Dedicated to preserving local history, the Guy R. Woodward Museum stands as a testament to Ramona’s rich past. The museum is located at 645 Main Street. It invites us to step back in time.
The Guy R. Woodward Museum is run and operated by volunteers. It offers a glimpse into early Western culture. Guy B. Woodward himself began collecting artifacts in the 1940s. He recorded memories from ranchers to Civil War veterans.
In 1979, Woodward, as President of the Ramona Pioneer Historical Society, helped open a small museum in Ramona town hall. A few years later, the Ramona Pioneer Historical Society named the museum in his honor. In 1985, the Guy R. Woodward Museum moved to the historic Verlaque House. Theophile Verlaque, who moved to San Diego in 1870, built this French provincial style home in 1886. In 1991, the museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
What can you expect to see at the Guy R. Woodward Museum? The Verlaque House is a seven-room 1886 adobe. It is filled with period antiques. There is also the Wine Cellar Gallery. This large exhibit space includes exhibits on military, mining, and Ramona’s businesses. You can also find photography, film, and Casey Tibbs exhibits. Don’t miss the old steel jail. This seven-ton jail has served San Diego County since the 1860s.
Outside, discover wagons, buggies, farm equipment, tractors, and even a fire truck. The 1910 Honey House displays a century of bee keeping history. You can explore mining equipment too. This provides a great way to learn about Ramona’s mining history.
The Guy R. Woodward Museum also features a bunkhouse, tack room, and blacksmith shop. These buildings showcase life in Ramona in the 1870s. Experience what it was like to be a student in the one-room schoolhouse. The millinery shop houses an extensive collection of clothing and historic textiles.
The Guy R. Woodward Museum also contains the Casey Tibbs Memorial Exhibit. You can also visit the Bancroft Memorial Rose Garden. The Dr. James Robert Moriarity III Archaeological Archives are also located here. A large collection of pioneer wagons and tools is on display. You can also find a medicine wagon and an early day Ramona firetruck.
Admission to the Guy R. Woodward Museum is $5 per person or $20 per family. From October to June, it is open Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In July, August, and September, it is open from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Weekday tours are available by appointment. For tours call 760-789-7644.
So, step inside the Guy R. Woodward Museum. Discover the stories of Ramona’s pioneers. Experience the charm of a bygone era.