the San Buenaventura Mission.

You are invited to explore the new MVC Gallery Marketplace http://bit.ly/MVCGallery! This marketplace has been created to help regional artists sell their works. The Museum's Fine Arts Committee and Cultural Team has selected notable artists working in many media, who represent some of the finest work in our county. Support local artists and buy local artwork! Additionally, we have partnered with the UPS Store at 35 W. Main Street in Ventura for easy and secure shipping.

In celebration of Día de los Muertos, the Museum of Ventura County invites you and your family to pick-up an MVC Grab ‘n Go Day of the Dead Craft Bag at the Ventura Museum (100 E. Main St., Ventura) on Saturday, October 17, 2020 @ 10AM (while supplies last). The MVC Grab ‘n Go Day of the Dead Craft Bag is stuffed with fun for the entire family, including a recipe for baking Pan de Muerto Face , a Día de los Muertos mask-making kit and much more. Drive-ups only, please. You... will be met curbside in the Ventura Museum (100 E. Main St., Ventura) parking lot by our friendly staff members. Gloves, masks and social distancing practices will be in place. Día de los Muertos is generously sponsored by EJ Harrison & Sons.

The Museum of Ventura County’s Bridge Builder Award celebrates the accomplishments of leaders who have made significant impact on the region those who have changed the fabric of our community, creating a new and better future. In 2020 and 2021, the Museum of Ventura County honors the extended families and descendants of Isabel Winemiller and William Dewey Hobson. In this 4-part video series, the Museum of Ventura County celebrates the accomplishments of this incredible fami...ly, now in its seventh generation. Episode 2The Next Generation: With the unofficial title The Father of Ventura County, and a lifetime of hard work and success, it comes as no surprise that William Dewey Hobson’s children also earned notable positions in Ventura commerce and community. WD’s sons Abram Lincoln and William Arthur began their own successful paths in business in their teens. The Hobsons, Hoffmans, and Smiths lifelong goals of community service, preserving and celebrating the past, and embracing the latest in modern technology to increase efficiency of business, served them, and the community well. For more information, visit www.VenturaMuseum.org

The Days of the Dead season is here! You are invited to join us for "A Zoom Workshop: Creating Family Altars with Dr. Roberto Vargas" on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 from 6:30PM7:45PM. Register https://bit.ly/MVCFamilyAltar and attend this free, family-friendly Zoom experience where Dr. Vargas will teach viewers how to celebrate Días de los Muertos by remembering their loved ones and creating a Family Altar, or ofrenda. For over 40 years, Dr. Roberto Vargas has used Días de... los Muertos as medicine to nurture the tradition of family love and respect. Día de los Muertos is generously sponsored by EJ Harrison & Sons.

Welcome to our October 2, 2020 live look at local artist MB Hanrahan’s new mural in the Museum’s Children’s Garden!

In 2009, the Museum of Ventura County mounted an exhibition called, Wearing Our Stories: Costume and Cultural Identity in the Latino Community. The exhibit showcased artistic expression through clothing and adornment. In celebration of #HispanicHeritageMonth, the Museum wishes to honor some of the local artists, writers and activists who were photographed for this exhibit and who have made and continue to make lasting contributions to the community here in Ventura County. Here are a few highlights from that exhibit. Special thanks to photographers Rudy Cardona and Sam Hernandez.

The Oxnard Film Society presents Monday Night Foreign Film Series, a virtual cinema experience focused on films from non-English speaking countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oxnard Film Society has created a Virtual Cinema which provides an opportunity for patrons to stream films to your iPhone, iPad, computer, or even your home screen! Films range from $6.99/$12 per film with unlimited viewing for 2 to 7 days. Your rental ticket supports the film society in conti...nuing its mission of providing critically acclaimed foreign and independent films from around the world to our community. The films featured this week include a comedy from an Oscar winning Argentinian director, a documentary on an iconoclastic American musician, and two Best International Films (entries into the Academy Awards). Click for more info! https://www.oxnardfilmsociety.org

Have you seen the latest episode of Ventura County Archaeology? Archeologist John Foster explores the concept of "inference" and how archaeologists use it to predict what artifacts were used in certain activities even if we don't find them. https://youtu.be/ad6SeFJP9MU

Welcome to our October 1, 2020 live look at local artist MB Hanrahan’s new mural in the Museum’s Children’s Garden! Today, MB's work is focused on hand lettering, "You have arrived at the village of the Chumash..., in Chumash, Spanish and English. We acknowledge the original people of this area.

The Gift On December 8, 2019, non profit leader, music and film producer and artist, David Damian Figueroa, created the art installation, Save the Nopal, as a response to Art Basel’s Banana, in the museum’s lobby. Fast forward a year and we find ourselves closed to the public. But the nopal remains a constant. Amidst the sickness, the fear, and the uncertainty we are experiencing, we uncover a nice surprise. The nopal is sprouting while being taped to the wall without water ...or nutrients. We can always count on Mother Nature to bring new life and with it, hope for the future.

