Anchored by a large Spanish-Mediterranean house constructed in 1933, the Hathaway Ranch is a five-acre collection of Los Angeles County mining history that goes back 150 years. The museum and grounds, which are still privately held by descendants of the original owners, are spotted with working oil drilling, farming and ranching equipment used by the Hathaway family for the past five generations.

Founded in 1983 as the Rancho Santa Gertrudes Historical Society, the Hathaway Ranch and Oil Museum was incorporated three years later. The house was used as the primary residence of Nadine Hathaway, who was responsible for forming the museum, until her passing in 2002. Going forward, the house will be used to hold the museum’s offices and archives.

The Hathaway Company was formed in 1932, only three years after Santa Fe Springs became the largest producer of oil in the state of California, and survived until 2004, when remaining family members dissolved the group. Over the course of its existence, the Hathaway Company oversaw the drilling of hundreds of oil and gas wells across the country.

Visitors can tour the grounds and museum, enjoy hay rides and witness antique engine demonstrations.