Monday, February 15, 2016

Strathearn Park in Simi Valley

Cute gazebo for taking pictures!

We found another gem not too far from our home while Jon's mom was here in December. I've driven by this park so many times and kept telling the boys that one day we needed to go there! I'm so glad we did. It's like a little piece of California history right in our own backyard. The Chumash Indians lived in this area before the Spanish settlers. Then there are the remains of an adobe dating from the late 1790's. I copied this from the park's official website: "Our Simi Adobe was built at the beginning of the Spanish period, likely soon after the grant in 1795, as the local residents had to have some place to live while they operated the rancho. A part of that adobe still exists and is the focal point of our historical park. This was a stopover place between the Missions San Fernando Rey and San Buenaventura. In later years there was a stage stop nearby as well. There is little doubt this adobe was on the main route throughout all those early years."

Another plus is that it's free to walk around the park. There are docent-led tours for only $3 each person so we plan to do that as a family soon. Actually, in a couple weeks there will be a Civil War re-enactment at the park which I hope to go to with Josiah since we just finished our study on the Civil War in American History.
Simi Valley's first barber shop, which opened it's doors in 1958.

The Colony House



Simi Valley's first library built in 1930.


My mother-in-law with a tractor just like one her grandparents had on their farm.




Presbyterian Church built in 1902
 

1 comment:

G-Ruth-A said...

Looks like a fun place, and so cute how they had it decorated for Christmas! Beautiful photos!