Page 8 - ra_museumvision1997

~ RANCHO CAMULOS ~

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Preface . ,' ·-~. :··' . . , ' ' ' ' .
Rancho Camulos - An island of Historic
Tranquillity.

ntil the recent Northridge earthquake
rocked Southern California, wreaking
U havoc on its fragile adobe walls,
Rancho Camulos had existed quietly
- in an almost pristine state of timelessness -
a tranquil island surrounded by orchard and
hidden from view of the busy highway just a
stone's throw away. Although that abrupt end
to a long period of isolation has brought
Rancho Camulos into the limelight of historic
landmark status, the extreme and dire
circumstances - crumbled adobe walls, fallen
roofs, and toppled brick masonry - have
threatened the people of Ventura County with
the loss of one of Southern California's most ·: ':',:. . ·, · ·~i~:{,i;.ir~~,.{:\"_: . . ·· ·,. ...... : ·: : , · (i>-~JJUiti1*'sif
significant historic landmarks.
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Rancho Camulos is a valuable and fragile his- The buildings of Camulos exhibit the simplicity of firm and character inherent in California's only true
torical, cultural and agricultural resource. This indigenous architecture .
resource is worthy of efforts to preserve what
remains and to restore what has been dam- setting for the story of Ramona, it is symbolic of focus. The gardens, including a traditional
aged or lost. The buildings and site of Rancho southern California's heritage as the "land of milk courtyard and a giant black walnut tree ( one
Camulos tell a story of California's history - and honey." Cultural aspects from the Native of the worlds largest), were clearly designed
a story that·includes a Native American vil- American people to the rancho life of the 1800's for personal enjoyment and fami).y life.
lage, a prominent Mexican Rancher family, the to its transition as a modem-day working citrus
arrival of the Railroad, and the son of Swiss im- ranch can all be found at Camulos. The ranch When August Riibel purchased the property
migrants, August Rubel, who understood the house, yards and barns depict the self-sufficient from the Del Valle Family in 1924, he irnme-
value of preserving this pristine historic place. lifestyle of the Del Valle family. The schoolhouse diately assumed the role of careful steward of
Rancho Camulos has many stories to tell. As the and chapel bring family life and devotions into Camulos. He recognized the great historical and

OVERVIEW AND VISION