Warner Carrillo Ranch House Museum

05/23/2026

Writer Debbie L. Sklar with the Times of San Diego maintains an ongoing column on the history of San Diego and the region, and this week's subject is one near and dear to our backcountry friends. Enjoy!

Ramona didn’t start out as Ramona; it was first known as Nuevo, a small rural settlement tucked into the foothills of North County.

05/22/2026

Make history part of your Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the legendary Warner-Carrillo Ranch House , one of California’s most important historic adobe ranches and a gateway to the stories of early California, Native heritage, and the emigrant trail west.

Escape the crowds, enjoy the beauty of the backcountry, and experience a place where generations of history come alive.

This Memorial Day weekend, take the road less traveled and discover a truly unforgettable historic destination.

Learn more and plan your visit : https://www.sohosandiego.org/main/warnercarrillo.htm


https://www.sohosandiego.org/exhibits/warnercarrillo/stagestations.htm

There were originally 53 Butterfield Stage stations in California. Thirty-four were in the First Division, in which Warner's is (Bay Area to Los Angeles), and nineteen were in the Second Division (Los Angeles to Colorado River). These stations were located from 8 to 38 miles apart. The total length....

05/15/2026

A powerful new article on aging and volunteerism reminds us of something we have long known at the Warner-Carrillo Ranch House Museum, older adults are among the most engaged and impactful community volunteers anywhere.

The study notes that volunteer hours from adults over 65 have increased while participation in other age groups has sharply declined. Seniors now contribute nearly one-third of all volunteer hours nationwide.

At the Ranch House Museum, volunteers are sharing local history, helping preserve an important historic site, supporting educational programs, and creating meaningful connections across generations.

Historic preservation depends on people who care deeply about place, memory, and community. We are grateful for the extraordinary volunteers who continue to give their time, talents, and wisdom to keep these stories alive.

Interested in becoming part of that community? We would love to welcome you. https://www.sohosandiego.org/main/volunteersoho.htm

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/older-adults-and-volunteerism-a-vital-social-justice-issue/

Senior volunteerism exposes a deep problem with how organizations and society at large view older adults. Seniors are cast as people to be helped, rather than as people who help, despite being the only age group whose volunteer hours are increasing.

05/13/2026

The article and study essentially validates something preservationists and museum professionals have long understood intuitively: historic house museums are not simply places to “look at old things”—they are restorative cultural experiences that improve well-being, stimulate memory and imagination, reduce stress, and foster social and emotional connection.

SOHOs two house museums, the Warner-Carrillo Ranch House and the Marston House Museum and Gardens uniquely combine history, architecture, landscape, art, and storytelling in deeply immersive ways, which makes the connection even stronger.

Why not plan a visit to the ranch house this weekend?

Research from UCL suggests visiting art galleries or museums, singing and painting can help improve health outcomes

05/12/2026

A meaningful new marker now greets visitors to the Warner–Carrillo Ranch House where a bronze plaque was recently dedicated in recognition of the site’s enduring place in San Diego County history.

A meaningful new marker now greets visitors to the Warner–Carrillo Ranch House in the welcome and admissions room, where a bronze plaque was recently dedicated in recognition of the site’s enduring place in San Diego County history.

05/06/2026

It's time for the BIG EXCHANGE!

From May 1–18, 2026, SOHO members receive free admission to more than 50 participating museums, historic sites, gardens, and cultural attractions across San Diego County through The Big Exchange.

Organized by the San Diego Museum Council, The Big Exchange is a way of saying thank you for supporting our region’s rich cultural offerings in varied settings.

Just visit any participating museum during the event's 18 days, present your current SOHO membership card at the admissions desk, and mention The Big Exchange. Each membership provides free entry for up to four people, making it an ideal opportunity to explore with family or friends.

If you’re not yet a SOHO member, this is the perfect time to join. Memberships start at just $25, and the benefits begin immediately.

At the adobe Warner–Carrillo Ranch House Museum you can travel back to 1857 and explore this National Historic Landmark and former Butterfield Stage stop, where the stories of California’s frontier past and Vicenta Carrillo’s matriarchal and entrepreneurial leadership come vividly to life.

You won’t want to miss a tour with Museum Manager Kathryn Fletcher, whose decades of experience in our backcountry history and engaging storytelling make the history of westward migration and early ranching life especially compelling.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR ALL THE INFO ON HOW TO TAKE PART IN THE BIG EXCHANGE!

One of the many benefits of being a SOHO member is access to San Diego’s vibrant cultural community and this spring that benefit expands in a big way. From May 1–18, 2026, SOHO members receive free admission to more than 50 participating museums, historic sites, gardens, and cultural attractions...

05/03/2026

On this day in 1903, the Cupeño people were forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands at Warner Hot Springs by armed federal troops and relocated to the Pala Indian Reservation. This displacement severed deep cultural, spiritual, and environmental ties that had endured for generations.

We acknowledge this history and honor the strength of the Cupeño people, whose story continues to shape this place and its meaning today.

To learn more and hear these stories in greater depth, we encourage you to visit the image link below where you will find amazing recorded histories and other histories teaching the language.

04/24/2026

Thanks to Chet Kalinowska for capturing these photos today in the historic Warner–Carrillo cattle lands of the San Jose Valley on his way to Ramona.

COWBOYS who worked this same land for Walter Vail from 1888 until 1984 (James Walsh, William Carpenter, and James Knight) were single men, but in 1894, Samuel B. Taylor (1861-1939), a valley resident since the 1880s, and his wife Mary Helm Taylor (1870-1966) moved into the ranch house to manage the Vail cattle. Both California natives, three of the couple's eight children were born at the ranch house.

The Taylor family left the ranch house c. 1915. Drew Smith, their great-great-grandson, is the current ranch foreman and resides in the nearby 1930s home built to accommodate the former bunkhouse cook and her daughter, and later, other cowboys. Drew can be seen in these photos, the fifth generation to be working cattle on this same soil- a lifestyle and a tradition handed down.

Photos by Chet Kalinowska -Thank you Chet!

04/08/2026

Save the date and join us on- Saturday, April 25 at 1pm.

Honoring the Warner–Carrillo Ranch House and SOHO - A new bronze historical plaque will soon grace the welcome room at the Warner–Carrillo Ranch House.

The Crown Colony Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century is dedicating this tribute to the 1857 adobe built by Vicenta Carrillo, a remarkable Californio woman rancher whose life and home reflect the early history of the Valle de San José.

The ranch house stands as a witness to the Southern Emigrant Trail, the era of the Butterfield Overland Mail, and the ranching traditions that shaped the region the plaques recognition includes the collaborative restoration efforts of the Vista Irrigation District and Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO), the ranch house continues to welcome visitors and offer a glimpse into its storied past.

One of the long-standing missions of the Colonial Dames and its Crown Colony Chapter is the placement of historical markers at local landmarks of significance. As a society rooted in history and heritage, the organization works to recognize historic sites and the stories they represent remain visible, meaningful, and accessible to those who share a passion for American history and a commitment to its preservation.

Dedication ceremony:
Saturday, April 25 at 1pm.
Guests are invited to honor this enduring landmark and the many women and men who have helped preserve its legacy. The event will include a brief program and tours of the adobe.

Warner–Carrillo Ranch House
29181 San Felipe Road
Warner Springs, CA 92086
619-297-9327