Educational/Historic Field Trips
in Southern California
By Kirsten Anderberg
Anacapa Island
Ventura County
• Anacapa Island is located approximately 20 miles from
Ventura. It takes about an hour and a half to reach by
boat from Ventura Harbor. On the way to Anacapa, you
may see dolphins, pelicans and whales. On the island,
you may see pelicans, cormorants, other sea birds, seals
and sea lions. The geology and history of the island are
both educational and entertaining.
For more information on Anacapa
Island’s history, visit
http://resist.ca/~kirstena/pageanac
apa.html
For school field trip information
from Island Packers, visit
http://www.islandpackers.com/field
trips.html
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
For lesson plans about
Anacapa Island, go to the
bottom of
http://www.islandpackers.com/f
ieldtrips.html
Seals haul out on the rocks of
Anacapa Island (photo on left) and
many species of fish and sea life
live in the kelp forests surrounding
the island (below).
There are over 100 sea caves
around the base of the island. In
the photo to the right, notice the
small cave opening in the middle
of the photo. People kayak into
these caves, and amazingly, at the
back of some of the caves are
sand beaches! Anacapa Island is
part of the National Parks System
and you can camp and hike on the
island.
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
Big Pines, CA
Abandoned Angeles Zoo
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
•
In the Angeles National Forest, off of Highway 2, in Big Pines, is an abandoned zoo. It is an interesting trip into the
past, and the surrounding area is geologically and historically interesting, as well. There is an old tale that once it
snowed so much that the animals just walked out over the bars of their cages! This is not true, nor are other tales
that the animals burned in the zoo in a wildfire. The animals were taken to the L.A. Zoo and other surrounding
zoos when the area was found inhospitable for a zoo due to fires, summer heat, and winter snow. Table Mountain
up the road from this site was a NASA astronomical viewing site in the 1960’s and 70’s, and below this site, are
popular winter ski resorts. Visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/maps/brochures/big_pines.pdf
The Geology of Big Pines
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
The white rock coming off of the hill to the
left in the photo is called “fault flour" as
that white rock is literally created by the
grinding of rocks on the San Andreas Fault
underneath. This photo was taken on Table
Mountain Road, just off of Highway 2.
Mountain High ski resort is in the
background.
"The Divide, which is the location of the Big
Pines Visitor Center (photo at right), is the
highest point (6,862 feet) along the entire
length of the (San Andreas) fault. The large
rock tower, just to the west of the Visitor
Center, marks the exact location of the San
Andreas’ highest elevation." - Big Pines
Visitors Center
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
Carpinteria Tar Pit Beach
• Carpinteria is named after this beach, where Chumash Indian
carpenters would use the naturally occurring tar coming out of the
cliffs and pits to waterproof canoes for use in the ocean and rivers.
To learn more about this
interesting field trip, which is
approximately one hour’s
drive north of Los Angeles,
visit
http://www.parks.ca.gov/defa
ult.asp?page_id=25116
http://www.lotsafunmaps.co
m/Santa_Barbara/Carpinteri
a_Beach_and_the_Tarpits.ht
ml#gallery
Photo: K. Anderberg 2010
Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary
•
From December to May, harbor seals and their pups use the beach just a bit
southeast of the Tar Pit Beach as a protected rookery. From the cliffs above,
you can watch them during this time, as the beaches are closed for the seals
during this season.
Read more about the seal
reserve at
http://www.carpinteria.com/
points_of_interest/thesealro
okery/
You can view a fun video of
the seal sanctuary at
http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=6n47KzXn0nU
Photo: K. Anderberg 2010
William S. Hart Park
Newhall, CA
William S. Hart was a famous movie star in the early
1900’s. He shot films at the Hart Ranch back in the
1920’s and lived there, as a quiet place in the country
away from Hollywood. He eventually built the famous
adobe ranch house on the hill. At the Hart Park, there
is an animal park, a museum, interesting buildings
and plants, oak trees, picnic tables, and more!
Hart Animals, Photo: K. Anderberg 2008
Left,
Hart Dog
Cemetery
Right,
Tower at
Hart Park,
San
Gabriel
Mountains
In background
Hart Dog Cemetery, Photo: K. Anderberg 2008
Hart Park Tower, Photo: K. Anderberg 2008
Photo from www.scvhistory.com
W.S. Hart was a
Silent Movie Star
in the 1920’s
Free tours of
the Hart
Adobe are
available at
http://www.h
artmuseum.o
rg/tours.html
Photo from http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/film.htm
Photo: K. Anderberg 2008
Above is a photo of the WSHart Park grounds in the
1940’s when Hart still owned the property. Notice the
house on the hill, and the tower to the right…and the
hill in the foreground is now where there are picnic
tables…The photo on the left is Hart’s adobe house on
the hill. You can learn more about Hart at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._Hart
Mentryville/Pico Canyon
Los Angeles County
In 1876, Charles Mentry drilled CA’s first successful commercial oil well. This was one of
the first oil towns, but it is now a ghost town. Restored by the County as a park, the old
buildings and beautiful scenery make for a fun day trip. Behind Mentryville is Pico
Canyon, the site of the first successful oil well, and it has hiking paths. Learn more at
http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=35
Also visit: http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/pico.htm
Photo: K, Anderberg 2009
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
San Fernando Mission
•
The San Fernando Mission was built in 1797 by Catholic priests from Spain and
Mexico. In the mid-1800’s, Mexico took CA from Spanish rule, taking control of the
missions from the priests. In 1875, President Lincoln signed a declaration at the
behest of Bishop Alemany, to return the missions to the churches that created them.
