The Rancho Camulos Museum invites local history fans and aficionados to experience a faithful reenactment of January 23, 1882 visit by best-selling author Helen Hunt Jackson on Saturday, January 25, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The time she spent at Rancho Camulos, with its adobe structure built in 1853 by the Del Valle family on what is now Highway 126 10 miles west of the I-5 freeway near Piru, inspired Jackson to include this vestige of the old California lifestyle as one of the settings for her 1884 novel “Ramona.”

A poet and travel writer turned activist for Native American rights, Jackson wrote “Ramona” after her previous book, “Century of Dishonor,” failed to rally attention to the mistreatment of Native Americans, particularly through government policy.

While the novel did have some impact on policies regarding Native Americans, its major impact was that it caused the first tourism boom to California.

Connie Tripp portrays Helen Hunt Jackson in the annual Rancho Camulos Museum reenactment of Jackson’s 1882 visit to the Rancho.

People fell in love with the beautiful Senorita Ramona who fell in love with the handsome Indian Allesandro and lived in the golden hills of California.

The novel’s popularity, paralleling the expansion of the nation’s railroads and fueled by the promotional efforts of the railroad entrepreneurs, put the “Home of Ramona” on the map.

On January 25, costumed reenactors will engage and delight visitors with a portrayal of Jackson’s visit, an event that forever changed the peaceful life at Rancho Camulos.

By popular demand, January’s annual reenactment has been expanded to two performances — and a “meet and greet” reception with the docents playing Jackson and members of the Del Valle family will follow each one.

The suggested donation to share the living history experience is $10. Tickets can be reserved by calling 805-521-1501 or purchased at the gate.

Donations Needed for Landscaping Restoration Project
These are indeed exciting times at the Rancho Camulos Museum, a National Historic Landmark because of its role in California history, Californio history, California agriculture’s history, and because it is acknowledged as the “Home of Ramona.”

The Board of Directors of the nonprofit organization that operates the historic site recently selected award-winning landscape architects Susan Van Atta and Lisa Gimmy to create a plan to revitalize the Rancho’s grounds and gardens.

The plan, to be executed in stages, will cost $20,000. The Museum’s Board is inviting the local public to contribute to this landscape restoration.

Find out more about the project and how to donate to it here.

Rancho Camulos Museum, Piru, California.