Hands were held high and the crowd cheered as Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez cut the ribbon alongside Rancho Cucamonga City Council Member Kristine D. Scott, Museum Director David Myers, District Representative Armando Martinez from Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh’s office, and others during a ceremony marking improvements to the María Merced Williams and John Rains House on Saturday, April 27.
A good crowd was on hand to witness the event and show support. Many people enjoyed lunch from Nick Nack’s BBQ, site tours, frontier arts and crafts, bobbin lace demonstrations by Cross Twisters, educational presentations and more.
The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by an open house, which showcased the recent improvements. These significant investments will improve visitor experience, increase opportunities for learning and enjoyment, and ensure this historically significant site is protected and relevant for years to come.
The María Merced Williams and John Rains House, built in 1860, has a history as colorful as the property’s gardens. Namesakes Rains and Merced, granddaughter of the prominent landowner Don Antonio Maria Lugo, built the home to withstand the hot Inland Southern California climate, and of course to entertain. The home featured multiple large rooms and guest quarters as well as an open flume that carried water from springs through the kitchen and into the patio under the house to the orchard, providing water to the plants and cooling the home.
The María Merced Williams and John Rains House is located at 8810 Hemlock St., at the Vineyard Avenue exit from Interstate 10 in Rancho Cucamonga. The historic site is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free to the public.
The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture and education in the county, creating an enhanced quality of life for residents and visitors.
For more information, visit museum.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
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