History Book Club at the Homestead
This facilitated history book club makes use of the Homestead's rich and diverse collection. Each series focuses on a subject that relates to the Homestead's areas of interpretation, often focusing on the Los Angeles region between 1830 and 1930. Museum staff curate mini-exhibits for each session sharing items that pertain to the subject of each book. Participants exchange ideas, share opinions and critiques, and assess the impact of various fiction and non-fiction works.
We ask that participants read the assigned book in time for each meeting. Books are available at your local bookstore, online, or at your local library.
World War I Series 
Friday, February 3
Friday, March 3
Friday, April 7
• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Free; space is limited and advance registration is recommended starting December 23.
February 3: Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania, Erik Larson
March 3: The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, John M. Barry
April 7: Over Here: The First World War and American Society, David M. Kennedy
Crime Series
Friday, June 2
Friday, July 7
Friday, August 4
• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Free; space is limited and advance registration is recommended starting April 21.
June 2: Eternity Street: Violence and Justice in Frontier Los Angeles, John Mack Faragher
July 7: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America, Erik Larson
August 4: American Lightning: Terror, Mystery, The Birth of Hollywood and the Crime of the Century, Howard Blum
Vital California Agriculture Series
Friday, October 6
Friday, November 3
Friday, December 1
• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Free; space is limited and advance registration is recommended starting August 25.
October 6: Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California, Frances Dinkelspiel
November 3: Cattle on a Thousand Hills, Robert Glass Cleland
December 1: Orange Empire: California and the Fruits of Eden, Douglas Cazaux Sackman