Through the Lens: Our Fruitful Heritage

Though the Lens: Our Fruitful Heritage is a historical and cultural exhibition looking back to the 1880’s in Solano County. Exploring the “Early Fruit District” of the Vaca-Valley, the show features historical 1810’s photographs and oversized, hand-tinted lithographs from the book, “California Illustrated No. 1” with images by WR Nutting and text by noted horticulturalist of the time, Professor E. Wixon, who later went on to found the agricultural department of what is now UC Davis. The images reveal the orchards and Victorian homes of the day and were used to entice folks to come to the valley, plant orchards, build beautiful homes, and prosper.

In addition to the stunning images, the show also features a fruit wagon from one of the original area ranches, a life-size replica of a fruit packing/cutting shed and a smaller version for children encouraging interactive play.