L.A. has some pretty famous museums that showcase master artwork and history from around the world. But what about our own history? In our continuing series on small museums of the valley, we visited the Canoga-Owensmouth Historical Society Museum in Canoga Park.
Step back in time to when the valley was nothing but orchards, and Canoga Park was named Owensmouth. Originally, the town was called Canoga in the late 1800’s, when the railroad came through and named it. Around the turn of the century it was renamed Owensmouth, but gained such a reputation as the wild, wild west that Mary Logan Orcutt (of the Orcutt Ranch Fame) and the Women’s Club, which was formed in 1914, decided to rename it Canoga Park.
Women’s Club members are the ones who began gathering photos, memorabilia and artifacts for the museum, which officially opened in 1987.
It was preserved and the museum organized and funded by the club, Pastor and Honorary Mayor of Canoga Park Glen Kirby, and $30,000 in donations from local individuals and organi-zations.
It is housed in the old 1931 fire station, and still retains its grand old ceiling. Inside you’ll find the history of not only Canoga Park, but the west valley. Permanent and rotating displays depict life in the San Fernando Valley from the days of the Chumash Indians through the Mexican Rancho and dry-farming, grain-growing eras to the transformation brought about by the arrival of the aerospace industry in the late 50’s and 60’s. Packing crates from various growers who were members of the San Fernando Citrus Association line the walls, with photos of original growers and laborers.
There are photos of Canoga Park’s first families, from the Espinozas to the Orcutts, Knapps, Carlsons and Martindales. Many families that \ located here actually came to work the orchards and fields, and stayed on.
There are historical documents, and the first newspapers of the area – all displayed so you can read them and be amazed at the news of the day – and the prices!
Display cases show old kitchen tools, typewriters and more. The history of Canoga Park High School is there in photos and memorabilia, as well as bottles from the old Giacapuzzi Dairy that hung around on Fallbrook through the early 80’s. There are scrapbooks, oral history tapes and maps in the one-room museum and photos of the famous – and infamous – who visited Canoga Park, including royals, mobsters, one of the Manson family and notable veterans.
It’s small enough to take in the overall displays in an hour or so, but holds enough in terms of written history, books and clippings that you could spend much more time perusing the material. Docents Ed Barkoff, President of the Canoga Owensmouth Historical Society, and Bill Ratner, VP of Programs, took several hours to show me the highlights and let me flip through the old newspapers and photos on display.
The Canoga Owensmouth Historical Society Museum is open the second and fourth Sundays of the month from 2 to 4 pm and by special request. It is located at 7248 Owensmouth Avenue, just above Sherman Way, with plenty of free parking in the rear of the building.
