Title: Delivery Wagon and Horse on the Beach, circa 1880s-1890s.

Identifier: 3118 from the MVC Research Library Digitized Photographs

EXCITING HIGHLIGHTS

OPENING RECEPTION – NEW ART EXHIBITION

Friday, February 13 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.

100 E. Main Street, Ventura

Join us for the opening reception of Pages to Posters: The Visual Worlds of Simms Taback and enjoy an early look at original posters, illustrations, and designs that showcase his bold visual style. Get details HERE.

Enjoy refreshments and live jazz by The Dennis Berger Trio, sponsored by Ventura Music Festival. This exhibition is made possible by: Thomas and Esther Wachtell Family Endowment Fund, Bill and Elise Kearney, Amgen Foundation, and Reel Guppy Outdoors.

SPECIAL UPDATE FROM THE AG

The Agriculture Museum reopens on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join us on February 8 for a full day of community activities, family resources, and fun for all ages. Admission is free. Get details HERE.

You’re Invited

WEEKEND EVENTS

Paint My Picture:
Our Black American Stories

@Museum of Ventura County

100 E Main Street, Ventura

Saturday, February 7

2:00 – 5:30 PM

The Museum of Ventura County and the NAACP Ventura County Branch invite you to Paint My Picture: Our Black American Stories, a Black History Month celebration featuring keynote speakers, poetry, and a sip-and-paint experience.

The afternoon will highlight powerful personal narratives and community voices through storytelling and art. Featured speakers include:

• LeRoy A. “Buddy” Gibson, Ventura County memoirist and author of Looking Beyond the Mirror
• James Joyce III, civil rights activist, social entrepreneur, and founder of Coffee With A Black Guy
• Helaine Stallion, Executive Committee member of the NAACP Ventura County Branch and City of Oxnard Community Relations Commissioner

Get event details HERE.

Community Conversations: The Power of Native Plants

@Agriculture Museum

926 Railroad Ave, Santa Paula

Saturday, February 21

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

It’s the 4th Annual UC Master Gardener Open House at the Agriculture Museum. This free, family-friendly event celebrates the ongoing partnership between the UC Master Gardener Program of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum, highlighting the vital role native plants play in healthy ecosystems and local landscapes.

Keynote speaker Julia Fireflower, a Tataviam tribal member, will share insights on the importance of California native plants and pollinators, followed by a hands-on demonstration. The event also features interactive workshops led by UC Master Gardeners and Mini Nature Reserve. Get event details HERE.

Dando Vida a Enfoque

Bringing Enfoque to Life

@Agriculture Museum

926 Railroad Ave, Santa Paula

Domingo, 1 de marzo

Sunday, March 1

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Acompáñanos en el Museo de Agricultura para Dando Vida a Enfoque, una vibrante celebración de la exposición Enfoque: Voces Indígenas Mexicanas del Condado de Ventura y de las comunidades indígenas que forman parte de ella.

Este evento gratuito es un día de aprendizaje, creatividad e intercambio cultural que honra las tradiciones y las historias presentadas en Enfoque / In Focus. Se recomienda registrarse, ya que el cupo es limitado. Obtenga todos los detalles AQUÍ.

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Join us at the Agriculture Museum for Bringing Enfoque to Life, a vibrant celebration of the In Focus: Mexican Indigenous Voices of Ventura County exhibition and the Indigenous communities featured in it.

This free event is a day of learning, creativity, and cultural exchange that honors the traditions and stories captured in In Focus / Enfoque. Registration is recommended, as space is limited. Get event details HERE.

Venue Rentals

WE KNOW THE ART OF ENTERTAINING

In downtown Ventura, the Museum of Ventura County offers a refined and timeless setting where history and heartfelt moments come together. In Santa Paula, the Agriculture Museum pairs beautiful gardens with inviting indoor spaces to create an unforgettable backdrop. Together, these distinctive venues provide exceptional settings for every occasion, from weddings and milestone celebrations to meetings and community events.

Upcoming Exhibitions

MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY

Two new exhibitions are opening in February.

