The Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum in City of Industry brings together historic houses, gardens, a gallery, and a cemetery on one site. Free public house tours offer access to the homes, and El Campo Santo cemetery is open for self-guided visits. The museum is about 4.5 miles from Sierra Inn.
- Location: 15415 Don Julian Road, City of Industry, CA 91745
- Public house tours: Friday through Sunday, except the fourth weekend of each month
- Admission: Free public house tours
What the Homestead Museum includes
The Homestead Museum includes two historic houses, El Campo Santo cemetery, a gallery, and gardens. The Workman House began as a three-room adobe built by William and Nicolasa Workman; major changes completed by 1870 gave it its present appearance.
La Casa Nueva is a Spanish Colonial Revival mansion built by Walter P. Temple and Laura González in the 1920s. The cemetery dates to the 1850s, and its mausoleum was built by the Temples in 1921. Pío Pico, the last governor of Mexican California, is buried there.
William and Nicolasa Workman emigrated from Taos, New Mexico, to the Los Angeles area in 1841. The City of Industry purchased the property in the 1960s and 1970s, and the museum opened after restoration in May 1981.
Where is the Homestead Museum?
The Workman & Temple Family Homestead Museum is at 15415 Don Julian Road in City of Industry, California. From South El Monte, the museum makes a regional outing.
Most of the museum site is wheelchair accessible, according to the City of Industry.
For another local outing, the guide to Vincent Lugo Park covers a park in the South El Monte area.
What are the tour and opening arrangements?
Opening hours
- Friday to Sunday: 12 PM–4 PM
- Monday to Thursday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
House tours are the only way to see the museum houses. Public tour spaces are limited and allocated first-come, first-served; groups under 10 do not need reservations. Groups of 10 or more should schedule a visit, which can be arranged any day of the week between 10 a.m. and noon.
El Campo Santo cemetery is listed as open for self-guided visits seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tour arrangements and opening information can change, so check the official site before you go.
Planning a trip from South El Monte
Plan your visit around the house-tour schedule if you want to go inside Workman House or La Casa Nueva. If you are visiting the cemetery independently, allow time to explore it separately from the guided house tours.
The museum’s address is 15415 Don Julian Road, City of Industry, CA 91745. For a broader look at the neighboring area, the South El Monte area guide offers more local context.
Whittier College is another regional destination; the guide to visiting Whittier College from South El Monte covers a visit there.
FAQs
Is admission to the Homestead Museum free?
Public house tours are free. The museum’s homepage also describes free self-guided visits to El Campo Santo cemetery.
Can you see the houses without taking a tour?
No. House tours are the only way to see the museum houses.
Can groups book a visit?
Groups of 10 or more should schedule a tour. Scheduled group visits can be provided any day of the week between 10 a.m. and noon.