AGRICULTURAL HISTORY PROJECT

WATSONVILLE, CA

Salinas / ‘guard animal’? (#0069) Getting closer to why I was visiting the park, I came across this unusual statue – again with no description. But, the fenced enclosure in the background is my real reason for visiting (forthcoming picture).
Salinas / ‘guard animal’? (#0069) Credit: DB's travels

The Agricultural History Project is a museum located in Watsonville, California that aims to preserve and educate the public about the history of agriculture in the region. The project was started in 1986 by a group of local farmers, historians, and educators who wanted to create a space where people could learn about the history of farming in the Pajaro Valley.

The museum is housed in a restored barn that was built in 1897, and features exhibits and artifacts that showcase the tools, technology, and techniques used by early farmers in the region. Visitors can see antique tractors, wagons, and other farm equipment, as well as displays on the different crops that have been grown in the area over the years.

In addition to its exhibits, the Agricultural History Project also offers educational programs and events for visitors of all ages. These include workshops on traditional farming techniques, tours of local farms, and hands-on activities for children.

Overall, the Agricultural History Project is an important resource for anyone interested in the history of agriculture in California, and a valuable educational and cultural institution for the Watsonville community.

AGRICULTURAL HISTORY PROJECT is a Historical Societies, Historic Preservation in WATSONVILLE CA. US MID #8400601907

The museum is classed as HSC (Historical Societies, Historic Preservation). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Western (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington). Total revenue from most recent IRS 990 Form: $ 160,156 from tax period 201212 (YYYYMM).

Salinas / ‘guard animal’? (#0069) Getting closer to why I was visiting the park, I came across this unusual statue – again with no description. But, the fenced enclosure in the background is my real reason for visiting (forthcoming picture).
Catherine on Mount Umunhum, California, Photo by ARudin
Castroville / Japanese Schoolhouse internment - baggage (# 0974) Becoming human baggage shipped to Salinas Rodeo Grounds, living in horse stalls, going hungry…. A version of this same placard was posted a few months earlier, as I was traveling: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/donbrr/53370364160">www.flickr.com/photos/donbrr/53370364160</a> See the <u><a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63714" rel="noreferrer nofollow">schoolhouse marker</a></u> for detail of the text. <i>Use the “Castroville Japanese Schoolhouse” tag to connect the pictures.</i>
Castroville / Japanese Schoolhouse internment – to detention (# 0016) Description of of being rounded up and forced to leave for the detention center. See the <u><a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63714" rel="noreferrer nofollow">schoolhouse marker</a></u> for detail of the text. <i>Use the “Castroville Japanese Schoolhouse” tag to connect the pictures.</i>
Castroville / Japanese Schoolhouse internment cycle (# 0028) A fascinating, and very under-utilized, historical site in Castroville, which is on the way to Monterey, CA. I fortunately discovered it, and a number of other places related to Japanese and Chinese history in California, just by searching through <u><a href="https://www.hmdb.org" rel="noreferrer nofollow">The Historical Marker Database</a></u>. Japanese laborers had been migrating to this area since the late 1800’s as tenant farmers (the primary crop remains artichokes). By the 1930’s there were enough Japanese families that they wanted a schoolhouse to preserve history and also to provide a community for their children that was safe from the local hostility. The “Japanese Schoolhouse,” founded in 1936, was short-lived since in 1942 all Japanese were ordered to be interred, due to the war with Japan. Historical Marker <u>”<a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63772" rel="noreferrer nofollow">For the Sake of the Children</a>”</u> provides a good description of the history of the area. Note that the schoolhouse is sometimes referred to as the Castroville Japanese Language School. Use the <i>Castroville Japanese Schoolhouse</i> tag to connect the pictures.
Castroville / Japanese Schoolhouse – monument (# 0030) As the <u><a href="http://www.mchsmuseum.com/Japanese.html" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Monterey County</a></u> site and the <u><a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63714" rel="noreferrer nofollow">HMDB timeline</a></u> describe the schoolhouse and the Castroville community, the town has historically been home to migrants who work in the surrounding fields, and those migrants have regularly had a concern that their children remember their heritage and use their heritage for protection, thus the “ For the Sake of the Children” motto. Unfortunately, the site is not well-marked on either of the major highways passing it, and there are no signs in the town leading to it. Thus, much like I’ve experienced in other recent efforts to understand historic discrimination and hostility to Asian populations, there seems to be a concerted effort to keep that past invisible. <i>Use the “Castroville Japanese Schoolhouse” tag to connect the pictures.</i>
Western blue-eyed grass
Western blue-eyed grass
Cassin's kindbird
Chamisso bush lupine Lupinus chamissonis
California king snake Lampropeltis californiae
Woolly indian paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa

Contact AGRICULTURAL HISTORY PROJECT

AGRICULTURAL HISTORY PROJECT
PO BOX 1181
WATSONVILLE
CA
95077-1181

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///goat.sweat.chimp. Near Watsonville, California

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REDMAN FOUNDATION ART CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION PAJARO VALLEY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION AGRICULTURAL HISTORY PROJECT

Map of AGRICULTURAL HISTORY PROJECT

AGRICULTURAL HISTORY PROJECT Information

MID # 8400601907
Name AGRICULTURAL HISTORY PROJECT
Alternate Name
Classification Historical Societies, Historic Preservation, , Western
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) 770165945
NTEECC A82
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM) 201212
INCOME 178,669
REVENUE 160,156
LAT/LONG 36.90814, -121.754486
CODES FIPS State Code: 06
FIPS County Code: 087
US Census Tract: 110300
US Census Block: 2017