Educate
Classroom TOurs
2023
Journey to 1874: Into the West with our interactive passport designed for Lewis Fenno Moulton’s exhibit.
Learn about the objects in our displays with our on-site scavenger hunt and activity pages.
Experience our augmented app designed for our exhibits that includes The Pioneer Spirit mural with Nellie Gail Moulton’s history.
Exhibitions
Visit us and experience the pioneer history of Orange County! The Moulton Family established their ranch in the 1800s. Our exhibitions include interactive stations with our augmented application.
Explore the history of Moulton Ranch
We offer three dynamic tours of 1874: Into the West, Nellie’s Gallery, and Moulton Ranch Mural. Our lessons integrate with your local history curriculum. Explore the history of this area with our activity pages and passport. We use primary sources with our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classrooms with statewide standards.
El Toro, our mascot, helps the kids with our “Did You Know” exhibit labels and docents. Schedule your classroom tour today with the form below.
Classroom Tour Reservation Form
Your classroom will have a guided tour with a docent and a director. We have a Hands on the Past Program where we will showcase and handle actual artifacts with your group. Come prepared to learn and experience Orange County with our interactive passport.
Available in 2023
Learn what is was like to live on ranch land. Our community had farmers, ranch hands, and blacksmiths. They built the barns, sheds, foreman’s house, and bunkhouse. Participate in our Education Program where you’ll view our films, virtual reality Moulton Homestead, and complete a passport to the local history.
This map of Rancho Niguel was based on imagined by Charlotte Gail Moulton and Louise Marie Moulton. The lower right-hand corner of the map reads, “El Toro California imagined as it was when Charlotte & Louise grew up prior to 1935 Orange County.”
Nellie's Gallery Activity
Participate in our Moulton Roundup annual tradition of cowboys, horses, potluck, and music. Race to find the clues on the ranch and join the party at the end!
Nellie Gail, Educator, Circa 1900
As a school teacher in the Seattle area, Nellie excelled in the classroom. She became the principal.
"I stayed at home until I graduated from high school, I was too young to teach school so I entered a seminary and received my teaching certificate and taught in the grammer school in Hebrun, teaching 51 students...
When the school term was over I was offered a teaching position in Chelen, but only taught one year as father decided to go to Southern Calif to El Toro where he started the little country store there, that was still in operation until 1969 when the freeway went through this property."
In 1903, "While at El Toro, I'd received a wire calling me to fill a vacancy at Port Orchard, Washington, where there was an overflow of students." (50) "After Port Orchard I was elected and assigned to a principalship at the Dunlap School, situated in the suburbs of Seattle, along Lake Washington. There were seven buildings, all part of the Seattle school system and all under one superintendent. I was a principal of one. It was a busy, active period."
Family History Handout
This lesson was created by the city of Laguna Hills based on Charlotte Moulton's memoir.
Lewis Fenno Moulton, Nellie Gail Moulton, and Charlotte & Louise with “Dickie” from the Pasadena Rose Parade
Witness History at Moulton Ranch
Books
Read about the history of California!
Two Years Before The Mast
Written by Richard Henry Dana, Jr. and adapted by the Ocean Institute which tells of his journey to California.
Rancho San Felipie
A tale of adventure and an unlikely friendship on one of California's last ranchos. In fourth grade California students study the state's history including the missions and ranchos.
The West: An Illustrated History for Children
A compendium book for Ken Burns' documentary series with primary sources.
Oral Histories
Nellie Gail Moulton
Nellie Gail Moulton, interview by Helen Smith, February 21, 1969, OH 3639, Center for Oral and Public History, California State University, Fullerton.
Alice Genevieve Barnes
Written by Scott T. Barnes about his paternal grandmother who grew up in Julian, CA.
Charlotte Moulton Mathis
Charlotte Moulton Mathis, interview by Bettie Webber, May 28, 1991, OH 2205, Center for Oral and Public History, California State University, Fullerton.
Woody Barnes: A Farmer's Life in Julian
Written by Scott T. Barnes, Great-grandson of Lewis and Nellie Gail Moulton, about his father Woody.
Louise Moulton Hanson
Louise Moulton Hanson, interview Bettie Webber, March 16, 1994, OH 2355, Center for Oral and Public History, California State University, Fullerton.
Future Oral Histories
We are in the process of conducting more oral histories with Orange County pioneers. We are interested in learning more about those who lived and worked on Moulton Ranch.
