A Golden Vision:  The Growth of Southern California® is designed for third through fifth grade students to promote historical and social literacy through architecture, art, literature, mathematics and living history activities. Additionally, the program hopes to help develop critical thinking, and appreciation for art and local history, and a sense of community pride.  

reading_lesson_1.jpgA Golden Vision is one of only a few museum programs in Southern California that has "living history," where students have an opportunity to experience history hands on. The basic precept of this concept is "Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I will understand."  These living history activities serve as a foundation from which students can fully engage in the material.

Focusing on early Southern California history, the program helps students understand the cultural, social, economic and industrial changes taking place in Victorian California. Constructed to be compliant with the California Department of Education Standards, teachers will find that the curriculum easily fits into their lesson plans.

Included in the program is a specially designed curriculum that includes worksheets, journals, activities and assignments that teachers use to instruct their class.  A costumed volunteer will visit the classroom and teach students a lesson from the McGuffey Reader, a Victorian Era textbook.  The finale of the program is a visit to the museum. There, the class participates in a guided tour, watches a short movie, plays period games, and performs living history activities.The tour uses the buildings and collection of the museum to bring the lessons to life.  A final component is the art project that is completed in the classroom and then put on display at the museum.








UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS

What's New

New option for schools

We are now offering the classroom presentation as a stand alone program to schools who are not able to participate in the full A Golden Vision program. This is an opportunity to give your students a similar, although shorter and less comprehensive, introduction to life in Victorian Los Angeles. Please contact the Education Department at (323) 225-2700 ext. 224 or use the Contact Form for more information.


Make a Donation Today and Preserve our Local History

Donating is now easier than ever!  With the JustGive® program, you can donate to Heritage Square Museum on-line.  Dedicated to creating tools and services to make charitable giving part of our everyday lives, JustGive is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase charitable giving by connecting people with the charities and causes they care most about. 

 Just click on the Donate Now button below.  The link will take you to the Museum's listing under the Cultural Heritage Foundation of Southern California, Inc., the organization which owns and operates Heritage Square Museum, and follow the instructions. All giving opportunities are tax deductible and much appreciated.  We thank you for your support.


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Program Funders
  • The Verizon Foundation - Thinkfinity
  • The Green Foundation
  • The Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation
  • City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs
  • U.S. Bank
  • The William C. Bannerman Foundation
  • Union Bank of California
  • Wells Fargo
  • The Getty Multicultural Internship Program
Book the Program
Reservations

To sign-up your classroom for A Golden Vision please fill out the form below. The program runs from September to June but this can vary if your school is on a track system. It is recommended that reservations be made in the beginning of the school year due to the popularity of the program. Remember that you are signing up for the full program, so please allow enough time for you to complete the curriculum before your field trip. Questions? Contact the Education Department at (323) 225-2700 ext. 224.
Volunteer Heritage Square Museum heavily relies on our volunteer staff. The Museum's principal need is volunteers to help with our weekday A Golden Vision programming and the museum's weekend operations. We are looking for individuals interested in becoming historical interpreters and tour guides for the museum's buildings. We do however have many other volunteer opportunities including assisting at special events and programs, gardening, research, administrative services, and assisting in the Museum Store.