Bringing hidden history to light
Rancho Los Alamitos holds centuries of layered history, from its Indigenous roots and ranching heritage to generations of family stories, oral histories, and meticulously maintained records. Yet much of this knowledge has traditionally remained in archives, the memories of experienced docents, or interpretive materials that visitors may never encounter. “Hi”Places helps bring these resources together into a growing Digital Endowment, preserving previously undigitized knowledge and making it accessible to the people responsible for sharing the site’s remarkable stories.
Hundreds of volunteer docents can draw from a common knowledge base to answer visitor questions, deepen their own expertise, and contribute new information, ensuring that institutional knowledge continues to grow rather than disappear as generations of volunteers move on.
The site’s historic gardens illustrate the value of this approach. Rancho Los Alamitos wanted visitors to discover the stories behind its remarkable landscape without filling the gardens with interpretive signs that would interrupt their natural beauty. Through “Hi”Places’ conversational access layer, guests can explore the gardens at their own pace, asking questions about plants, design, history, and the people who shaped them.
Meanwhile, the “Hi”Intelligence Dashboard can reveal which subjects capture visitors’ curiosity and where additional interpretation may be needed, helping staff improve programming, docent training, and the knowledge base itself. The result is a richer experience for visitors, a more capable team of volunteers, and a lasting resource that grows more valuable with every new story preserved.
