Helen Hunt Jackson

[KHTS] – Rancho Camulos, the  setting of Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel “Ramona” – just 10 miles west of Valencia on Highway 126 – will host a reenactment of Jackson’s 1882 visit to the Ranch on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Docents of the Rancho Camulos museum will perform the reenactment on the hour throughout the afternoon, starting at 1 p.m. The reenactment lasts about 20 minutes.

Jackson’s novel, published in 1884, tells the story of Ramona, an orphan who falls in love with the Native American farm worker on the ranch where she lives.

The story focuses on the mistreatment of Native Americans and has been adapted to film several times.

Museum Director Susan Falck said that while Jackson only spent an afternoon at Rancho Camulos in 1882, historians have determined that the setting for “Ramona” was closely modeled after the ranch.

“There’s enough information in the book that people believe that it really was set here,” she said.

Guests at the reenactment will also have the chance to view the 1919 silent film “Ramona,” starring Mary Pickford, that was filmed at Rancho Camulos.

Tickets are $5 each and include a docent-led tour of the museum. Reservations are suggested, but not required.

For more information about Rancho Camulos, tours and other special events, [click here] or call 805-521-1501.

About Rancho Camulos

Rancho Camulos Museum is a 40-acre National Historic Landmark situated within an 1,800-acre working ranch. It is the best remaining example of a Spanish-Mexican rancho in its original rural environment.

The Rancho Camulos Museum is dedicated to researching, collecting, preserving and interpreting the diverse cultural heritage and agricultural history of Southern California from 1853 to 1943. Through restoration of its buildings and grounds, Rancho Camulos seeks to connect the past with the present by offering programs that will educate and enrich all audiences. Visit RanchoCamulos.org.