Call for hours. Call for information on lectures and current exhibit. PVHA is housed in the Bockius-Orr House in Watsonville. The house contains furnishings from its former residents, the Bockius family who built the house in 1870, and Watsonville newspaperman, Frank Orr. Exhibits of Costanoan artifacts, a Victorian room, and changing topics.
Collection includes manuscripts, oral histories, cemetery records, city directories, photographs.
Once Ohlone Indian territory, a Spanish land grant in 1833 deemed it a part of Rancho Zayante. In 1866, stage coach driver Joseph Kenvill and his wife, America, homesteaded the land and bult a home where the ranch house stands today. In 1937 the Ranch was purchased by Laurence Lane, the publisher of Sunset Magazine . In 1986, Quail Hollow Ranch became part of the Santa Cruz County park system. Today, visitors can enjoy a variety of monthly classes, and over 4 miles of hiking trails which traverse a variety of habitats.