Story Time with an Archaeologist
San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesJoin us on select Thursday mornings for archaeology-themed story time at the Center. Stay afterwards to explore the museum with family-friendly activities like our Archaeology Quest and Field Lab.
Save Our Heritage Organization: Penning the Past Zoom Lecture – Little Italy
VirtualJoin the Save Our Heritage Organization to learn about the unique character of San Diego’s historic neighborhoods through the eyes of impassioned writers and historians. Brought to life by esteemed local authors, Penning the Past promises to be an enriching exploration of San Diego’s architectural legacy and historical tapestry. The series is free for SOHO members, $10 per lecture for non-members. Your participation supports SOHO’s mission of education and advocacy to preserve the historic architecture, sites, and cultural landscapes that surround us and add meaning to our daily lives. Little Italy by Dr. Thomas J. Cesarini Italian immigrants settled along San Diego's waterfront in the early 1900s and formed the "Italian Colony," a tightly knit community that provided refuge, shared culture, and heritage. Extended families, new businesses, and church traditions formed the foundation for a lasting social code. It was no coincidence that the area would become known as Little Italy—it was exactly that for its inhabitants—a home away from their native land. But by the mid-1960s, changes brought by war and urban modernization began to unravel the community. Take a compelling journey through this unique immigrant enclave. Vivid images and descriptive captions highlight essential elements of this community, such as labor and longing, fishing and family, ritual and revitalization. Through photographs contributed by local community members, this volume traces the evolution of a humble fishing village into the chic urban neighborhood that is Little Italy today. Author bio Dr. Thomas J. Cesarini, a distinguished academic and nonprofit leader, founded Convivio, a nonprofit dedicated to Italian humanities. Holding a PhD in leadership studies and an M.A. in nonprofit leadership and management from the University of San Diego, he is known for his advocacy for San Diego's Italian community and was appointed as the Italian Honorary Consul in 2019. He established the Italian Historical Society of San Diego in 2006, aiming to create a comprehensive Italian cultural center and museum. Dr. Cesarini's commitment to fostering Italian arts, culture, and heritage makes him a stalwart advocate in the San Diego Italian-American community. This event is hosted by the Save Our Heritage Organization. For more information, questions, and registration, please contact the event organizer.
Grape Day Festival
Grape Day Park 321 N Broadway, Escondido, CA, United StatesCelebrate Escondido’s agricultural heritage at the Escondido Grape Day Festival, presented by the Escondido History Center, The Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, and Brothers of 6 Charities. This year’s event features activities for all ages including grape stomping, live music, children’s activities and games, antique farm equipment, food vendors, local arts and crafts, wine and beer garden, and more. Visit the SDAC’s booth to step into the fascinating world of archaeology. Conduct a mini excavation, assemble plate puzzles, and explore artifacts from the region. This event is hosted by the Escondido History Center and the Brothers of 6. For more information, visit the Escondido Grape Day Festival website.
Ancient Echoes: Pints & Pigments
San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesIn this installment of our Ancient Echoes, you’ll make art the ancient way! Using natural pigments and a little human creativity, you’ll produce a one-of-a-kind paleolithic art piece (no cave required). All art materials will be provided. Tickets include two drinks per person (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available). This event is 21+. About Ancient Echoes In our adult friendly Ancient Echoes series, we look back into the archaeological record at the origins of many of our favorite things and breaking the conceptions of their modernity. Have you ever wondered about the roots of mead, chocolate, or beer? What about the importance of art, dance, and music to Ice Age hunter-gatherers? Ancient Echoes explores these topics and more, offering an interactive experience aimed at connecting us back with our deep past. Cost: $40; SDAC Members $35 Online Registration is closed. Please pay at door. Please note: Tickets are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, your ticket(s) will be converted into a tax-deductible donation.
Save Our Heritage Organization: Warner-Carrillo Ranch House Tour
Warner Carillo Ranch House 29181 San Felipe Road, Warner Springs, CA 9208, CA, United StatesBuilt in 1857 by Vincenta Carrillo, a prominent early Californio woman rancher, the adobe served as the Butterfield Stage Stop from 1858 until the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. As California's first regular overland transcontinental stage connection with St. Louis, this pioneering stage route ran along the Missouri Trail. The trail was the most southerly and only all-weather route to California. Built directly beside the emigrant trail, it figured prominently in the settler's diaries as their first glimpse of the promised land, the first well-watered valley to be encountered after crossing the Great Southwestern Deserts. The historic setting has changed very little from the time of the great western migration and presents a rare opportunity to experience the past. The adobe maintains a high degree of integrity including a great deal of its historic fabric including the original fireplace mantle, much woodwork, vigas (ceiling beams) and remains of its muslin ceiling cloths. Trained and knowledgeable docent educators lead the guided tour. Learn more about its history and restoration before your visit. Open Year Round Saturday • Sunday • 12-4pm Closed Christmas eve and Christmas day, New Year's eve and New Year's day House Tours are 45-60 minutes in length Please note: The last tour of the day begins at 3:45pm PURCHASE TICKETS In Person Warner-Carrillo Ranch House 29181 San Felipe Road, Warner Springs CA 92086 Admission $5 Adults $4 Seniors (65 & older) & Children (ages 6-12) Free for children & under This event is hosted by the Save Our Heritage Organization. For more information, questions, and registration, please contact the event organizer.
