From 1865 to 1879, Henry and Harriet Cowell and their five children lived in a humble house overlooking Monterey Bay and the fledgling town of Santa Cruz. Join historian Frank Perry and Friends the Lime Works board members for a tour of the house and grounds (now called the Cardiff House and home to the UCSC Women’s Center).
We’ll first explore the history of the house (one of the oldest in Santa Cruz). We’ll then discuss what it was like for the Cowell children to grow up in Santa Cruz and later become prominent members of San Francisco high society. We will also be dedicating the recently restored Cardiff Shed nearby.
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025, Free
Time: 10:30 a.m. to noon. Tour starts at 11 following refreshments and introduction. Feel free to bring a friend.
Directions & Parking: Take the UCSC main entrance up Coolidge Drive. Turn right at the first stoplight onto Carriage House Road. (Sign points to Carriage House and Police Department). Park in Lot 116 on the left, or a bit further in front of Carriage House. Follow signs to the Women’s Center (located beyond the Carriage House). Free Parking.
Accessibility: Mostly flat, some sloping and uneven ground.
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