The San Bernardino County Museum’s history division and the Rancho Cucamonga Historical Society are together presenting a special family event, “Reading at the Rains,” at the historic John Rains house in Rancho Cucamonga. The event, scheduled for Saturday, October 12, starts at 1:00 p.m. and is included with general admission to the historic site.

“I invite families to join us for a fun-filled way to explore the John Rains House,” said Michele Nielsen, the museum’s curator of history. “We’ll hear some great stories and meet a few local history authors, too.”

Children’s books will be read aloud in every room of the historic house during the progressive reading event. Among the titles are We Keep a Pig in the Parlor, How do Dinosaurs Go To School?, Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed, Goodnight Moon, Tortillas Para Mamá, Big Fat Hen, When the Mission Padre Came to the Rancho, and El Chaparron Torrencial – The Gulley-washer.

“Children’s picture books are fascinating and engaging for children and adults alike,” said Nielsen. “The books we have chosen for this event are visually beautiful, and full of illustrations. Their stories are filled with rhythm and illustrative words making them fun for everyone to see and hear read.”

The John Rains house was built on Cucamonga Rancho lands in 1860 by John Rains and his wife, Maria Merced Williams Rains. Masons used red clay found adjacent to the site to create its fired bricks. The home’s flat roof was waterproofed with tar from the brea pits in Orange County. An open flume carried water from adjacent springs through the kitchen, into the patio, and under the house to the orchard, providing cooling for the structure. This fascinating structure was nearly destroyed before it was purchased by the County of San Bernardino in 1971. “Our story readers will also have a variety of artifacts visitors can touch and engage with that go along with the stories as well as the story of the Rains House,” said Nielsen.

The John Rains House is a San Bernardino County Museum historic site at 8810 Hemlock in Rancho Cucamonga. General admission is $5 (adult), $4 (military or senior), and $2.50 (student or child). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sb countymuseum.org. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is 909-307-2669.