SeeCalifornia.com

Shown is Camarillo Ranch in Camarillo, California. The photos show exterior and interior decor of the impressive home that once was the centerpiece of the Central Coast rancher, Adolfo Camarillo’s, lands.  His ranch bred the famous, white Camarillo stallions seen in parades such as the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

Though ranches are mostly for raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool, they can also be  museums inviting tourists to visit and see a part of American history. Primarily found in the western United States (and especially California,) these historic places showcase ranching, part of the iconography of the “Wild West” as seen in Western movies and rodeos, sometimes filmed and produced on California’s movie ranches. There are quite a few ranches and ranchos preserved as historical museums to share the rich cultural heritage that most of us would not otherwise know about. Many are free to see, while some charge a small fee, and often feature special events such as heritage days, concerts and fundraisers.  Here’s a list of some of California’s ranches you may have missed.