7th Annual Rancho Nipomo Heritage Day,
Selected Photos by Jeanne, Cayucos, CA --
May 20, 2006
(click any thumb
nail below to enlarge) (photos reproduced by permission of photographer)

Here is a view of the Dana Adobe.  Construction of the adobe began in 1839 and was completed in about 1851. It was the home of Captain William G. Dana of Boston who was a Yankee Sea Captain who traded with and married into a Californio family,  Capt. Dana is sometimes confused with his cousin, Richard Dana, who wrote the famous novel "Two Years Before the Mast".  Captain John C. Fremont was a guest at the Rancho and from the 1850's to the 1890's stagecoaches traveling north and south stopped at the Rancho to change horses.
Here is a photograph that shows the original adobe brick construction of the Casa Dana.
A photograph of a bedroom of the adobe.
This is a Horno or oven.  Most of the cooking on the Rancho Nipomo would have been done outdoors in an oven like this.
This horsewoman demonstrated authentic Vaquero roping and riding for Heritage Day.
Vaquero horsemanship demonstration.
Profile of a Californio Don.
A Yankee Seaman and Californio engaged in conversation. 
Profile of a Padre.
Don's and doņa's enjoying traditional Californio dances.
Children performing traditional Californio dances.
Chumash Elders gave a blessing and performed sacred drumming and music. 
A Spinning Wheel in operation.
A small brass Howitzer guards the Casa de Dana.  Recently a cannon was unearthed in San Luis Obispo during a construction project on Court Street.  That cannon is thought to to have belonged to Capt. Dana who had a second home at that location.
Native Sons of the Golden West Manny Silva [left] and Ian McKnight [right] reenact 1850 decade California Ranger and local Sheriff.
This double-edged dagger was found at the Dana Adobe some forty years ago protruding from a broken adobe brick.  It is an authentic dagger produced by "Woodhead, Sheffield" [England] and has bone or ivory scales and silver cross guard and escutcheon plate.  These knives were very popular during the California Gold Rush period and were imported in large numbers. In a period in which everyone went armed and handguns were scarce and expensive, Bowies and daggers such as this provided an economical means of self-defense.  Double-edged blades were especially desirable because they offered the user two edges.  Typically, one edge was kept keenly sharp for fine work while the other was abused for rough, day-to-day utility work. One can only conjecture how the knife came to be sealed in an adobe brick, possibly dropped unnoticed into the mud by someone toiling at forming bricks. 
Another view of the historic knife.
Close-up photograph of a .36 caliber Colt's Patent 1851 Navy revolver. About 375,000 of these revolvers were produced between 1851 and 1873
A nice photograph of Vaqueros.  The Temetate Ridge can be seen in the background.
The State bird, a California Quail, rests on a fencepost.
California Scrubjay watches the festival.

7th Annual Rancho Nipomo Heritage Day -- May 20, 2006 (write-up)
Manny Silva Morsels Page