Chumash Relics Will Remain at Museum

The Thousand Oaks City Council has decided not to reconsider its promise to give the Stagecoach Inn Museum the rights to countless Chumash Indian artifacts found at a Newbury Park development.

The city’s Planning Commission had asked the council to consider whether some of the artifacts should go to the year-old Chumash Interpretive Center, located in Lang Ranch, as well as the Stagecoach Inn.

But council members voted unanimously Tuesday to leave the collection in the hands of the Conejo Valley Historical Society, which operates the Newbury Park-based museum.

The council designated the Stagecoach Inn Museum, which has traditionally taken control of local archeological finds, as the repository for the relics in 1988. Since that decision, volunteers from the museum and the Ventura County Historical Society have spent a considerable amount of time and money to curate the collection.

“We have had the historical society take control of [Chumash] artifacts as long as I can remember,” said Councilwoman Judy Lazar.

Museum representatives have said they would be willing to lend some of the artifacts to the Chumash Interpretive Center if they could be assured the items would be cared for properly. But they have no interest in relinquishing any of the artifacts.

Councilwoman Elois Zeanah said she would like to see the museum loan some of the artifacts to the Chumash center, so they can be exhibited there.

“When we made this decision [to give the artifacts to the Stagecoach Inn], there was no Chumash center,” Zeanah said. “I think it’s only logical that the Chumash should have access to these artifacts.”