Youth Education

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In today’s fast-paced world, it is more important than ever for youth to learn about our local history. History is about real people who have faced real challenges and made choices, just like us. History is not just a single list of events of national or statewide importance, but a series of different events that are connected and affect today’s world, even on the streets where we live. Educating our youth about the importance of local history will help them understand that history is a story with a beginning, middle, and end. And they could have an important role in the preservation of this story. Historic preservation ensures the continued use of the places and buildings that represent our city’s history.

3rd grade art program

Every year the Historic Preservation Commission sponsors “Drawing on Carlsbad’s Past,” an art contest for third graders in Carlsbad. After learning about Carlsbad’s historic sites, students are asked to create an artistic image. This fun and creative activity allows students to learn about local heritage through art and by visiting many of Carlsbad’s historical sites.

A call for art letter is sent to each school in February or March. Each participating school judges their own art. Each school may decide who should judge the artwork and what criteria should be used. Three winning pieces are selected from each participating school.

All winners will be acknowledged at a presentation at the Carlsbad City Council Meeting scheduled in May or June of each year. The selected artwork will be on display in the Council Chambers then moved to the Georgina Cole Library for the summer.

History kits

History Room Collection

City of Carlsbad Genealogy and Carlsbad History Room Collection. The Carlsbad History Collection is housed at the Georgina Cole Library, 1250 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, and has a great set of resources that directly contribute to local history. The Carlsbad History Collection has paper, microform and electronic records of films, images, postcards, maps, records, and reports, oral histories etc. The most heavily used items in the collection are local high school yearbooks and local newspapers.

Students can visit the library and discover the importance of this collection and the unique role they play in documenting and understanding our past. Students may get hands-on historic photos and old documents as they explore how Carlsbad grew from its start as a whistle stop on the California Southern Railroad and who came to Carlsbad searching for gold, mineral water, avocados, etc.; and who was affected along the way.

Historic Preservation Commission meetings

The city’s Historic Preservation Commission works to identify, record and protect historical resources featuring significant historical, architectural, social and archeological value. You are able to review each meeting’s agenda packets with digital plans, reports and other materials to be presented to the Commission. Students are welcome to attend Historic Preservation Commission meetings to watch government in action and learn how to advance the city’s historic preservation efforts. The Commission meetings are conducted on the second Monday of every other month at the City Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad. Meetings are also streamed live on the city website and can also be watched at a later date (view archive here).

Currently the Historic Preservation Commission is working on a number of initiatives and have done so over the years through an annual work plan. Recent work plans are provided below.

Historic Preservation Commission Work Plan FY 2024-2025

Tours

The Shipley-Magee House Museum. The Carlsbad Historical Society Museum at the Shipley-Magee House, located within Magee Park at 258 Beech Ave, Carlsbad. The Carlsbad Historical Society offers something for everyone by hosting lectures, social events, and tours for its members as well as local students. Please call their office at (442) 500-4471 for a listing of upcoming events. The Museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Rancho Carillo Free Guided Tours. Leo Carillo Ranch Historic Park is a unique educational and passive recreational resource. The visitor center and select historic building interiors and exhibits are open intermittently for self-guided touring. Free guided tours are offered Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Tours last approximately 90 minutes. For groups over ten people, please schedule a private tour. The Ranch’s hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.
Historic Carlsbad GIS Tour Map. A catalogue of 24 historic properties commonly featured on the city’s historic walking tour (Historic Carlsbad: A Self-Guided Tour).