Sunday, May 30, 2010

A new activity

We joined the Big Bear Valley Historical Society earlier this spring, and my Dad and I decided to volunteer as docents at the museum. This was opening weekend, and we had a lovely time chatting with guests. Our valley has lots of Wild West history -- the area was settled in the 1800s because gold was discovered up in the nearby canyons. After an era of mining, ranching and logging, real roads were built up from the flatlands and the town grew.


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This is "my" cabin -- Cienega Largo, a primitive one-room cabin. It was built in 1875 as a hunting lodge/line shack way back up in the mountains. In the mid 1900s, it was donated and relocated log by log down here to the valley.

It contains an eclectic assortment of very old homestead-type furnishings and tools.

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My Dad's cabin is an old bunkhouse, built in the early 1900s out at the Shay Ranch for the cowboys. It's divided into four rooms: in addition to the bunkroom and kitchen displays, an old barbershop is set up in one of the rooms, and a saloon/poker game in the other one.

Howdy, pardner! Care for a sasparilla?

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8 comments:

Sew Create It - Jane said...

You look right at home! I bet you will meet all kinds of interesting people.

sewprimitive karen said...

I've done living history village activities like that, too, back in Indiana and it's wonderful!

Unknown said...

When I visited the States in 1991 my host family took me to Connor Prairie in Indiana which looks very similar - I was so impressed by all the volunteers acting in character - it was like stepping back in time - come to think of it looking at the quilts there is what woke my interest in them - now look where that's led me :o) It looks great fun to do Jeanne - I'm sure you and your dad will find it fascinating

black bear cabin said...

what a fun thing for you and your dad to do together! i love it! awesome!

Alice said...

What fun! I love historical parks. I'd love to do something like that.

Anonymous said...

you are so cool :)

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

How fun is that! My son always loves a good museum like that - he absorbs it all in like a little sponge and I am always amazed at what he can remember from a few years ago (he will be 7 in 2 weeks). Glad you and your Dad are having fun together! Cheers! Evelyn

Quilter Kathy said...

What great fun!