Discover historic ranching traditions of the vaqueros of the Californias
with special emphasis on Baja California Sur,
Mexico
Explore more than 300 years of history
This bilingual, bicultural, multimedia museum tells vital stories of the origins of vaquero and ranchero culture in the Californias. Your visit to MUVACA—the Cowboy Museum of the Californias—will reveal that many of the founding vaquero families of the Californias are linked to Baja California Sur.
a museum of international quality
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clearly explains part of Californian history
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very cool place
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interactive displays and state of the art quality exhibits
•
a museum of international quality • clearly explains part of Californian history • very cool place • interactive displays and state of the art quality exhibits •
Learn about cowboy traditions
that are kept alive today by ranchero families living in the rugged mountains of Baja California Sur, Mexico.
From Baja California Sur, vaquero families migrated north into what was known as Alta California, developing both the cities of San Francisco and Monterey.
MUVACA brings this history to life as you explore the values, lifestyle, and identity of these people and their culture that still exists today.
ALTA CALIFORNIA was the name given in 1824 to a vast territory that belonged to Mexico and that included present-day California, Nevada, and Utah as well as parts of Arizona, Wyoming, and Colorado. The first map above shows the United States of America and Mexico as they are today, including the area that was previously known as Alta California. The second map, from 1823, directly above, displays a close-up of both Alta and Baja California, as well as the state of Sonora.
A VAQUERO is a skilled livestock herder of a culture that evolved in Mexico from a methodology brought from Iberia. The vaquero is the foundation for what is known as a cowboy. A vaquero may sometimes be referred to as a RANCHERO, or a person working on a ranch in Latin America.
Come visit the MUVACA museum today!
Come visit the MUVACA museum today!
MUVACA presents a new exhibition about the unusual history and culture of the Hawaiian cowboys, better known as Paniolos, and their Mexican roots with ties to the Californias.
The MUVACA complex
has approximately 436 square meters of exhibit space, including space for temporary exhibits, a projection room, and a gift shop. At the heart of the complex is a 674 square meter, open air courtyard with a café.
MUSEUM COLLECTION | GALLERY | GIFT SHOP | INTRODUCTORY FILM | CAFÉ
Explore Other Popular Spots in El Triunfo
MINING MUSEUM & GIFT SHOP
MUSIC MUSEUM
BAR & RESTAURANT
MARGERY’S TEA ROOM
TOGGLE WINE CELLAR
FISH & CHIPS
CAFFÉ EL TRIUNFO
BIKING, HIKING & TRAIL RUNNINGClick Here to Watch the November 2022 Premiere of the Journeys of Harry Crosby
a PBS broadcast about the photographer and author’s travels in Baja California, made possible in part by the Alumbra Innovations Foundation, celebrating the opening of MUVACA.
Museo del Vaquero de Las Californias is an initiative of Ándale La Paz, A.C.
Ándale La Paz, A.C. is a non-profit organization that develops projects of a social nature focused on learning skills, culture, and art. In addition to offering free educational activities under the STEAM scheme (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics), it provides educational and development opportunities as well as access to sociocultural infrastructure for people of all ages in the municipality of La Paz, BCS, Mexico. This is done through museums, permanent and itinerant cultural spaces, and educational programs and experiences.
If you are interested in making a donation, please use the following link:
Donate to Ándale La Paz, A.C.