This #GivingTuesday, consider giving the the gift of MVC Membership to a friend or loved one, or renewing your MVC Membership. Join, Renew or Gift Membership https://bit.ly/MVCMembership As an MVC Member, you are investing in the support of our new and important offerings that have started since the pandemic, including Virtual Learning Modules, 360 Virtual Exhibits and Tours, Grab 'n Go Bag Drive Giveaways, the digitization of our collection, and more.... You can also make a one-time or monthly contribution and help inspire vibrant communities by connecting the past, present and future. Donate https://bit.ly/MVCDonate As the museums remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, your support means more than ever. We look forward to reopening our doors to the public and welcoming you back to 'your' museum.

We’re bringing you a series of fun and funny images from the Research Library and Archives in search of the best meme. Submit your best caption for this month's Meme Contest photograph. The winning entry will receive a $25 gift certificate to a Ventura County business of their choice. Submit your best meme or caption https://bit.ly/MVCMeme01 to be considered.

Gather your family around the computer and tune-in to Facebook Live this Sunday, November 29, 2020 at 11am for "Story Time at the Museum!" Museum Docent and Ventura County Librarian Alberta Word will be reading "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat" by Simms Taback. Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 11am and tune-in for another episode of Story Time at the Museum" with Museum Staff Member Robert Bermudez. Robert will be reading "The Baby Blue Cat and the Dirty Do...g Brothers," a book from his personal childhood collection of stories. Are you an MVC Member? Membership makes it possible for us to present exhibits, events and programs that serve the community and provide educational and cultural resources for visitors to explore even from home. Consider becoming an MVC Member https://bit.ly/MVCInsiderMembership. Visit www.VenturaMuseum.org for information on upcoming exhibits, events and special programming. If you'd like to become a Member of the Museum of Ventura County, sign-up here: https://bit.ly/2X9UGyp. If you'd like to subscribe to our e-newsletter and receive the latest virtual tours, games, family activities, articles, and more directly in your inbox sign-up here: https://bit.ly/3aYhk1v

While you wait for your stuffing to warm up in the oven, head on over to the United Farm Workers Twitter page to learn about all the work behind the ingredients of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes. There are fascinating close-up videos and in-depth descriptions of the harvest process. Did you know that squash vines are covered in fine hairs that cause severe skin irritation? Or that a box of kale typically weighs 10lbs? Or that while sweet potatoes and yams are unearthed by harvesting machines, they still require sorting and cleaning by hand? https://bit.ly/3fygVGk

Does the buzzing of the electric carving knife set anyone else’s mouth to watering? Just us? For many families, there’s no clearer signal that Thanksgiving turkey eating is about to commence than the noisy whirring of one of these babies. Our dinners may be smaller this year as we celebrate within our households so we hope you find joy with whatever touches of nostalgia make this holiday special for you. Submit your Thanksgiving Menu in the comments thread! Mash Potatoes vs. Mac 'n Cheese? Turkey vs. Tofurkey? Baked Parmesan Brussel Sprouts vs. Streamed Veggies? What seconds will you be fighting over this year?

Insects get a bad rap, but they aren’t all bad. Us humans may not like to find them where they don’t belong like our kitchen counter or bed but they are important. In the latest Virtual Learning Module, you’ll learn about some of the cool things insects can do. At the end, you’ll find some printable activity packs and crafts for even more learning and fun! Begin your insect journey https://bit.ly/VLM14Insects! Virtual Learning Modules are brought to you in part by the generous support of Montecito Bank & Trust.

Hay Loaders helped to harvest alfalfa hay in Ventura County. Alfalfa was a popular crop in the area because despite the improvement of engine-powered machinery in the early 20th century, horses were still a main source of power on farms.Tractors were an expensive investment. Some farmers devoted up to 1/3 of their land to alfalfa for feed purposes to keep their animals fed and happy. An added bonus to planting alfalfa is that it improves soil so it makes an excellent crop to ...rotate through the fields. Sugar beets were especially hard on the soil pulling moisture and nutrients. With no fertilizers, farmers could rebuild their soil’s fertility with alfalfa. The downside? Alfalfa is a water intensive plant, so before irrigation in areas of the county, it was difficult to grow. Farmers cut and raked the hay in windrows and the hay loader lifted the hay off the ground and placed it in the wagon to save time and effort of using a pitchfork. Hay Loader, c. 1930s Made by International Harvester Co. Used by the McGrath Family Accession No. 1977-25.2

