What's New
The Great Big Rancho Project
LeighAnn Davis, Contra Costa County Historical Society executive director, along with Carol Jensen, a member of the Contra Costa County Historical Society and Rancho Project researcher, has gathered a group of local historians and museum directors and staff to work on what has been called the "Great Big Rancho Project." It will consist of 3 parts: Community Engagement, a Website and a Rancho Project Book.
The El Sobrante Historical Society will be a part of this project, and as a board member and director of historical research, Roxy will represent on our behalf as the participating researcher to submit all the information concerning the history of Rancho El Sobrante. In compiling all the information into a Power Point document, it will include news clippings, photos and more. There may be parts of El Sobrante history that you never knew about! This will eventually be added to and shared here on our website.
There were 16 ranchos deeded in Contra Costa County to the original settlers in the 1800s as seen in the map at left. The dates represent the year the petition for land was granted (which is different than the “Patent” date). For many years ranchos defined the early Californio lifestyle. The term Californio (historical, regional Spanish for 'Californian') was originally applied by and to the Spanish-speaking residents of Las Californias during the periods of Spanish California and Mexican California, between 1683 and 1848. Leighann points out, “There are so many things tied back to these first families — the names of our towns are named after the ranchos. There are streets named after these individuals. Parts of our culture, the way we celebrate rodeos and farming are directly tied to rancho culture.”
Spanish California and Mexican California, between 1683 and 1848. Leighann points out, “There are so many things tied back to these first families — the names of our towns are named after the ranchos. There are streets named after these individuals. Parts of our culture, the way we celebrate rodeos and farming are directly tied to rancho culture.”
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LeighAnn Davis and Carol Jensen will provide a presentation on this research project in New York City in January 2025 at the national convention of the American Historical Association.
The Contra Costa Rancho project is meant to be a Digital Community Engagement Project. This means that it has a digital element, and the research connects information from the past to community members in the present. The goal is to produce a digital exhibit that has a map of the county and when you click on a specific rancho, the history/timeline pops up. With the collaboration of everyone on the project, eventually, all the work to produce a digital exhibit will hopefully create an official book on Contra Costa County ranchos. The book will be a collection of essays about each Rancho, with an introduction and conclusion that includes the experiences creating a Rancho website and the interaction with their descendants. Davis urges possible rancho descendants to come forward and share their stories for inclusion in the project.
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*If you or someone you know is a descendant of a rancho grantee, please contact LeighAnn Davis in order to document your family's rancho history.*
Email: director@cocohistory.org
You can also join our Facebook Group and post your comments there.
Rock Wall Site
With the cooperation of EBMUD, work is continuing on the Rock Wall "Observation Point" constructed along the San Pablo Reservoir in 1935. With the help of volunteers, we have managed to stabilize most of the site, including the stone stairs that extend down the hill from the wall. We also are continuing to find surprises as we excavate, such as this concrete structure, purpose unknown, which was apparently added some time after the original wall was constructed. We eventually will add an interpretive exhibit within the site, serving to make known what is largely ignored by passersby at present.
UPDATE!
Rancho Markers Installed. Read about the ceremony on our "Events" page.
The Interpretive Signs are installed! See details on our Events Page.
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