Photo from http://digital-library.csun.edu/SFV/
The San Fernando Mission in 1915
Photo: K. Anderberg 2010
The San Fernando Mission in 2010
Mission billboard, 1950’s
Photo from http://digital-library.csun.edu/SFV/
• Lesson Plans for the Mission
http://californiasmissions.org/lesson_plans.htm
• Teachers can apply for field trip grants to
the San Fernando Mission at
http://www.californiamissionsfoundation.or
g/aatb.html
Vasquez Rocks
Aqua Dulce, CA
Vasquez Rocks are named after the famous bandit Tibursio Vasquez, who used to hide out from the
law in these rocks in the late 1800’s. Many TV shows, such as Star Trek, were filmed here, using the
landscape to simulate the moon or other planets due to the unusual rock formations. Vasquez Rocks
are located in the Mojave Desert and thus it can be hot, and precautions must be taken on field trips to
this area. Summer visits are not recommended. This 932 acre park has lots of hiking trails, rocks, etc.
And is located within Los Angeles County, outside of Santa Clarita. These rock formations were
created by the San Andreas Fault. The rocks were formed about 25 million years ago, and this is an
historic site where native people, including the Chumash, lived, around 450 AD.
Photo; K. Anderberg 2009
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
Resources for Vasquez Rocks:
For information about tours and park presentations for school groups, visit
http://parks.lacounty.info/Parkinfo.asp?URL=cms1_033383.asp&Title=Vasquez
For some Hollywood history about Vasquez Rocks, visit
http://www.moviesites.org/vasquez.htm
For information about the geology of the region:
http://scvresources.com/geology/aguadulc.htm
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
Olivas Adobe
Ventura County
The Olivas Adobe estate is one of the only two story adobes left standing. It was built in
the 1800’s by the Olivas family, and it has become a museum with artifacts of the 1800’s
on display, along with historic farming equipment, a small garden, grapes from the
Mission, and other interesting and educational exhibits. It is located amidst farmlands and
could be coordinated with a trip to the Ortega Adobe and the Ventura mission for more
examples of adobes of the late 1700’s – 1800’s. This adobe helps tell the story of the
Wild West and docents on site enjoy entertaining visitors with tales of life in these times.
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
The Olivas Adobe portrays life
as it was in the mid-1800’s.
Photo to the left is the fountain,
bottom left is the kids’ room in
the museum, and on the bottom
right is a photo of the outdoor
oven they used.
For information, visit
http://www.olivasadobe.org/
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
Photo: K. Anderberg 2009
Ortega Adobe in Ventura County
Visit http://www.ventura.com/points_of_interest/ortegaadobe/
The Ortega Adobe is an interesting little adobe on the
edge of town in Ventura. From the classic adobe period
of the mid-1800’s, this adobe shows how life was lived
in those times. Interior views of the bedroom, kitchen
and living rooms are especially beautiful in the
morning light as it lights up the rooms. This adobe was
the birthplace of the famous Ortega Chili Company,
whose canned chilis you can still buy at stores today.
This adobe is now a public park.
Photo from www.ventura.com
Ventura Mission
Built in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, the Ventura Mission gives a glimpse of life in the
1800’s. The beautiful church and outdoor courtyard also has a Mission Museum and next
door, there is an archaeological dig at the Albinger Museum, where artifacts 3,500 years old are on
display. (http://www.albingermuseum.org/)
For more information about the Ventura Mission, visit
http://www.sanbuenaventuramission.org/history_main.html
Photo: K. Anderberg 2010
Photo: K. Anderberg 2010
Rancho Camulos
Along Highway 126
Another adobe from the mid-1800’s, this is another example of a look into life during
those times. The site has an orange grove, an old barn and old ranch equipment and
buildings, the adobe house is being rebuilt and it is very beautiful. There is a huge house
in the back of the property with historical merit, as well.
Visit http://www.ranchocamulos.org/
The City of Fillmore is also close by and they have a train graveyard and museum. And a few miles
further up the road in Santa Paula is the Oil Museum. Visit them at http://www.oilmuseum.net.
Photo: K. Anderberg 2010
Photo: K. Anderberg 2010
Rancho Camulos
The barn at Rancho Camulos is being held up
by wooden lean-to’s after earthquake damage
in 1994.
Rancho Camulos has
special docent-led
educational tours for school
groups. Visit
http://www.ranchocamulos.
org/tours_at_rancho_camul
os.html for more
information.
Photo: K. Anderberg 2010
More So. CA Field Trip Resources
• More field trip ideas in the L.A. area http://teachtopia.com/los-angeles-field-trip-guide.html
• Creative Teaching with Historic Places
http://crm.cr.nps.gov/issue.cfm?volume=23&number=08
• La Brea Tar Pits Field Trips –
School groups are free!!
http://www.tarpits.org/education/visits.html
• Los Angeles Museum of Natural History –
School groups are free!!
http://www.nhm.org/site/for-teachers