Gather your family around the computer and tune-in to Facebook Live this Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 11am for "Story Time at the Museum!" Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait-Stensile will be sharing the Story of the Chumash Universe. Julie will also teach and sing the song, Hey Hickity, a California song that has been sung for many, many years at the Chumash Summer Camps. Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 29, 2020 at 11am and tune-in for another episode of Story Time at ...the Museum" with Museum Docent Alberta Word. Are you an MVC Member? Membership makes it possible for us to present exhibits, events and programs that serve the community and provide educational and cultural resources for visitors to explore even from home. Consider becoming an MVC Member bit.ly/MVCInsiderMembership. Visit www.VenturaMuseum.org for information on upcoming exhibits, events and special programming. If you'd like to become a Member of the Museum of Ventura County, sign-up here: https://bit.ly/2X9UGyp. If you'd like to subscribe to our e-newsletter and receive the latest virtual tours, games, family activities, articles, and more directly in your inbox sign-up here: https://bit.ly/3aYhk1v

Today, we recognize and thank all veterans of all branches for their sacrifice and bravery. Happy Veterans Day! At the end of World War I, four American veterans, including Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., the son of President Theodore Roosevelt, envisioned an organization led by veterans to help fellow veterans returning home from the war. In 1919, Congress chartered the American Legion as an official American patriotic society. That same year, the Ventura County Post 48 organized ...to serve Ventura County veterans. Post 48 had its first meeting on Sep 12, 1919 at the Ventura County Courthouse and invited servicemen from around the county. Ventura County’s American Legion chapters hosted Air Shows, sponsored Armistice Day, and provided camaraderie for Ventura County Veterans. In the 1930s, Post 48 could no longer support the entire county so it split into separate posts and Post 48 become the Oxnard Post. Image 1: The Ventura Post, Post 339, was chartered in 1927. This photograph was taken circa 1942. Image 2: The Camarillo Post No. 741 gifted the keepsake box to Max Riave of Camarillo in 1982 as Our tribute of affection. Image 3: The American Legion designed this 7 inch plaque for use in cemeteries to mark the graves of their members.

Join us on Facebook Live for the next episode of MVC Insider" this Friday, November 6, 2020 at 9am! Krystell Jimenez, Project Archivist, will uncover relics from Ventura High School dating back to the 1940s, 50s and 60s, including a scrapbook featuring three-time NBA All-Star, 1975 NBA Rookie of the Year and former Lakers player Jamaal Wilkes (a.k.a Jamaal Abdul-Lateef) when he was just 11 years old! He wasn’t the only achiever in his family, either. Mark your calendars fo...r Friday, November 20, 2020 at 9am and tune-in on Facebook Live for another episode of MVC Insider! Are you an MVC Member? Membership makes it possible for us to present exhibits, events and programs that serve the community and provide educational and cultural resources for visitors to explore even from home. Consider becoming an MVC Member bit.ly/MVCInsiderMembership.

Here at the Museum of Ventura County (MVC) and the Agriculture Museum (AG), we love to celebrate the vibrant cultural diversity of our community! In this Virtual Learning Module, we explore the history and origins of #DíadelosMuertos. Explore https://bit.ly/VLMDayOfDead From lively street processions, music, colorful dress, and face painting, to intricate altars, candle-light vigils, and deeply symbolic art installations, Día de los Muertos is a beautiful celebration of bot...h Latinx culture and the cyclical nature of life. Virtual Learning Modules are brought to you in part by the generous support of Montecito Bank & Trust.

The Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula has reopened to members only! We have a new reservations and ticketing system in place to regulate the amount of traffic in the galleries, as well as limited operational days and hours. Members click www.venturamuseum.org/tickets to make your reservations! If you're not a Member, consider joining today www.venturamuseum.org/join-or-renew... We will be opening to the public in mid-November. Continue checking back here for the reopening announcement. Thank you for your ongoing support of the Museum of Ventura County. We appreciate you, and we can’t wait to see you at MVC!

Gather your family around the computer and tune-in to Facebook Live this Sunday, November 1st at 11am for "Story Time at the Museum!" Ventura County Author and New York Times Syndicate Showbiz writer Ivor Davis will read his wonderful children's book, "Ladies and Gentleman... the Penguins!" Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 15th at 11am and tune-in for another episode of Story Time at the Museum" with Julie Tumamait-Stenslie. Are you an MVC Member? Membership makes it possible for us to present exhibits, events and programs that serve the community and provide educational and cultural resources for visitors to explore even from home. Consider becoming an MVC Member bit.ly/MVCInsiderMembership.

In celebration of Día de los Muertos, come visit the MVC Community Altar in the Plaza (100 E. Main St., Ventura) now thru Tuesday, November 3, 2020 from 10AM5PM! Here's a lil' sneak to inspire a visit. For more info, visit https://bit.ly/MVCAltar2020.

