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As best we can
tell, this publication is the first attempt at a comprehensive
guide to Central Coast historical resources. We have defined
resources broadly to include written and graphic documents,
artifacts and structures, culture bearers and the World Wide
Web. Like any other historical project, this guide is a work
in progress, subject to review and correction. If you notice
errors or oversights, please let us know so we can update
entries for the next edition.
October,
2002
Below
is the text version of the guide. Click
on the image at left to view the PDF version.*
Send suggestions to:
Resource Guide Update
Heritage Shared,
P.O. Box 4614,
San Luis Obispo CA 93403
or via e-mail to Astrid
Gallagher
|
Ah
Louis Store
800 Palm St
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-543-4332
Contact: Howard Louis
American
Rock Art Research Association
P.O. Box 65
San Miguel CA 93451
805-467-3704
Contact: A. J. Bock
Amigos
de Anza
P. O. Box 180
Templeton CA 93468
805-434-5603
Contact: Dorothy Jennings
Atascadero
Historical Society Museum
6500 Palma Ave.
Atascadero CA 93423
805-466-8341
Contact: Mike Lindsey
www.atascaderochamber.org
Atascadero
Historical Society
P.O. Box 1047
Atascadero CA 93423
Avila
Valley Railway Museum
P. O. Box 766
Santa Margarita CA 93453
805-461-3456
Contact: Brad Larose
—
B —
Filipino
Community Association
1169 Santa Ynez
Los Osos CA 93402
805-528-4998
Contact: Albert
—
C —
C.L.
Sonnichson Chapter of Minor Historians
6924 Live Oak Lane
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
Contact: Ed Strobridge
805-595-2273
Cal
Poly Shakespeare Press Museum
Graphic Communications Dept,
Cal Poly State University,
San Luis Obispo CA 93407
805-756-1108
Contact: Tom Goglio
Cal
Poly Special Collections
Robert E. Kennedy Library
Cal Poly State University,
San Luis Obispo CA 93407
805-756-2305
Contact: Nancy Loe
http://www.lib.calpoly.edu/spec_coll/index.html
California
Coastal National Monument
Piedras Blancas Light Station
Bureau of Land Management
805-927-2968
Contact: John Bogacki
www.piedrasblancas.gov/
California
Dept. of Parks & Recreation,
San Luis Coast District
1150 Laurel Lane, Suite 190,
San Luis Obispo CA 93407
805-549-3312
San Simeon District
750 Hearst Castle Road
San Simeon CA 93452
805-927-2065
www.hearstcastle.org
California
Conservation Corps State Museum
1538 Modoc Ave
Camp San Luis Obispo,
San Luis Obispo CA 93407
805-778-0517
www.militarymuseum.org/cccmuseum.html
California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
District 5 Archives
50 Higuera Street
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-549-3078
Contact: Victoria Pozuelo
Cambria Historical Society
P.O. Box 906
Cambria CA 93428
805-927-2891 / 927-2964
Contact: Pamela Bodine, President
Camp Roberts Historical Museum
Bldg 114
Camp Roberts, CA 93451-5000
805-238-8288
Contact: Ethan Bertrando
www.militarymuseum.org/camprobertsmuseum.html
Camp
San Luis Aircraft Museum
Camp San Luis Obispo,
San Luis Obispo CA 93407
805-594-6510, Operations
Contact: Sgt. Snyder, 805-594-6546
Cañada de Los Osos Historical Group
P.O. Box 6574,
Los Osos CA 93412
805-528-1894
Contact: Phyllis Snyder
The Carrizo Plains National Monument Visitor Center
17495 Soda Lake Rd
California Valley CA
805-475-2131
Cayucos
Historical Society
Cayucos Library
248 S. Ocean Ave
Cayucos CA 93430
805-995-1264
Contact: Al Musso
Cayucos History Project
1620 Old Creek Rd
Cayucos CA 93430
805-995-2177
Contact: Lou Kluver
Central Coast History Foundation
P.O. Box 14757
San Luis Obispo CA 93406
Contact: Tod Rafferty – 805-545-7618
info@centralcoasthistory.org
www.centralcoasthistory.org
Central
Coast Maritime
Museum Association
P.O. Box 1775Morro Bay CA 93442
Contact: Jack Hunter
Email: jack.hunter@dot.ca.gov
Central Coast Natural History Association
State Park Road
Morro Bay CA 93442
Contact: Denise Tallman, Executive Director
805-772-2694, ex. 105
www.esteroconservationalliance.com/ccnha.html
Central
Coast Veterans Memorial Museum
805-543-6193
Contact: Bob Lee
Central
Coast Vintage Machinery Association (EDGE & TA Branch #27)
