San Diego History Societies, Agencies & History Museums

 

Valley Center Historical Society
and Valley Center History Museum
www.valleycenterhistory.org

The Valley Center Historical Society, a non-profit organization with 300 members, collects, preserves, interprets and promotes information about the North County community of Valley Center, settled in 1845.

Valley Center is home to the last remaining Mexican land grant rancho still in existence in its original state and size. In 1866, the largest grizzly bear ever captured in California was killed in Valley Center. The original town name, Bear Valley, was changed in 1874. A major exhibition on the California Grizzly, extinct since 1924, is featured in the Museum.

The Museum and all archives are open to the public without charge. The Society offers speakers and educational programs for schools and organizations. A documentary film, "Paradise Found: the Valley Center Story" and a book, "History of Valley Center," have been produced by the Society. The organization publishes a newsletter for its members, "Valley Center Pioneer".

Individual memberships start at $10.

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Valley Center History Museum & Valley Center Historical Society

29200 Cole Grade Road

Valley Center CA 92082

(760) 749-2993

Hours:

Tuesday through Saturday, 12 noon to 4 p.m.

Admission free to all.