Art with an Archaeologist
Free admission for kids on select Saturdays! Join us for family-friendly activities in our classroom, where you can create your own art with an archaeologist, become a junior archaeologist with our miniature excavation units, and curl up with a book on our cozy reading rug. Families can also explore the museum on an Archaeology Quest and check out our Excavation Station and Field Lab. Kids 12 & under: Free; Adults: $5 (includes museum admission)
Kids Free San Diego
San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesCalling all Junior Archaeologists! This October, present your Kids Free San Diego coupon to receive free admission to the Center and a take-home pottery kit for kids 12 and under. Journey through the museum on a family-friendly Archaeology Quest. Use your excavation skills to uncover the past. Examine and record your findings in our field lab - just like a real archaeologist! Then continue the fun at home with a pinch pot kit. Pottery kits and museum admission are free for children 12 and under with Kids Free San Diego Coupon plus paid adult admission. To participate, visit the San Diego Museum Council website to download your coupon. Then present it when you visit the Center to receive free admission and pottery kits for up to two children (12 and under) with one full-price paid adult ($5+). Limit 1 pottery kit per child. Organized by the San Diego Tourism Authority with support from the San Diego Museum Council (SDMC), Kids Free San Diego is an opportunity for thousands of families to enjoy museum experiences each year. Visit SanDiego.org to view participating museums and terms. A full directory of participating venues can also be found on the SDMC website.
Kids Pottery Workshop
San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesGet creative this October! Join us for a pottery workshop and museum open house. Create your own piece of pottery to take home with you. Journey through the museum on a family-friendly Archaeology Quest. Use your excavation skills to uncover the past, then examine and record your findings in our Field Lab – just like a real archaeologist! Museum admission and pottery workshop are free for kids 12 and under. Adult museum admission: Pay what you wish (suggested $5/person). No registration required.
Living Room Lecture – Recycling for Death: Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Theban Royal Caches
VirtualIn this lecture, Kara Cooney will discuss her latest book, Recycling for Death, a meticulous study of the social, economic, and religious significance of coffin reuse during the Ramesside and early Third Intermediate periods. Funerary datasets are the chief source of social history in Egyptology, and the numerous tombs, coffins, Books of the Dead, and mummies of the Twentieth and Twenty-first Dynasties have not been fully utilized as social documents, mostly because the data of this time period is scattered and difficult to synthesize. This book is the culmination of fifteen years of coffin study, analyzing coffins and other funerary equipment of elites from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-second Dynasties to provide essential windows into social strategies and adaptations employed during the Bronze Age collapse and subsequent Iron Age reconsolidation. Cost: Pay what you wish Registration is closed. About the Author Kara Cooney is a professor of Egyptology at UCLA and Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. Specializing in social history, gender studies, and economies in the ancient world, she received her Ph.D. in Egyptology from Johns Hopkins University. Her popular books include The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt, When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt, and The Good Kings: Absolute Power in Ancient Egypt and the Modern World. Her latest books include Ancient Egyptian Society: Challenging Assumptions, Exploring Approaches (Routledge, 2023) and Recycling for Death: Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Theban Royal Caches (The American University in Cairo Press, August 2024).
Girl Scout Field Trip Day
San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, United StatesJoin us for a field trip at the San Diego Archaeological Center, where you'll learn what archaeology actually is, where we work, the variety of tools we use, and how we study the past here and all over the world. Complete an Archaeology Quest guiding you through 12,000 years of local history and multiple interactive exhibits then make your own piece of pottery to take home. Register now to save your spot. Program is $10 per scout, pay at door.
Arch in the Park
Los Penasquitos Ranch House 12122 Canyonside Park Drive, San Diego, CA, United StatesJoin the San Diego County Archaeological Society (SDCAS) for their annual Arch in the Park event. Their goal is to educate the public about archaeology, and to provide information on various career and volunteer opportunities with local archaeological companies, museums, universities, and organizations. Typically, more than 30 vendors take part in Arch in the Park. Arch in the Park is ideal for students and budding archaeologists to network, as well as family fun. This event is hosted by the San Diego County Archaeological Society. For more information, questions, and registration, please contact the event organizer.
Julian Natural Wonderfest
Menghini Winery 1150 Julian Orchards Dr., Julian, CA, United StatesJoin the Volcan Mountain Foundation for the Julian Natural Wonderfest, a day of fun, education, wildlife, science, wonder, preservation and dark sky appreciation for the whole family! Free event — community sponsored! This afternoon and evening gathering at Menghini Winery will include a late night astronomy star party, wildlife ambassador encounters, games and activities for families, presentations of music and art, and outreach booths from land preservation and other local nature-focused organizations, food vendors and access to the winery tasting room adjacent to the event venue. Free parking convenient to the event grounds.