Dave Howe speaks with George Alger about the Strathearn Historical Park and Museum in Simi Valley, CA.
Key Highlights:
The Park & Grounds: Spanning 6.5 acres of historical magic, the park serves as both a functional public park (free to enter with family, dogs on leashes, or for lunch walks) and a preserved historical site.
Stepping Into History: The park is actively transitioning from a static viewing experience to an interactive one. Visitors can explore fully functional historical setups, including:
- A working blacksmith shop
- A two-press printing press shop
- An 1850s wet-plate photography shop where guests can watch antique portraits develop on glass or metal
- An 1890s woodworking shop and a station for making antique rope
- Authentic Historic Buildings: The grounds feature actual historical buildings relocated from the old town of Simiopolis (named in 1888 to attract wealthy investors).
Highlights include:
- Two 1888 houses shipped from Chicago, Illinois
- A Spanish-built adobe from around 1810
- Ventura County’s first purpose-built library (constructed in 1930), which houses local history books and high school yearbooks dating back to 1924
- A 1902 church that served as the St. Rose of Lima Church until 1964
Admission is free.
TV broadcast week beginning 10/25/26
Producer: George Alger
Sponsor: NONPROFIT FIRE, Google Ad Grants Community Building NonProfitFire.org
Sponsor: SKYWORKS MARKETING, Performance Advertising SkyworksMarketing.com