From the Director

With a projected opening of the museum only seven months away and the publicity from the groundbreaking event, we are receiving more offers of donations from the community. Yesterday a group of artifacts came from the Chamber of Commerce back to the temporary museum building. This "wheel" is especially interesting. You are looking at the brass bank vault wheel which was a part of the United California Bank, the only bank in Rancho Bernardo for many years. It is mounted on a wood background with information that it was donated by a local chiroprator who took over the bank building in the 70s. Then UCB was located on Rancho Bernardo Road in the same shopping center as the first grocery store-Safeway. It's exciting to look at artifacts like this one and think about how it tells the story of our community's past history.

From the Director

Last year the RBHS received over 500 photographs from the North County Times. The Escondido DAR offered to take on this project of rehousing and organizing the collection. Today Marge and I finished two interesting topics: fires and health. I entered the photo numbers,the date, the name of the photographer, and a description in the computer file and Marge numbered each one and then put the photo in a sleeve and then into a binder. In looking back over the fire photos, we realized that fires in our community happened about every three years. We saw evidence of the Black Mountain Fire, one blaze near Lake Hodges, and then there was an attic fire in a house. All devastating, of course, but a reminder that the fires of 2003 and 2007 weren't the first to touch Rancho Bernardo.

From the Director

After Saturday's incredible groundbreaking ceremony, it's back to business today.

The Design Review Team met this afternoon to talk about the interior of the museum building. When asked to speculate what they would like visitors to be thinking as they leave the RB History Museum, the team came up with these "take away" messages:

History is Fun.


I need to bring my family to see this.


It is very well planned and organized.


I never knew RB had so much history!


A great place for education, history and fun.



We reviewed the draft presentation prepared by 760 Design and the important elements of the Bernardo Store, the stagecoach, the mannequin, the exhibit cabinet.

Flooring samples were reviewed and discussed. Factors for consideration were: noise control, ease of accomodating a school group, durability, presenting a welcoming warm feeling to the museum, ease of maintenance.

Floor tiles for the storage area were an easy choice.

A local flooring company is going to be asked about an in-kind donation.

From the Director

Learn more about what's going on behind the scenes at the Rancho Bernardo History Museum from Director Susan Floyd. Check back often to find out about what volunteers are working on, new donations and what we are planning for the grand opening of the museum in October.

Today everyone is busy getting ready for tomorrow's groundbreaking event. The refreshments are ordered, the programs are printed, Tom is mapping out the site. Jane is counting hard hats. It's going to be an exciting day.

While we will miss our friend and guide, Ross Rizzo's vision is finally becoming a reality!