703 Mustang Circle
Arroyo Grande CA 93420
805-481-9405
Contact: Royce Lambert
www.edgeta.org/brnch27.htm
The
Chumash Indian Council of San Luis Obispo County
315 South Elm
Arroyo Grande CA 93420
Contact: Mark Vigil
—
D —
Dallidet
Adobe Museum
1183 Pacific Street
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-543-6762
Dana
Adobe Museum
761 South Oak Glen Road
Nipomo CA 93456
805-929-2576
Contact: Lisa Vanderstad
Dana
Adobe Nipomo Amigos
P.O. Box 729
Nipomo CA 93444
www.danaadobe.org
The
Dunes Center
1055 Guadalupe St.
Guadalupe CA 93434
www.dunescenter.org
—
E —
El
Paso de Robles Area Pioneer Museum
P.O. Box 4613
35 Panorama
Paso Robles CA 93446
805-239-4556
El
Paso de Robles Carnegie Library Museum
1100 Spring St.
Paso Robles CA 93446
805-238-4996
El
Paso de Robles Area Historical Society
P. O. Box 2875
Paso Robles CA 93447-2875
805-238-4996
Contact: Virginia Peterson
El
Paso de Robles Trails Association
805-239-4004
Contact: Kathe Hustace
Estrella
Warbirds Museum
4251A Dry Creek Rd.
Paso Robles CA 93446
805-227-0440
www.ewarbirds.org/
—
F —
Family
History Center
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
651 Foothill Blvd
San Luis Obispo CA 93405
805-543-6328
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
2600 Ramona Rd
Atascadero CA 93422
805-466-6103
Filipino
Community of San Luis Obispo County
Filipino Community Center
885 13th St
Grover Beach CA 93433
805-489-9220
Contact: Avelino
Filipino
Community of Santa Maria Valley
2270 Preisker Lane
Santa Maria CA 93458
805-928-0392
Friends
of Hearst Castle
700 Hearst Castle Rd.
San Simeon CA 93452
805-927-2138
www.hearstcastle.com/friends
Friends
of las Casas de Adobe
P.O. Box 15114
San Luis Obispo CA 93406
805-541-2003
Contact: Bob Vessely
Friends
of the Adobes
P.O. Box 326
San Miguel CA 93451
Friends
of the Carrizo Plain
P. O. Box 3087
California Valley CA 93453
Friends
of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse Lens
P.O. Box 1688
Cambria CA 93428
805-927-0459
Friends
of the Ranchland
1965 Emmons Street
Cambria CA 93428
805-927-7219
Friends
of the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden
3050 Broad St.
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-546-3501
www.slobg.org
—
G —
Goodwin
Education Center
Carrizo Plain National Monument
P. O. Box 3087
California Valley CA 93453
661-391-6000
www.ca.blm.gov/bakersfield/goodwin.html
Greenspace
- Cambria Land Trust
P.O. Box 1505
Cambria CA 93428
805-927-2866
hlk@greenspacecambria.org
Guadalupe
Arts Council
1065 Guadalupe St
Guadalupe CA 93434
805-343-0100
Contact: Joe Talaugos
Guadalupe
Historical Museum
1005 Guadalupe St
Guadalupe CA 93434
805-343-5901
Contact: Shirley Boydston
—
H —
Hearst
San Simeon State Historic Monument
700 Hearst Castle Rd
San Simeon CA 93452
805-927-2020
www.hearstcastle.org/
Heritage
Shared
P.O. Box 4614
San Luis Obispo CA 93403
805-549-9283
Contact: Astrid Gallagher
www.heritageshared.org
Historical
Guides Association of California
P. O. Box 158
San Simeon CA 93452
Hollister
Adobe Museum
Cuesta College, P.O. Box 8106
San Luis Obispo CA 93405
805-546-3163
Contact: Dennis Judd, Social Sciences Division
—
I —
I.D.E.S.
(Irmande do Divino Santo Estado de California)
