Nellie Gail and Lewis Moulton on S.S. Mongolia in 1908

Nellie Gail Moulton’s World Travel Photography was curated by Eric Stoner, Cindy Keil, and Jennifer Keil at Moulton Museum from October 2023 - January 2024.

Over her ninety-three years, Nellie visited four continents and over forty countries. Experience the virtual tour with her digital passport to learn more about this retrospective of her experiences, which took place from 1908 to 1960.

“View this ambitious Cortese housing development called ‘Leisure World’, part and parcel of the land that used to be sheep country and here, properly, the Moulton Ranch.”

– Nellie Gail Moulton, 1966

Laguna Woods History Center is exhibiting the heritage of Laguna Woods from the heritage of this sprawling 21,723-acre operation. Nellie Gail Moulton was a teacher, wife, mother, and rancher who operated Moulton Ranch from 1938-1950. Nellie sold a parcel of land to Ross Cortese who developed Leisure World. This exhibit honors the 60 years since this moment in history of the City of Laguna Woods.

Bicycle Reflection (c)

Timothy J. Clark

Moulton Museum is honored to have Timothy J. Clark as the artist-in-residence. The exhibit Reflections will showcase the incredible, award-winning watercolor collection. Join us at the grand opening on Saturday, February 10th from 1-5pm!

Timothy Clark is the recipient of the Cultural Excellence Award from the City of Dana Point and the Dana Point Sister Cities. These organizations recognized the longtime Capistrano Beach resident. The exhibit co-sponsored by the Moulton Company and John & Barbara Hazeltine.

Timothy and Marriott Clark with Jennifer Keil at the reception

Madeline’s Treasures: Selections from the James Irvine Swinden Family Collection

Jan 12 2024 - Apr 07 2024

This exhibit of contemporary plein air paintings was collected by Madeline Martin Swinden and curated by James Irvine Swinden in memory of his late wife. The couple collected these wonderful examples of contemporary California Impressionism while attending many of the California plein air invitationals held over the last quarter century. These paintings are being exhibited to the public for the first time at Casa Romantica.

The Trading Post Mural

Mission Garden — San Juan Capistrano, a reproduction of the painting by well-known Orange County artist and rancher Nellie Gail Moulton was added to the Ortega Capistrano Trading Post. The 12 by 15-foot vinyl replica of the painting captures the time and culture of the city San Juan Capistrano through the lens of an important figure in Orange County’s history.

The original painting by Moulton was completed circa 1920 and is a “plein air landscape,” meaning a painting of the outdoors, that studies the interior courtyard of the historic Mission of San Juan Capistrano.

Jane Barnes, granddaughter of Nellie Gail Moulton, in a Butterfield Overland Mail Co. stagecoach

Swallows Day Parade

Sat. Mar 23, 9 AM – 5 PM

Los Rios, San Juan Capistrano, CA
The 64th Annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Fair celebrating the return of the swallows to San Juan Capistrano will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024! Look for Moulton Museum and the Saddleback Area Historical Society joint entry in the parade in a covered wagon. The Parade and Mercado Street Fair offer a full day of family fun, celebrating the Old West and the return of the swallows from their winter home in Argentina.

REDO VINYL MARKET

Introducing Redo Market for a vinyl show with live bands, record stores, food trucks and beer garden on Saturday, February 17, 2024 4pm – 9pm at the Dana Point Community Center located at 34052 Del Obispo Featuring local record stores: 1 Look Vintage, Power Plant Records, Bakersfield Records, Twelves, and Third Eye Records.Live on Stage:  Dano’s Juke Joint at

4:30pm and Uni Boys at 7pm.

The Saddleback Area Historical Society is celebrating their 50th anniversary. S.A.H.S. started their celebration at Moulton Museum on January 27th. Jennifer Keil, Museum Director, presented on Moulton Museum’s collective understanding of the ranching era and its lasting impact on the economic, social, architectural, and cultural fabric of Orange County. Keil debuted the team’s curatorial research for Women on the Ranch exhibit.

Secrets of Art Conservation with Susan Brown and Jennifer Keil

Thursday, February 22, 5:30pm – 7:00pm

LCAD Gallery, 374 Ocean Ave. Laguna Beach

Art Conservationist Susan Brown will share how she works with museums in helping to restore and preserve their important paintings. Jennifer Keil, Director of Moulton Museum and Founder of 70 Degrees.org will co-present in this fascinating discussion all art-lovers will enjoy! Among the highlights, attendees will witness the live unveiling and condition report of a mid-twentieth century painting by noted artist Ruth Peabody, recently discovered in a historic family home in Laguna Beach.

Festival of Whales Celebration

Mar 01, 2024, 10:00 AM – Mar 3, 2024, 4:00 PM

Join us March 1-3, 2024 for the 53rd Annual Festival of Whales in beautiful Dana Point Harbor. Dana Point is the dolphin and whale watching capital of the world! Bring your pod for a full weekend of fun and the annual  parade. Schedule your whale watching adventure in advance, as these spots will sell out soon.

OC Archives Bazaar

We’re headed back to Great Park Irvine for the 2024 Orange County Archives Bazaar! Join us on Saturday,  March 9, 2024, 11 am - 4 pm at the Great Park. It is located at Hangar 244, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, 92618. If you are planning to have a table at the bazaar this year, please make sure to complete the online registration form by February 23rd.

Southwest Oral History Association

You are formally invited to attend our upcoming 2024 conference from May 31-June 3, 2024. The conference will be held at the University of California, Riverside. Review the Call for Papers and submit a proposal by January 26th, 2024 via the GoogleForm. The theme is "Rooted in Memory and Resistance: Cultivating Radical Futurities."