Visit a historic chapel, landmark and museum at the San Juan Capistrano Mission. Guided tours, audio tours, and special tours for 4th graders are available. Plus, on weekends, kids can pan for gold, make adobe bricks and arrowhead necklaces.
The museum offers tours of the Adobe to the public every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday of the month. Also, the first Thursday and Friday of the month, all tours are led by volunteer docents and are at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm.
Public tour schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Heritage Hill Historical Park’s 4.1 acres includes four restored and furnished historic buildings that span the early history of the Saddleback Valley and El Toro area from the Mexican Rancho era. Guided tours through the buildings are provided to the public Wednesday – Sunday. There are no fees for entrance or public tours of Heritage Hill Historical Park for groups of seven or less.
At the Heritage Museum of Orange County there is a lot to see and explore. Visit a working blacksmith shop, a rancho home, take a walk in the gardens, or experience the Kellogg House, a late example of Queen Anne-style Victorian architecture.
Homestead Museum is located in the heart of a former Mexican rancho and offers free-guided, 45-minute tours of two historic houses, Wednesday – Sunday.
Current exhibits include “And the War Came,” which commemorates the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War and “The Sultana Disaster,” the worst maritime disaster in American history. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Closed Mondays. Free admission.
The five-acre park encompasses historic gardens and the restored adobe home of Pio Pico, the governor of California in 1832, and again in 1846 before and during the Mexican-American War. Guided tours of the adobe are offered by appointment only except on weekends, groups of 10 or more need to reserve ahead of time.
The Point Fermin Lighthouse is near many local attractions in the Los Angeles Harbor area such as the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, the Cabrillio Marine Aquarium, and the Fort MacArthur Museum.
The Rancho is on a 7.5 acre site and includes four acres of nationally significant historic gardens, a ranch house (1790-1948), and restored barnyard of the early 20th century working ranch.
The adobe ranch house, built in 1844, is the most significant sight at Rancho Los Cerritos. Special events, such as Creation Stations and story times, and are held throughout the year. Guided tours are available, plus a special tour just for families called Rancho Adventures. Admission to the rancho is free. Open Wednesday – Sunday; 1-5 p.m.
See an exact replica of President Nixon’s Oval Office, explore the Pat Nixon Gardens, tour President Nixon’s original birthplace, and climb aboard Marine One. The Nixon Library features 70 major exhibits, 30 multi-media experiences, 11 original films and more than 300 artifacts.
Walk onboard the actual Air Force One aircraft, view a full-size replica of President Reagan’s Oval Office, a piece of The Berlin Wall, and a first-of-its-kind hologram of our nation’s 40th President. Special exhibit: Egypt’s Lost Cities, through April 12.
Home to Phineas Banning – entrepreneur, the founder of the city of Wilmington, and “the Father of the Port of Los Angeles” – The Banning Museum was a 23-room house built in 1864. The museum engages visitors in a living-history experience, showing how the family lived, worked, and entertained in the 19th century.