National Register of Historic Places listings in Ventura County, California facts for kids

Ventura County is a beautiful area in California!

Have you ever wondered about the oldest buildings or special places in your town? In Ventura County, California, there are many amazing spots that are so important, they're listed on something called the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect buildings, sites, and objects that tell us about the past of the United States. It's like a special hall of fame for history!

Ventura County has 42 places on this list, including one really important one called a National Historic Landmark. These places help us learn about how people lived, worked, and built things long ago. Let's explore some of these cool historic sites!

Exploring Ventura's Historic Treasures

Anacapa Island Light Station

Imagine living on an island and guiding ships safely! The Anacapa Island Light is a historic lighthouse located on Anacapa Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park. It was first listed as a historic place in 1991. Lighthouses like this one were super important for sailors, helping them find their way and avoid dangerous rocks. It's a beacon of history!

The Anacapa Island Light Station helps guide ships safely.

Elizabeth Bard Memorial Hospital

The Elizabeth Bard Memorial Hospital in Ventura is a building with a long history. It was added to the National Register in 1977. Hospitals are vital parts of any community, and this building reminds us of how healthcare has changed over the years.

Bardsdale United Methodist Church

In Fillmore, you can find the Bardsdale United Methodist Church. This beautiful church was built in 1898 by local families. It's a great example of "carpenter gothic" style, which means it has fancy wooden details that look like they were carved from stone. It was recognized as a historic place in 1986.

The Bardsdale United Methodist Church has a unique carpenter gothic style.

Berylwood Estate

Near Port Hueneme is the historic Berylwood estate. This large property, once 62 acres, belonged to the Bard family. During World War II, the Navy used it, and the government bought it in 1951. It became a historic district in 1977, showing how important this land was over time.

The historic Bard Mansion at Berylwood.

Burro Flats Painted Cave

Deep in the Simi Hills, near Bell Canyon, is the Burro Flats Painted Cave. This special cave holds ancient Chumash pictographs, which are paintings on rock walls. These artworks tell stories and share beliefs of the Native American people who lived here long ago. It was added to the Register in 1976.

Ancient Chumash pictographs inside the Burro Flats Painted Cave.

Camarillo Ranch House

The Camarillo Ranch House in Camarillo is a grand 15-room house built in 1892. It was home to the Camarillo family, who the city of Camarillo is named after! This house gives us a peek into the lives of early settlers and ranchers in the area. It became a historic site in 2003.

The beautiful Camarillo Ranch House, built in 1892.

Colony House (Simi, California)

In Simi Valley, you can visit the Colony House. This unique "kit house" was built from a kit of pre-cut parts, which was a popular way to build homes in the past. It's now part of a historical park, where you can also see the Simi Adobe and Strathearn House. It joined the Register in 1978.

The Colony House in Simi Valley, a historic kit house.

Stagecoach Inn

The Stagecoach Inn in Newbury Park has a fascinating story. The original building, from 1876, was sadly destroyed by fire in 1970. But it was rebuilt and reopened in 1976 as a historical museum! Now, it's known as the Stagecoach Inn and helps visitors learn about the area's past. It was listed in 1975.

The rebuilt Stagecoach Inn, now a historical museum.

Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village

One of the most unique places is Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village in Simi Valley. This amazing folk art creation was started in 1956 by Tressa Prisbrey. She built structures and sculptures using thousands of bottles and other found objects. It's a truly imaginative and colorful place, added to the Register in 1996.

A colorful creation at Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village.

Joel McCrea Ranch

The Joel McCrea Ranch in Thousand Oaks was a working ranch owned by famous actor Joel McCrea from the 1930s to the 1970s. It's a great example of how Hollywood stars sometimes lived very different lives off-screen. This ranch became a historic district in 1997.

Buildings at the historic Joel McCrea Ranch.

Mission San Buenaventura

The Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura is a very important historical site. It was founded in 1782 and is one of the 21 Spanish missions in California. The mission and its surrounding area became a historic district in 1975. It's a place where you can learn about early California history and the lives of the missionaries and Native Americans.

The historic Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura.

Olivas Adobe

The Olivas Adobe in Ventura is a special two-story adobe house. The first part was built in 1837 by Don Raimundo Olivas, and he expanded it in 1849. It's the only early two-story adobe in the Santa Clara River Valley and shows us how homes were built in California's early days. It was listed in 1979.

The two-story Olivas Adobe, built in the 1800s.

Carnegie Art Museum

The Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard used to be the Oxnard Public Library! It was built with money from Andrew Carnegie, who helped build many libraries across the country. This beautiful building, now an art museum, was added to the Register in 1971.

The Carnegie Art Museum, once a public library.

Rancho Camulos

Rancho Camulos in Piru is a very special place because it's a National Historic Landmark! This means it's recognized as one of the most important historic places in the entire country. It was listed in 1996 and offers a glimpse into California's rancho era.

Rancho Camulos, a National Historic Landmark.

San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct

The San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct in Ventura is an incredible example of ancient engineering. These are the ruins of an 11-kilometer (7-mile) aqueduct built by Native Americans to bring water from the Ventura River to the San Buenaventura Mission. It shows how clever people were at managing water resources long ago. It was listed in 1975.

The ruins of the San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct.

SS Winfield Scott Shipwreck

Off the coast of Anacapa Island lies the shipwreck of the SS Winfield Scott. This steamship sank in 1853. Shipwrecks are like underwater time capsules, preserving a moment in history. This site was added to the National Register in 1988, reminding us of the dangers and adventures of sea travel.

An old drawing of the SS Winfield Scott steamship.

Ventura County Courthouse

The Ventura County Courthouse in Ventura is an impressive building that has served the county for many years. Courthouses are important centers for law and government. This historic building was recognized in 1971.

The historic Ventura County Courthouse.

Ventura Theatre

The Ventura Theatre in Ventura is a historic theater that first opened its doors a long time ago. Today, it's a popular music venue in downtown Ventura. It was listed in 1986, showing how old buildings can find new life and continue to be important to the community.