Meet Sarah FitzGerald of Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site in Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah FitzGerald.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve loved history since I was a little girl. I got my B.A. in history at UC San Diego and my M.A. in history at CSU San Marcos. I went to UC Riverside to pursue a Ph.D. in history. While I was a student there, I became interested in the program’s public history track­—specifically museum studies and archival management. I completed two internships during my time at UC Riverside, one at the Smiley Library Heritage Room archives in Redlands and one at the Dora Nelson African American Art and History Museum in Perris. I finished my coursework and exams and became a Ph.D. candidate, and soon after accepted a position as the historical curator at the Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site in Long Beach. I’ve been in my current position since January 2016. As curator I am responsible for managing our artifact and archival collections as well as our California Research Library, developing exhibits, conducting research, supervising interns, and developing public programs. I have the privilege of working with history every day, which is something I have dreamed of doing ever since I was young.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I have experienced some challenges as I’ve worked toward becoming a museum curator. Like many people I’ve had to work at jobs that I did not enjoy in order to pay the bills while I was in school, and when I was in between programs. Also, I faced challenges once I started working at the Rancho. As a curator, I get to utilize the skills and knowledge that I developed in school, which is wonderful. However, my training did not prepare me for everything I’d be doing as a curator of a historic site. I’ve had to learn things on the job, and learn to trust myself to develop new skills at work. While this is exciting, and I’m grateful for the growth opportunities, it can be scary and intimidating at times to learn on the job while upholding your responsibilities to an organization. Nevertheless, I feel very lucky to be in a position where I work with history every day and get to expand my knowledge and skillsets.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site – what should we know?
Rancho Los Cerritos is a historic site. We are the only National Historic Landmark in Long Beach, and we are also a state and city historic landmark. The Rancho consists of a Ranch house, which was built in 1844, a visitor center which houses a rotating exhibit space, and gardens on 4.6 acres of land. The Rancho is free and open to the public for docent-led tours. We also host fourth grade school tours, as well as a number of public programs throughout the year. The Rancho is a popular site for weddings, bridal showers, and other special events. We have a California Research Library and archival holdings related to local history.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Many people have helped me get to where I am, and have supported the Rancho. As for my own growth, I’ve had wonderful mentors in school and during my internships. Jill Watts and Alyssa Sepinwall of CSU San Marcos taught me what it means to be an historian. Cliff Trafzer of UC Riverside showed me the possibilities presented by a career in public history. Larry Burgess of UCR and the Smiley Library in Redlands taught me about archival management. Lovella Singer of the Dora Nelson in Perris set an example of how to juggle the many responsibilities that come with working in a small house museum. Pam Young Lee of Rancho Los Alamitos has been a wonderful mentor since I joined the team at Rancho Los Cerritos. She’s been incredibly supportive of my projects and has encouraged me as a new curator. Steve Iverson, the former retired curator of Rancho Los Cerritos, has played a huge role in my success at the site. He has invested a great deal of time in educating me on the site’s history. Alison Bruesehoff, the Executive Director, has been very supportive of my ideas and has been encouraging as I have found my place as a curator. She’s also played a major role in the success of the Rancho as she guides the site through our next exciting stages of growth.

Contact Info:

• Address: 4600 Virginia Road,
  Long Beach, CA 90807
• Website: www.rancholoscerritos.org
• Phone: 562-206-2040
• Email: rancho@rancholoscerritos.org
• Instagram: rancholoscerritos
• Facebook: Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site

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