mining

Current Exhibits

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Snapshots of La Panza
As Seen Through the Eyes of the Still Family

This unique exhibit features photos, in the form of cabinet cards and a video, of the Still Family who came to the La Panza area during the only Coastal Range gold rush in 1879.  The photos are from a Still Family photo album and 76 glass plate negatives donated to the PRAHS & Museum.  The Pioneer Museum also provided several photos from their collection of the Still family.  The 'snapshots' provide the viewer with an insight into the daily life of one pioneering family in the remote area southeast of Paso Robles.  Many of the photographs were likely taken by Dr. Still's daughter, Dabirma Still MacLean, the most prolific woman photographer of her time.

mining

Celebrating Our Mining History

Mining in and around the Paso Robles area dates back to 1862 with the discovery of cinnabar in the Santa Lucia Mountains.  Gold was discovered in the La Panza area in the early 1800s and there was a minor Gold rush in 1878.  Chromite has been mined in San Luis Obispo County since about 1870 and coal was discovered in 1875 in Slack Canyon, northeast of San Miguel.  There are presently 52 active mining claims.  This exhibit provides a glimpse into our mining history.

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The Ties That Bind Us

Santa Margarita Historical Society, established in 2004, has partnered with the Paso Robles Area Historical Society & Museum with an exhibit titled: “The Ties That Binds Us.” This exhibit beautifully compliments the Paso Robles History Museum’s exhibit: “A Snapshot of La Panza Through the Eyes of the Still Family.” You will discover the rich history of Santa Margarita, the gateway to North San Luis Obispo County, La Panza, and the Carrizo Plains. You will also learn about the lives of a family that stayed connected despite the distances between them.

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Salinan Exhibit

Salinan artifacts are displayed, courtesy of Salinan Tribe, 7070 Morro Road, Suite A, Atascadero, CA, Patti Dunton, Tribal Administrator.

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Wine History Gallery
The Gallery, curated and sponsored by the Wine History Project, features:

6,000 Years of Winemaking in Clay Amphorae
This exhibit, based on the archaeological evidence of the origins of winemaking, links the clay amphorae to the revival of ancient winemaking techniques in San Luis Obispo County by 14 local winemakers.  Many are using grapes grown locally with histories dating back to ancient Greece, France and Italy.  Some varieties were planted in California over 100 years ago.
The exhibit focuses on the importance of clay in sustaining human life.  One of man's earliest inventions, the clay vessel, made the preservation of food and the making of all fermented beverages possible.  The amphora, a clay vessel with rounded sides, often shaped like an egg, is key to the magic and science of fermentation.