MUSEUM EXHIBIT

La Conchita: Reclaiming Its History - an exhibition of previously unknown historical photographs and documents will be presented at the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History from September 18, 2010 through March 21,2011. An opening reception for the show, co-sponsored by the La Conchita Community Organization (LCCO) will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on September 18.  Dr. Bonnie G. Kelm, who researched and wrote the La Conchita and the Rincon section of the book, Greater Carpinteria, Summerland, and La Conchita, published last fall, is curating the exhibition. According to Dr. Kelm, one of the reasons she started

this project was because there was little historical information available about La Conchita in local historical archives.  Now there is a La Conchita archive of over 400 photographs and documents and nine oral histories.  Only a fraction of this material was included in the slim chapter of the recently published book.  This exhibition provides an opportunity to present much more of La Conchita’s rich history and to showcase a number of unique artifacts and documents as well.

 

Some highlights of the exhibition include:

· First-hand anecdotes and stories about “ Growing up in La Conchita” from the 1930s, 40s and 50s by La Conchita residents past and present..

· The impressive and unique saga of the Punta Gorda School where one teacher taught all six grades and carried out a progressive educational program well ahead of its time..

 

 

Pete Richardson, right, came to La Conchita in 1928 when he was 2 years old. His father, Harry Richardson was an oil worker who dug the first oil well in Mussel Shoals ( then known as Mussel Rock). Picture circa 1930 in La Conchita. ( courtesy, Yan Richardson)

Contact:  LCCO chairperson — Historian — Webmaster

Welcome to LA CONCHITA! La Conchita was originally established as Punta Gorda in 1880 but renamed La Conchita in 1923. La Conchita is a beachside community just 3 miles south of Carpinteria. We are located just 15 miles north of the City of Ventura, and 15 miles south of Santa Barbara. There you can attend major cultural attractions and sample well-known restaurants and regional wines. We are blessed with a very temperate climate with an average temperature of 70 degrees.

 Our residents come from all walks of life, and this is what makes La Conchita such an interesting and delightful place to live. There are 161 homes in our community and a population of 330 full time residents. Additionally we have vacation homes and some seasonal residents. We parallel the 101 Highway which will be widened to 3 lanes in each direction via a Caltrans project to be started in 2011. Included in the widening project is a pedestrian under crossing that will provide safe beach access for our residents and improvements for the bicycle travelers that pass through this area.