Council 21 Santa Maria
D.E.S. Club
615 W. Chapel
Santa Maria CA 93458
805-739-9004
Council
28 San Antonio
Arroyo Grande Association Hall
707 Huasna Rd
Arroyo Grande CA 93420
805-489-9968
Council
106 Beira Mar
Cayucos Lion Veterans Memorial Hall
10 Cayucos Dr.
Cayucos CA 93430
805-995-22401
—
J —
Jack
House Museum
536 Marsh St.San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-781-7308
Contact: San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Dept, 781-3800
—
L —
The
Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
P. O. Box 12206
743 Pacific Street
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-544-9096
Contact: Ray Belknap
www.special-places.org
—
M —
Mission
San Antonio de Padua Museum
Mission Rd
Jolon CA 93928
831-335-4478
Mission
San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Museum
751 Palm St
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-544-0720
Mission
San Miguel Arcangel Museum
801 Mission St,
San Miguel CA 93451
805-467-3256
Morro
Bay Historical Society
655 Elena
Morro Bay CA 93442
805-772-1058
Contact: Gary Ream
Morro
Bay State Park Natural History Museum
State Park Road
Morro Bay CA 93442
805-772-2694, ex. 101
Contact: Ray Monson, Museum Ranger
www.morrobaymuseum.org
—
N —
The
Nature Conservancy
849 Monterey Street #209
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-544-1767
www.nature.org
New
World Baroque Orchestra
P.O.Box 2121
Paso Robles CA 93447
Contact: John Warren - Kokopeli01@aol.com
The
Northern Chumash Council
1339 24th St
Oceano CA 93445
805-489-3490
Contact: Lei Lynn Odom
—
O —
Old
Santa Rosa Chapel
1174 Main St.
Cambria CA 93428
805-927-4816
Old
Town Nipomo Association
P.O. Box 1171
Nipomo CA 93444
805-929-2352
—
P —
Paderewski
Foundation
20 W. 12th St
Paso Robles CA 93446
805-239-4093
Contact: Barbara Tosh
www.paderewskifestival.org/
Paulding
House Museum
551 Crown Hill
Arroyo Grande CA 93420
805-473-3231
Contact: Jean Hubbard
The
People of the Salinan Tribe
P. O. Box 708
King City CA 93930
805-235-2730
Contact: John Burch
Point
San Luis Lighthouse Keepers
P.O. Box 13556
San Luis Obispo CA 93406
546-4904
Contact: Dennis Johannsen
Preserve
the Village
507 LePoint St.
Arroyo Grande CA 93420
Contact: Chuck Fellows - fellows1@earthlink.net
—
R —
Rancho
de Guadalupe Historical Society
P. O. Box 233
Guadalupe CA 93434
805-343-1095
Contact: Shirley Boydston
Reis
Chapel Museum
991 Nipomo St
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-544-7400
Contact: Gene Reis
Rios
Caledonia Adobe Museum
700 Mission Street
San Miguel CA 93451
805-467-3357
Rural
Adobe Network
2930 22nd Avenue
Oakland CA 94606
510-532-5788
Contact: Phil Bellman - pbellman@earthlink.net
—
S —
The
Salinan Cultural Center
Buntes Store
San Lucas CA 93954
831-382-4252
San Antonio Valley Historical Society
P. O. Box 145,
Lockwood CA 93932
831-385-4518
Contact: Ann Beckett
San Antonio Valley (Nacitone) Museum
P.O. Box 54
Lockwood CA 93932
831-3866
Contact: Lester Patterson - jewell@redshift.com
San Lorenzo County Park Agricultural Museum
1160 Broadway
King City CA 93930
831-385-5964
www.mcarlm.org
San
Luis Obispo Buddhist Church
6996 Ontario Rd
San Luis Obispo CA 93405
595-2625
City
of San Luis Obispo
Cultural Heritage Committee Archives
990 Palm St
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-781-7176
Contact: Jeff Hook
San
Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder
County Government Center
1144 Monterey St
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-781-5080
http://www.sloclerkrecorder.org/
San
Luis Obispo City/County Library
Local History Room
995 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-781-5991
www.slolibrary.org
San
Luis Obispo County Archaeological Research Center
Camp San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo CA 93407
805-543-7831
San
Luis Obispo County Archaeological Society
P. O. Box 109,
San Luis Obispo CA 93406
805-543-7831
Contact: Luther Bertrando
www.tcsn.net/sloarchaeology
San
Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association
8380 Atascadero Ave
Atascadero CA 93422
San
Luis Obispo County Cattlewomen’s Association
P.O. Box 1944
Paso Robles CA 93447
www.cattlewomen-slo.org/field1.html
San
Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau
651 Tank Farm Rd.
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
543-3654
Contact: Joy Fitzhugh
www.slofarmbureau.org
San
Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 4
Atascadero CA 93423
805-237-2455
www.slonet.org/~slogen/
San
Luis Obispo County Historical Society Museum
P. O. Box 1391
San Luis Obispo CA 93406
696 Monterey St
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
805-543-0638
Contact: Ron Clarke
www.slochs.org
San
Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
P.O. Box 13260
San Luis Obispo CA 93406-3260
805-461-3456
Contact: Brad Larose
www.slorrm.com
Santa
Maria Japanese American Community Center
134 N. Western Ave
Santa Maria CA 93456
805-925-4200
Contact: Dawn Kamiya
Santa
Maria Museum of Flight
3015 Airport Dr
Santa Maria CA 93456
805-922-8758
Contact: Dick Weber
www.smmof.org
Santa
Maria Museum of Natural History
412 S. McClelland
Santa Maria CA 93456
805-614-0806
Santa
Maria Valley Historical Museum
616 S. Broadway
Santa Maria CA 93454
805-922-3130
Contact: Richard Chenoweth
Santa
Maria Valley Railroad Historical Museum
Santa Maria Town Center Mall
P. O. Box 264
Santa Maria CA 93456
