Heritage Park, 12100 Mora Dr., Santa Fe Springs. Open 7 A.M. to 10 P.M. daily.
The Carriage Barn and Railroad Exhibit are open noon to 4 P.M., Tuesday thru Sunday. Free admission, parking and
picnic tables. Call 562-946-6476 for more information.
Thanks to Jennie Douglas's article in the Long Beach Press Telegram, Sunday,
Sept. 25, 1999, p. C1, for the factual basis of material on this page. |
During the 1890's, Heritage Park in Santa Fe Springs was a showplace of formal gardens, fine statues and fountains.
The showplace was created by Harvey Hawkins, who moved here in 1877, as part of his plant collection activities.
Recreated faithfully from original drawings and blueprints by volunteers, the park is a wonderful testament to
the daily life of 19th Century California. There is a windmill, tankhouse, pump, and many other authentic relics.
The Aviary, built by Margaret and Silas Slusher in 1916, contains many interesting birds. Children can crawl all
over the Santa Fe Springs Depot's engine, ringing the bell. Hawkins fancy carriage barn (originally costing $5,000)
contains a beautiful black Surrey.
The latest exhibit is in honor of the first people of Santa Fe Springs, the Tongva.
Missionaries renamed them "Gabrielinos", after the mission, and there are three existing groups: the
"Gabrielino/Shoshone" group, the "Gabrielino/Tongva" group, and the "Tongva Springs Foundation".
"You can't imagine a more idyllic setting for a Native American village, amid native plantings and huge,
leafy trees, with a running stream and a quiet pool," wrote Jennie Douglas. There is an authentic
kich or ki, a 32 foot wide domed house made of tule and willow. A smaller version can be seen in Newport's Back
Bay "Shellmaker Island" exhibit. There is a bark Ti'ak canoe, similar to the one which the authorities
refused to exhibit on Catalina, a dance and storytelling arena, pertroglyphs, a granary, sweat lodge, grinding
stone, all with descriptive signage.
The opening ceremonies, in honor of the volunteers which made this possible and Tongva Tribal Chief Anthony Morales,
was held on Sept. 25. The Tongva Dancers (actually, that's everone) appeared, and there were many other events. |