New exhibit at Rancho Los Cerritos tells Mexican American histories

Rancho Los Cerritos will open its newest exhibition this weekend, called “Seeds of Resilience: Barrio Americano,” about Mexican American histories in Long Beach and the region.

The exhibition is the first to launch as part of a citywide collaboration marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, officials said, highlighting communities whose contributions have shaped Long Beach and the nation.

“Seeds of Resilience: Barrio Americano” examines how communities built culture, connection and resistance in the face of discrimination, officials said.

Through installations that re-create an early 20th century barrio, the exhibition brings visitors into everyday spaces of life, labor and organizing, illustrating how community and cultural preservation shaped belonging in the United States, according to a recent press release.

“What we wanted to do with this was really delve into commemorating and recognizing the Mexican community,” said Magda Cervantes, collections manager for Rancho Los Cerritos, 4600 Virginia Road. “So often this community is sort of commended for its labor contributions, but never really included in the narrative of what the United States is. The decision to situate viewers within a barrio allowed us to highlight the different ways in which they not only contributed, but also persisted amidst a very hostile society and discrimination.”

The âSeeds of Resilience: Barrio Americanoâ exhibition at Rancho Los...

The “Seeds of Resilience: Barrio Americano” exhibition at Rancho Los Cerritos Museum in Long Beach on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

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The “Seeds of Resilience: Barrio Americano” exhibition at Rancho Los Cerritos Museum in Long Beach on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

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“Seeds of Resilience: Barrio Americano” will open to the public on Saturday, Feb. 7, and will be on view for one year at the rancho’s visitor center. Rancho Los Cerritos will host an opening-day celebration from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday; the site will be closed to visitors prior to that time.

The free opening-day celebration will include crafts and children’s activities, tours of the historic adobe home, and coffee and pastries courtesy of The Breakfast Bar and inspired by “sobremesa,” the traditional lingering together to share time and conversation. The Port of Long Beach, the Arts Council for Long Beach and the city helped support the new exhibition financially, the press release said.

On Sunday, Feb. 8, the exhibition will remain open with extended public hours, from 10 a.m. to 5 pm. While there will be no scheduled opening festivities on Sunday, visitors are invited to experience the exhibition throughout the day, officials said.

This exhibition is part of Rancho Los Cerritos’ ongoing commitment to sharing inclusive histories and creating space for learning and dialogue across generations, the press release said.

One highlight of “Seeds of Resilience: Barrio Americano” is an interactive installation that tells the oral history of Hortencia Nieto, a Long Beach resident who was repatriated with her family to Mexico in the 1930s, when she was 2 years old — and she was not able to return to the U.S. until she was about 14 years old.

Moving away from the traditional museum storytelling method, Cervantes said, the rancho wanted to immerse visitors in the look and feel of the barrio by displaying the stories and information on different textures and items, such as blankets and tablecloths.

“The other thing that went behind the decision-making was the way in which the people were talking about having to find alternative methods of surviving and thriving,” Cervantes said. “We really liked the idea that we were also going to approach this in the sort of non-alternate, non-traditional way of telling the story.”

With the rancho’s Hispanic and Mexican heritage, as well as the current controversy surrounding federal immigration enforcement, the rancho thought it was important to recognize and commemorate this community, Cervantes said.

“There were moments where we had to do a lot of self reflection, given all the events that have been unfolding, but at the end of the day, we really felt that it’s important for people to see the parallels, especially our own community and to see that we’ve been here before and we’ve come out on the other side,” she said. “So many times, our stories are excluded from the overall narrative of what it means to be American and American history.

“This is a way to remind the community we do belong,” Cervantes added, “we are part of that history and we’re a part of the nation’s future.”

Visitors will also be able to contribute to the exhibition, officials said. After walking the exhibit, visitors can take a moment to reflect on what they have learned and leave their thoughts on a “community tree” that will be on display.

Additional exhibits exploring the region’s history at partner institutions, such as the Historical Society of Long Beach and Rancho Los Alamitos, will open across the city throughout 2026, officials said.

Those interested in attending opening-day weekend are encouraged to RSVP at bit.ly/BarrioAmericano-rsvp, but it is not required to attend. For more information about Rancho Los Cerritos, visit rancholoscerritos.org.

New exhibit at Rancho Los Cerritos tells Mexican American histories – Press Telegram

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