Rancho Los Cerritos is a small but genuinely interesting historic site in the Virginia Country Club area of Long Beach. The 1844 Monterey-style adobe house was the headquarters of one of the great California ranchos of the Mexican period, and it gives a clear sense of the scale and organisation of the rancho economy before American annexation. The house has been carefully restored and is furnished to reflect the 1840s period.
The site includes a large and well-maintained historic garden with heritage roses and California native plants. Self-guided tours are free on weekends; guided tours are available. The interpretive programme does a good job of covering not only the wealthy rancho families but also the Native American and vaquero workers who made the rancho function.