Rancho Day at History Museum (Los Altos)

Los Altos History Museum rolls out a series of fun public programs for all ages, beginning with Rancho Day: Horsemanship in the Hills, on Saturday,  May 28, 10:00am-3:00pm.

The event features hands-on activities, games, demonstrations and performances that explore the history of the Rancho period, when the rolling hills of this area were used for grazing cattle and breeding horses.

Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association will display their tack and a costume from their reenactment of the Anza Expedition of 1776. The Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks will demonstrate leather stamping. Visitors may browse an exhibit of artifacts from the Museum’s collection, watch a demonstration of drop spinning using the wool from sheep, and enjoy Mexican food prepared authentically. Raíces de México Ballet Folklórico will perform traditional dances.

Activities for kids include a game of lassoing, a coloring corral, and two art workshops. In Fabricación de Piñatas, participants will create a papier-mâché mini piñata. In a workshop on Mexican Tin Folk Art known as Hojalata, second-graders and up will make a colorful embossed design on aluminum tooling foil. Both workshops are limited to 20 participants. Register in advance for the workshops on the Museum’s website. Materials fees are $23.

Admission price for Rancho Day is $7 per person, payable at the entry gate. Ages 12 and under, and Museum Members, are free. All proceeds benefit the Museum’s Permanent Exhibition Capital Campaign. To learn more, visit losaltoshistory.org/RanchoDay2022.