Join us this Saturday, October 31st from 11AM 4PM at the Museum of Ventura County to celebrate Dia de los Muertos with your community! The community altar will be unveiled, Desserts to Die will be on-site with their dessert hearse selling treats between 10am-12pm, and we’ll be giving away pumpkins courtesy of Oro del Norte to MVC Members while supplies last. Pumpkins will also be available at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula.

The Museum of Ventura County’s Martin V. and Martha K. Smith Pavilion will serve as an early voting site for the 2020 election. Dates and times are as follows: Saturday, October 31st 10:00 AM 6:00 PM... Sunday, November 1st 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Monday, November 2nd 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Tuesday, November 3rd 7:00 AM 8:00 PM For more information, please visit the official County of Ventura Elections site. https://venturamuseum.org//vote-at-mvc-early-voting-for-th

The Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula are reopening to members only beginning on Saturday, October 31! We have a new reservations and ticketing system in place to regulate the amount of traffic in the galleries, as well as limited operational days and hours. Members click www.venturamuseum.org/tickets to make your reservations! If you're not a Member, consider joining today www.venturamuseum.org/join-or-renew... We will be opening to the public in mid-November. Continue checking back here for the reopening announcement. Thank you for your ongoing support of the Museum of Ventura County. We appreciate you, and we can’t wait to see you at MVC!

Welcome to our September 29, 2020 live look at local artist MB Hanrahan’s new mural in the Museum’s Children’s Garden! Today, MB's work is focused on Channel Island animals, and we’ll see what else...

If you missed "Changemakers: A Zoom Conversation with Dolores Huerta, Jorge Corralejo, David Damian Figueroa, and Anna Bermudez," we have you covered. The entire conversation is available on the Museum’s YouTube Channel! Dolores Huerta and Jorge Corralejo discussed their time working together with the UFW, Dolores’ work building community and organization for change, and Jorge’s exhibit, Huelga! Photographs from the Frontline, plus much more. https://youtu.be/Vn57QD9P1uU

Welcome to our September 24, 2020 live look at local artist MB Hanrahan’s new mural in the Museum’s Children’s Garden! Today, MB's work is focused Chumash Cosmology.

Welcome to the world of Norse Mythology! In the latest Virtual Learning Module, you will learn the origins of some of the most popular Norse legends, explore the virtual exhibit George Stuart Historical Figures Nordic Myths & Legends, and draw your favorite Norse characters! This Virtual Learning Module was created by Natalia Radcliffe, the Museum of Ventura County’s Summer 2020 Marketing Intern. Begin your journey https://bit.ly/32Xid8Y Virtual Learning Modules are brought to you in part by the generous support of Montecito Bank & Trust.

Members! There's still time to register for the members-only online event "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood with Ivor Davis: Bobby" this Thursday, September 24th @ 6:30PM. Register https://bit.ly/3hTVPSv Non-members! There's still time to become a member and register for the members-only online event "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood with Ivor Davis: Bobby" this Thursday, September 24th @ 6:30PM. Sign-up https://bit.ly/3gbJecw.

A Zoom Conversation with Dolores Huerta, Jorge Corralejo, David Damian Figueroa, and the Museum’s Chief Curator Anna Bermudez is about to begin! We've opened the conversation up to EVERYONE, so join us tonight https://bit.ly/35USkc3 @ 6:30PM. All it requires is your name + email. You don’t want to miss out! [Image] Dolores Huerta in Boston, 1974. Photographed by Jorge Corralejo.

Welcome to our September 21, 2020 Part II live look at local artist MB Hanrahan’s new mural in the Museum’s Children’s Garden! Today, MB's work is focused on Channel Islands many animals.

Have you picked up the latest edition of the VCReporter? "Arte Forastero" made the cover! You can read the e-version to learn more about the exhibit, how the collaboration between the Ventura Botanical Gardens and Museum of Ventura County came to be, and when you can visit. https://vcreporter.com//on-exhibit-arte-forastero-at-the-/

This Monday, September 21st @ 6:30PM7:30PM, Dolores Huerta, Founder & President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, civil rights activist and community organizer, will join longtime activist and civic leader Jorge Corralejo, documentary film producer and farmworker activist David Damian Figueroa, and Chief Curator Anna Bermudez for a special Zoom Conversation. Register for free! https://bit.ly/2ZDV3Tf Dolores Huerta and Jorge Corralejo will discuss their time working togethe...r with the UFW, Dolores’ work building community and organization for change, and Jorge’s exhibit, Huelga! Photographs from the Frontline, plus much more. David Damian Figueroa and Chief Curator of the Museum of Ventura County Anna Bermudez will serve as moderators for this enlightening discussion. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions for the Q&A portion of the discussion. For more information visit https://bit.ly/33Fl3Ph This is the first in the Museum of Ventura County’s Changemakers Conversations, a quarterly series of evenings with people whose actions have changed the way we live our lives, on both local and global levels. Our next conversation will be in January 2021; more information to follow.