The Changing Faces of Abraham Lincoln, A George Stuart Historical Figures® Exhibition

@Museum of Ventura County

100 E Main Street, Ventura

Opens Thursday, February 5

This exhibition of George Stuart Historical Figures® shows the life of Abraham Lincoln. Stuart’s sculptures show how Lincoln’s appearance changed over time from clean-shaven to bearded, and from energetic to exhausted.

The Changing Faces of Abraham Lincoln follows Lincoln’s story of triumph and tragedy, from his simple beginnings in Illinois to his time as President and his significant role in American history. This exhibition displays the iterations of Lincoln while looking at his life, career, and change in physical appearance through the highly detailed, sculpted lens of the George Stuart Historical Figures®. Get more information HERE.

Pages to Posters: The Visual Worlds of Simms Taback

@Museum of Ventura County

100 E Main Street, Ventura

Opens Friday, February 13

Best known for his Caldecott Medal-winning book Joseph Had a Little Overcoat and the Caldecott honoree There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, Simms Taback’s creative legacy extends far beyond the pages of children’s literature. He was an artist, graphic designer, and teacher who helped shape American visual culture.

Pages to Posters invites visitors to step inside the visual worlds of Simms Taback, exploring original posters, illustrations, and designs. Get more informationHERE.

This exhibition is made possible by: Thomas and Esther Wachtell Family Endowment Fund, Bill and Elise Kearney, Amgen Foundation, and Reel Guppy Outdoors.

Ongoing Exhibition

MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY

Picturing the Past: How Photography Tells Our Stories

How do we truly know what happened in the past? History is a collection of stories—interwoven, evolving, and shaped by the evidence left behind. Photographs are one of the many tools that help us understand the past, capturing faces, places, and moments frozen in time. But do they always tell the full story?

This engaging exhibition explores the power of photography to record our history. Through images, artifacts, and interactive displays, visitors will discover how historians use photographs to uncover hidden narratives, challenge assumptions, and bring history to life. Join us in exploring the early history of photography in Ventura County, how photos shape our understanding of the past, and how the photos we take today tell tomorrow’s story. Get more information HERE.

Ongoing Exhibition

AGRICULTURE MUSEUM

Enfoque: Voces Indígenas Mexicanas del Condado de Ventura

In Focus: Mexican Indigenous Voices of Ventura County

Únase a nosotros en el Museo de la Agricultura para esta esperada exposición que muestra más de 40 retratos fotográficos del fotógrafo de fama internacional Diego Huerta. Estos retratos destacan las vibrantes y resistentes comunidades indígenas mexicanas del condado de Ventura. Para más detalles sobre la exposición, haga clic AQUÍ.

Join us at the Agriculture Museum for this exhibition showcasing over 40 photographic portraits by internationally acclaimed photographer Diego Huerta. These portraits highlight the vibrant and resilient Mexican Indigenous communities of Ventura County. For exhibition details, click HERE.

Esta exposición es posible gracias al apoyo de/This exhibition is made possible with the support of: Hofer Properties, Ventura Auto Center, the Busch Family Foundation, Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Gabriella Navarro-Busch and Peter Busch, and Vida Newspaper.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Major funding for the programs at the Museum of Ventura County is made possible by:

 City of Camarillo, City of Fillmore, City of Moorpark, City of Ojai, City of Oxnard, City of Port Hueneme, City of Santa Paula, City of Simi Valley, City of Thousand Oaks, City of Ventura, and the County of Ventura.

Thank you to our generous sponsors: The John and Glenda Hammer Family, TOLD Corporation, The Heritage Fund at VCCF, California Resources Corporation, William and Elise Kearney, Hofer Properties, Amgen Foundation, Ventura County Credit Union, Ventura Toyota, Ventura Auto Center, FTI Services, Ventura Music Festival, Ventura County Community College District, Montecito Bank & Trust, Ventura Spirits, Limoneira, In the Mix Events, Peirano’s, and Mustang Marketing.

Museum of Ventura County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 95-1942930.

Museum of Ventura County • 100 East Main St. Ventura, CA 93001 • 805.653.0323

Agriculture Museum • 926 Railroad Ave. Santa Paula, CA 93060 • 805.525.3100