Santa Margarita Ranch Ca.

The mission of the Santa Margarita Historical Society is to promote the understanding and appreciation of Santa Margarita's historical and cultural heritage. The Society collects, preserves and displays Santa Margarita area historical artifacts. The Society educates residents and visitors to the unique history of the Santa Margarita area. Santa Margarita Valley, with its year round running streams and abundant acorns, was a meeting place for northern Chumash and southern Salinan people around 6500 BC. Fr. Junipero Serra founded the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in 1772.An asistencia or ‘extension’ to Mission San Luis Obispo was founded over the Cuesta Grade circa 1787 and was named for the Italian Saint, Santa Margarita de Cortona.