~~ Strathearn Park will be closed November 27th and 28th. ~~
Don’t miss our upcoming events! Click on “Park Events” for details!
Welcome to Strathearn Historical Park
Simí Valley History Preserved
Strathearn Historical Park is 6½ acres in Simí Valley dedicated to the preservation of many of Simí’s earliest buildings. We are also the caretakers of hundreds of photographs, letters, personal items and other artifacts that record that lives of our early pioneers. The Park is open to the public, free of charge, Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Trained Docents lead tours through the buildings on beginning at 1:00pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Meet the Strathearns
Robert and Mary Strathearn and their seven children were Ranchers of about 14,000 acres beginning in the 1880’s. In 1968, the Strathearn Family donated the family home and the 6½ acres to the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The Park is managed in collaboration with The Simi Valley Historical Society.
El Rancho Simí and the Home Ranch
Rancho Simi was one of California’s largest land grants from the King of Spain. In 1795, Santiago Pico received these 113,000 acres of land. The property was purchased in 1842 by Jose de la Guerra, then in 1889 cattle ranchers Robert P. Strathearn and his wife Mary Lamb purchased 14,000 acres of the old Rancho. They transformed the original adobe into a kitchen and dining room. In 1892 they added a two-story Victorian style farmhouse to the adobe. The Strathearn family called this the Home Ranch lived in this house until 1968.
The Colony Houses
In 1888, a group of wealthy doctors from Chicago purchased 12 “kit houses” and had them shipped to Simí which was called Simíopolis at that time. Their plan was to start a health colony because they were told that the weather in California could heal any ailment. Strathearn Park has the last two remaining Colony Houses, the Haigh/Talley and Printz/Powell. The Haigh/Talley home is included in the Docent-led tours.
Fun Fact: These houses did not have indoor bathrooms or kitchens. They did not have electricity, water, gas or sewers. In fact, they didn’t ever have closets.
Simi Library
Prior to 1930, if you wanted a library book in Ventura County is could be in one of many, many locations such as church basements, schools and private homes. But the people of Simí wanted an actual library and this small building was the first purpose-built library in Ventura County. On display are photos of Simí’s first class of students, Ventura County’s first school bus, the original Simí High School and many library artifacts. This building is included in the Docent-led tours.
Fun Fact: If you graduated from Simí High or Royal High School, then your picture is in the Strathearn Park Library! That’s right, because our library houses Annuals from both schools.
Bañaga Barbershop
Manuel Bañaga cut hair in this building as a barbershop from 1958 to 2008. Built around 1905, this barbershop was also a dry goods store, a family home, chiropractic office, and a café.
Fun Fact: This shop has an early device for curling ladies hair that looks like something out of Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory! Come see it.
Saint Rose of Lima Church
The Saint Rose of Lima Church was originally built as a Presbyterian church in 1902. But in 1902, there were very few people living in Simí and that had a hard time establishing a congregation. So in 1910 it became a Catholic mission church. It became the St. Rose of Lima church in 1922 and served as in important parish until 1964.
Fun Fact: Before this parish moved to a much larger building, 5 Masses were held on every Sunday and still many had to listen from chairs outside of the building.