Rancho Los Cerritos Foundation

Rancho Los Cerritos (RLC) is a National, State, and Local Historic Landmark that connects the Long Beach community to its local history through a wide array of educational and community programs designed to engage and benefit people from all walks of life.

This 4.7-acre historic site features a 180-year-old adobe, lush gardens, rotating exhibitions, a research library, and extensive archival collections. We are dedicated to documenting and interpreting the rich history of those who have occupied the greater Long Beach area for over 5,000 years. We provide low to no-cost engaging educational programs that weave together history, the arts, and STEAM learning initiatives for visitors of all ages.

In 2024, RLC welcomed nearly 24,000 visitors across various engagements, including public hours, programs, site use, and special events. Among this total, 8,635 individuals participated in programs such as tours of the historic home and gardens, Storytime, Storytime Bilingüe, Birding Opportunities, City Nature Challenge, Holiday Open House, Exhibitions, and the newly reinvigorated fourth-grade school tour, Adelante: The People of Rancho Los Cerritos. Additionally, virtual visitations have increased, reaching over 100,000 annual visitors to the website and social media platforms.

Recognized by the City of Long Beach as an essential resource for our community's health and well-being, RLC provides 4.7 acres of protected natural environment that offer accessible green spaces for visitors. We encourage visitors to interact with nature, which correlates with reduced depression, anxiety, and stress and offers measurable mental and physical health benefits.

Your support during Long Beach Gives will help fund opportunities like transportation allowing children to visit and experience RLC for themselves, collaboration with artists to create meaningful and innovative exhibitions, and grounds care and maintenance to keep the gardens healthy. It goes without saying that the overall upkeep of our 180-year-old adobe remains a top priority in terms of effort and expense.

Thank you for your consideration in enabling us to provide a place of respite and rejuvenation for our visitors, a learning environment for students, a habitat for wildlife, and a gathering space for the Long Beach community to connect with their local history.

To learn more about RLC please visit www.rancholoscerritos.org 

Testimonials

“Thank you for providing this unique experience. The students loved seeing and touching the different pieces of realia. This field trip is one of my personal favorites. Thank you for sharing Long Beach’s history!” -Rose Zuschlag, Teacher (participant of Adelante: The People of Rancho Los Cerritos)

“Our tour guide was incredibly engaging and offered unique information that we would have otherwise missed. Her storytelling made the visit one of the most interesting historic tours for its price point (free).The grounds were well maintained and the landscaping was tasteful and vibrant. I am in absolute awe of our visit. Thank you for making it accessible to our community.” – Anonymous visitor

"Thank you for providing such a beautiful space to enjoy the sunshine with my kids free of charge!" - Anonymous visitor

"I felt at peace in the gardens. Like something magical was about to happen. It was a really cool and amazing experience." Anonymous, garden visitor