Login | Create Account

KIDS & FAMILIES

Home > KIDS & FAMILIES > History Day at the John Rains House

History Day at the John Rains House

Presented by San Bernardino County Museum at John Rains House

February 28, 2009

Families are invited to try life as early Californians lived it–beating rugs, making candles, cross stitching bookmarks, playing with old-time toys, washing clothes, and other activities common in the 1800s. Children can even make an authentic adobe brick to take home. These activities will take place at the John Rains House in Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday, February 28, from 11:00am to 2:00pm. This event is free of charge. The day will also include tours of the fired brick John Rains House led by members of the Casa de Rancho Cucamonga Historical Society. Family activities will reflect the life of the early Southern California settlers. Activities are suitable for children ages 4 and older. The Mission San Gabriel established the Cucamonga Rancho as a site for grazing cattle in the 1820s. In 1839, the Mexican governor of California granted the 13,000-acre rancho to Tiburcio Tapia. In 1858 Tapia’s daughter and her husband sold the rancho to John Rains for $16,500. Rains constructed a brick home on the property in 1860 at a cost of about $18,000. He and his wife Maria Merced moved from Chino to the new brick house with their three children in the spring of 1861. By that time, Rains (a former cattle driver) was recognized as a rich and politically influential man, generous and well-liked, who provided abundant hospitality at his strategically-located Cucamonga home. Rains planted 160 acres of vines in 1860. Wine and brandy made at Cucamonga gained wide popularity. An earlier small vineyard and winery is said to have been planted by Tapia in 1839, thus establishing the claim that Cucamonga has the oldest commercial winery in the state. Rains died in November 1862. In 1864, Maria Merced married José Carrillo and they continued to live in Cucamonga. The Rains House passed through several owners between 1871 and 1971 when it was purchased by the County of San Bernardino and became a San Bernardino County Museum Historic Site. The Rains House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The John Rains House is at 8810 Hemlock Street in Rancho Cucamonga. To reach the site, take Vineyard Avenue north from Interstate 10. Turn right on Hemlock, just north of Foothill Boulevard. No admission fee is charged; donations will go toward the preservation and maintenance of the historic site. For more information call (909) 307-2669 ext. 271, or visit www.sbcountymuseum.org.

At-a-
Glance
- Venue Info
  
  John Rains House
  
  8810 Hemlock
  Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
  
  Full map and directions
- Admission Info
  
  Tickets: Free
- Dates & Times
  
  Dates:
  February 28, 2009
  
  Times:
  11:00 am to 2:00 pm
- Accessibility Info
- Video & Image Gallery
  
  Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.
- Member Reviews
  
  Add review/comment
  
  There are currently no reviews/comments for this event. Be the first to add a review/comment, and let folks know what you think!
Media
Gallery
- All Media Gallery
  
  Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.
Member
Reviews
- Member Reviews
  
  Add review/comment
  
  There are currently no reviews/comments for this event. Be the first to add a review/comment, and let folks know what you think!
Media
Reviews
- Media Reviews
  
  There are currently no media reviews for this event.
What's
Nearby
- Nearby Hotels
  - Best Western Heritage Inn - 8179 Spruce Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 1-800-682-7829
- Nearby Restaurants
  - Antonino's Ristorante Italiano - 8045 N. Vineyard Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-941-0047
- - Dragon Inn - 8031 Archibald Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-466-5680
- - Felipe's - 8017 Archibald Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-980-4252
- - Le Bellissimo - 11849 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-948-0948
- - Magic Lamp Inn - 8189 Foothill, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-981-8659
- - Mama's Grill - 8417 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-944-8013
- - Omaha Jack's Steakhouse - 11837 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-477-4377
- - Sushi Land - 9319 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-484-7373
- - The Pit - 8661 Baseline Rd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-981-6593
- - The Sycamore Inn - 8318 Foothill Blvd, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-982-1104
- - Woody's Bar-B-Que - 11871 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
    Phone: 909-291-8125