Dear Members and friends,
Thank you for being part of our Cayucos Historical Society. We appreciate you all and know the importance for staying in touch and making you aware of all we do.
Home Sweet Home
Cayucos Historical Society is happy to announce that we have a new home for our museum. Even though our official "Grand Opening" is May 30 at 11:00 (come one - come all) we are already up and running. You can find us at Cayucos Landing Annex at the Vets' Hall, and we are open weekends - weather permitting.
In our new space, we are able to give our visitors more access to information, pictures, displays, related to the history of our town. We have docents available to greet you and answer questions about our organization. But we still need a few new volunteers who would be willing to give us time on either a Saturday or Sunday once every other month.
So far, feedback from our visitors has been very positive and all seem to enjoy learning more about Cayucos and the people and events that have made us what we are today. So, stop by, say hello, and take your time browsing around. We think you'll enjoy your visit and I know we'll enjoy the opportunity to make new friends.
Watch for our History Night coming at the end of September 2026
Thank you for your continued support.
Your Cayucos Historical Society Board
The Exhibit Newsletter
“A Window to our Past.” Historical perspectives and current events to inform our shared history are made available in the Cayucos Portal.
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The Cayucos Historical Museum
Grand Opening!
it’s new location is located in
The Veterans Hall on the Pier.
May 30th 11:00am
• Free Admissions – Open Weekends
Exhibit location and events
All Friends of Cayucos
We are always looking for volunteers for various tasks. If you have an interest in the helping curate and foster the local history of Cayucos, please let us know by emailing: cayucoshistorical@gmail.com
Historical walking tours
Available for the 150th celebration, probably Saturday and maybe Sunday if need be, with a suggested donation of $15 per person. If interested, contact CHS through email.
CHS will be moving into our new museum in the Vet's Annex ~ opening date to be determined.
Museum will be open Saturday and Sunday for this 150th weekend celebration.
And a special request:
Needing a laptop for the museum, used is fine, but not too old.
Meet one person who made a big mark in the local history of California
Approximately 11,000 to 10,000 BC Chumash and Salinan people settled the coastal MorroBay/Cayucos area, including a large Chumash village to the south of Cayucos at Morro Creek.
There are several theories of how the name Cayucos was derived. The most accepted is that it is the Hispanicization of a Chumash word for "kayak," or "canoe," used by the Chumash people to fish in the bay, particularly in the rich kelp beds just north of the current Cayucos pier. The town took its name from the old Rancho Moro y Cayucos, a Mexican land grant awarded in 1842 that includes the present area of the town.
In 1867, Captain James Cass came to the area and settled on 320 acres with the intent of farming. But his interest was in shipping. Cass began a shipping company with a business partner, Captain John J. Ingals. In 1875, the town of Cayucos was established by William Babcock, after which Cass was able to buy 15 acres where his business was located. He eventually built a 940-foot pier and a warehouse to house agricultural, dairy, bales of seaweed, and grain cargo bound for San Francisco or Los Angeles, along with astonishing quantities of lumber imports for the James Cass & Company lumber yards.
Shortly after the turn of the 20th Century, at the age of 83, James Cass, known for putting Cayucos on the map for the thriving shipping trade, gradually expanded his interests to include maintaining his apple and walnut orchards, farming, his own dairy and creamery operations, and in 1916, resumed his earlier interest in hog-raising. He never stopped working. James Cass died in Cayucos at the age of 92. His death certificate humbly listed his occupation as “retired merchant."
Become a supporting member
Supporting the Cayucos Society is now very easy.
Join online with a credit card: Choose the level of title or membership for yourself or a friend (gift) by selecting from the list below. A window will open to complete your donation. A digital receipt of your gift will be sent.
And thank you!
If by check, you may still mail to: Cayucos Historical Society PO Box 143, Cayucos, CA 93430
MEMBERSHIP CHOICES:
The Cayucos Historical Society is a not-for-profit, 501c3 organization to preserve our local history.
Contact Us
Cayucos Historical Society PO Box 143 Cayucos, CA 93430