805-714-4927
www.smvrhm.org
Santa
Inez Band of Chumash Mission Indians
Tribal Elders Council
Santa Inez Chumash Indian Reservation
P. O. Box 365
Santa Inez CA 93460
Contact: Susie Harrison805-688-8446
Tribal
Council Administrative Offices
P. O. Box 517
Santa Inez CA 93460
South
County Historical Society
Museum
P.O. Box 633
Arroyo Grande CA 93421
805-481-4128
Contact: Kirk Scott, President481-4435
schistsoc@aol.com
Heritage
House Museum
126 South Mason
Arroyo Grande CA 93420
805-481-4126
Santa
Manuela School
127 Short St
Arroyo Grande CA 93420
805-489-8745
—
T —
Templeton
Historical Museum Society
P. O. Box 788309 Main St
Templeton CA 93468
805-434-0807
www.magicwindows.com/officeof/templetonhistoricalmuseumsociety/
—
V —
Vision
Unida
P. O. Box 15856
San Luis Obispo CA 93406
Central
Coast History on the Web
At
first thought it would seem reasonable to expect that the best sources
for local history are locally available. After all, the events
happened here. Why look further?
Second
thoughts suggest why the best sources are often someplace else. In San
Luis Obispo, as elsewhere, locals tended to document the unusual
rather than the commonplace. It was more often visitors, bureaucrats
on fact-finding missions, and other strangers who recorded and saved
information about the textures of local life that later historians now
find most useful. For example, the obvious keys to the under-explored
history of Central Coast tourism are the letters that vacationers sent
home, and the diaries and photo albums that they took home. They are
more likely to survive in places like Fresno than in Pismo Beach.
Similarly, in many ways the best descriptions of California coastal
communities from Avila to Cambria in the 19th century appear in two
federal documents rarely available in local libraries: the U.S. Coast
Survey’s Coast Pilot of California, Oregon and Washington, and
Bureau of Fisheries The Fisheries and Fishing Industries of the United
States. Rich sources for Chumash ethnography in the same era reside at
the Musée de l’Homme in Paris.
In
the good old days cost and inconvenience severely limited research
trips far afield. Local historians tended to stay close to home
reworking the same sources, re-asking the same questions, and
retelling the same stories until the past ran the risk of closing in
on itself.
Recently
the Internet has made it much easier -- and more necessary -- to look
and think outside the box. SLO history now has a global reach. Because
most web-based sites are searchable by keyword, it’s relatively easy
to explore this expanding universe of undiscovered sources and fresh
ideas. A powerful and friendly “search engine” such as Google (http://www.google.com)
takes less then a second to locate more than 300,000 references to San
Luis Obispo on the web. In an instant Google’s “image” search
option finds and displays over 8,000 SLO-related photographs, maps and
graphics. Similarly, a few mouse clicks yield lists of every
SLO-related, cataloged document and artifact in virtually every
California library, in the Library of Congress, the National Archives,
and the Smithsonian Institution (see http://www.melvyl.ucop.edu;;
http://lcweb.loc.gov/catalog/;
http://www.loc.gov/z3950;
http://www.siris.si.edu).
Documentation for a hundred SLO County buildings, industrial and
public works sites is available from the National Park Service
Historic American Buildings Survey and Historical American Engineering
Record (HABS/HAER) at http://www.cr.nps.gov/habshaer/.
Several
examples illustrate the exciting range of original documents and
images now accessible online. American Memory: Historical Collections
for the National Digital Library (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/)
currently offers 7 million items from more than a hundred collections.
The California Heritage Collection includes 30,000 images illustrating
California history and culture (http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/calheritage),
and it is only a small part of the Online Archive of California, a
one-stop search site for most of the significant library, archival,
museum, and research institution collections state-wide (http://sunsite2.berkeley.edu/oac).
The
web is also a conduit for new ideas. Http://www.dohistory.org/
is a fascinating example of how an imaginative historian pieced
fragments of local history together into the prize-winning book and
film, A Widwife’s Tale. Some of the smartest local studies these
days first surface in the online magazine, Common-Place (www.common-place.org).
More than 60,000 historians now regularly discuss current work and
post inquiries on H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences On-Line (http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/about/).
The H-Cal Discussion Network focuses on California topics (http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~cal/).
As
the websites listed here and on the Heritage Shared Links Pages
suggest, internet sources for SLO History expand and become more
accessable every day. For helpful tour guides to this global village
of local history, both periodically updated via the web, see Dennis A.
Trinkle, ed., The U.S. History Highway: A Guide to Internet Sources
(2002), and Dennis A. Trinkle, ed., The World History Highway: A
Guide to Internet Sources (2002).
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