Visit and Tour

Visiting and Tours

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm- RLA is reopening March 26th!

(Entrance gates close at 4:30 pm)

Discover the magic of the Rancho

While the site stays open until 5:00 pm, you'll need to arrive before 4:30 pm to enter. Come and immerse yourself in the history and beauty of Rancho Los Alamitos:

Enter at the Bixby Hill residential security gate at the intersection of East Anaheim Road and Palo Verde Avenue
Drive up hill and find Rancho Los Alamitos at the top! Park in our visitor lot
When you arrive, please check-in at the desk in the Rancho Center
Admission and parking are free
Reservations for tours are recommended for all, and required for groups larger than 10
Reservations must be made for all special event photography, which are not allowed during public hours

Accessibility at the Rancho
For information about Accessibility at the Rancho. See Here

Photography Policy and Site Etiquette
Please review the Rancho’s photography policy and site etiquette. View Here

Closed Dates
For a list of dates that the Rancho will be closed to the public, Please Click Here.

Caretaker's Cottage at Rancho Los Alamitos

Blacksmith Shop

The Rancho Map Room

The Ranch House Hall and Entrance

Guided Tours

Sign up for Docent-Guided Tours of the Ranch House - Explore the Rancho’s history with a knowledgeable guide.
Visitors can reserve a 1-hour, docent-guided tour at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, or 4:00 pm. Walk-in tours are available as space permits. Email [email protected] or call (562) 431-3541 to make a reservation. Please include your name, contact information, and the number of people in your group. Masks are optional but encouraged on tours. All are welcome.

School Visits

The Rancho offers engaging school programs that complement California’s history and social science curriculum. For third-grade, Tovaave: A Tongva Cultural Program, shares the vibrant culture and history of the Tongva, the indigenous people of the L.A. Basin. For fourth-grade, Footprints on the Land explores California history through the site’s ranch house, gardens, and barnyard.
Learn more about school programs here.

Virtual Visits

Connect with Rancho Los Alamitos online! Get creative with history, explore digital resources, follow us on social media, take a virtual tour, and more. Learn More Here

Ranch of the Little Cottonwoods

Rancho Los Alamitos, the “Ranch of the Little Cottonwoods,” is a Long Beach City Landmark and twice-listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Rancho is located on Tongva-Gabrielino land known as Povuun’nga. From the Tongva people who lived and gathered at Povuun’nga through waves of newcomers from Spain, Mexico, the United States, and more, the site has nurtured a great diversity of peoples and cultures over thousands of years. Today, the 7½-acre site includes four acres of nationally significant historic gardens, a ranch house (1790-1933), and a restored barnyard of the early 20th-century working ranch. Read more.

During your visit, wander garden trails, learn from knowledgeable docents and volunteers, meet the barnyard’s resident livestock (horses, sheep, goats, chickens, and ducks), and explore California history. Our mission is to inspire a sense of community by educating and engaging visitors with our rich history, our compelling stories, and our authentic connections to California’s past. We welcome you to join us.