Rancho Bernardo History Museum

Hours
Thursday 12 pm – 3pm
Friday – Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm

The Rancho Bernardo History Museum is operated by the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society. It is located on the grounds of the historic Bernardo Winery at 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, San Diego, CA 92128. Over 10,000 visitors come to the museum each year to learn about the history of Rancho Bernardo and the surrounding area. Volunteer docents are available to explain the many exhibits and displays that are available to visitor of all ages. The Museum also maintains a research library for use by appointment.

Online Museum Exhibits:

Additional Exhibits At The Museum

  • Indigenous Culture in the Rancho Bernardo Area
  • Historic Places
  • The Town of Bernardo
  • Battle of San Pasqual and The Mexican American War
  • Rancho Bernardo Today

Collections

Bernardo Brandings Magazine

 

Recent Additions to Our Collections

The following items have been recently added to our collections. Some items may still be in the cataloging process. Some items may have restricted access. For information about current availability, please contact the collections manager, Peggy Rossi, at 858-775-5788.

  • Three large photographs of Harry Summers on foam board (donor Linda Acosta).

  • Twelve slides taken in 1985 by Grace Huff of the Sikes Adobe and immediate surroundings. Includes unidentified cowhands. (donor Lucy Berk).

  • Cookbook: Salads & Casseroles for Pot-Lucks. Created by the Women of the Rancho Bernardo Community Church, undated (donor unknown).

  • Report: Excavation and Analysis of a Stone Enclosure Complex in San Diego County by Stephen R. Van Wormer and Richard L. Carrico. UC Merced Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology (1993) (donor Vincent Rossi).

  • Rancho Bernardo News Journal and Poway New Chieftain, bound copies 2000-2015 (donor Pomerado News Group)

  • AAUW/Tech Trek materials including objects, photographs, flyers, correspondence, a history of AAUW RB, news clippings, minutes and financial reports. (Some materials restricted) (donor RB AAUW)

  • Bernardo Gardeners Collection: scrapbooks, minutes, award materials, history, directories and yearbooks (donor Bernardo Gardeners)

  • Sulzberger Collection: Historical papers of Zita Sulzberger; 1962 Rancho Bernardo Community Plan, RB history CD, 2007 fire video, San Diego and Southern California history books (donor estate of Zita Sulzberger)

  • Three bound volumes of tear sheets of travel articles by Al Deahl (1986-1995) (donor Barbara Deahl)

  • Report of Operating of the Senior Services Committee, 1976 (donor Patricia Johnston)

  • Seven framed photographs of Native American rock art in Rancho Bernardo (donor Greg Erickson)

  • Golf hat from the Inn at Rancho Bernardo (donor Peggy Rossi)

  • Press Club of Rancho Bernardo: A Decade of History 1982-1992; Press Club of Rancho Bernardo roster,

  • 1991; miscellaneous San Diego history books and “Journals of San Diego History” (donor Carl Larson)

  • Escondido: A Pictorial History of the Hidden Valley; a publication of the Escondido History Center (donor Edith Hillebrecht)

  • Happiness is Rancho Bernardo Christmas ornament; framed “Chain of Title,” given to J.H. and Marguerite Boling; topographic jigsaw puzzle of Rancho Bernardo and surrounding area; misc. RBHS documents re event planning (donor Jane Harmon)

  • Three signed and numbered prints by Stanislaus J. Sowinski (donor the Sowinski family)

  • Legend Edition Community Map of Rancho Bernardo; Joslyn Center 10 Year History, 1989-1999;

  • Rancho Bernardo Insider; Spirit of the 4th programs; Value Freedom posters; articles and documents on founding of RB Historical Society; 19 CDs/DVDs of programs and interviews; RB postcards; series of slides and negatives of various RB scenes (donor Larry McIntyre)

  • World War II jacket of Robert Edward Lee, Army Signal Corps (donor Sunny Lee)

  • Kumeyaay Ethnobotany: Shared Heritage of the Californias by Michael Wilken-Robertson (donor unknown)

  • Native American artifacts: quiver and arrows; basket; head covering; two pots, woman’s willow skirt; bow (donor anonymous)

  • Abe Baum Collection: numerous books, photographs, awards and documents (donor Eileen Baum)

  • Petty Officer First Class J.A. Barila service dress uniform jacket (donor Raenell Hooten)

  • William J. Hooten LtCol, USAF dress tuxedo jacket (donor Raenell Hooten)

  • Colonel Michael Ensidler USMC Ret., US Marine Dress Uniform Jacket

  • Binder “A Private Collection of Treasured Recipes” PEO Chapter WS, Rancho Bernardo (donor PEO)

  • Architectural plans for construction of RB History Society Museum at the RB Winery, 2009 (donor Ross Rizzo, Bernardo Winery)

  • Misc. real estate marketing materials and economic study of the Bernardo Industrial Park (donor unknown)

  • Framed print of “Morning Visitors” by Stanislaus Sowinski, 1992 (donor Ron Wade)

  • Ed Brown/Joslyn Senior Center financial records, deed, notice of completion, copies of speeches by Ed Brown, invitation to center dedication (donor Craig Brown)

  • Flash drive of over 200 photographs taken at the evacuation center at Qualcomm during the 2007 wildfire (donor Nancy Canfield)