“The First Mayor's House provides professional development to third and fifth grade teachers through our Institutes. Third grade teachers learn the history of Salinas while fifth grade focuses on the westward expansion of our country,” said FMH Education Coordinator, Mary Randall. Each Institute includes background information for the teachers provided by historians, hands on experiences with the materials and interactive tours of the First Mayor’s House. A critical part of the program is providing teachers with reading materials at their students’ grade level with lesson plan ideas to use to extend the reading.

In the past two years alone, 36 teachers have been attended the Institutes and over 2,000 third graders have visited the First Mayor’s House. While there, students visit Mabel’s room and learn what life was like for a child their age. In Sarah’s room, they explore artifacts. The barley doll story, medicinal garden, and tool shed each provide a glimpse into life in the 1870s. Finally, doing chores allows them to experience washing clothes on a washboard and making butter by hand.

Fifth graders who visit the House will have a different experience. First they will tour the House, trying to figure out which 10 items came from Illinois with the Harveys on the wagon train. Then they participate in a collaborative simulation called California or Bust, in which they must use their math, reading, and problem solving skills to figure out what to take, how to use their limited budgets and weight allowances, and how to deal with problems along the way. The First Mayor’s House is an educational nonprofit in Salinas consisting of the restored home of Isaac Julian Harvey, the garden, and Learning Center. The home has been completely restored to the 1870s; the family documents, photographs, clothes and furniture have been preserved, giving us a rare glimpse of early community life. The First Mayor’s House is located at the Inter-modal Transportation Center (near the Amtrak Station) where it serves as an adjunct to local schools, telling the story of immigrants to the Salinas Valley. Those interested in learning more about the First Mayor’s House, its institutes, and teaching materials and those who wish to become members or make a donation are encouraged to log onto the organization’s website at: http://www.firstmayorshouse.org To request a tour or to hold a special event at the House or Cottage, email firstmayorshouse@gmail.com.