John R. Johnson, curator of anthropology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and Susan Morris, historical researcher, will present current research on Juana Maria, also known as the “Lone Woman” and “Karana” in Scott O’Dell’s novel Island of the Blue Dolphins. Recent archaeological discoveries and historical research revealed new details that help researchers understand why Maria may have remained on San Nicolas Island, and perhaps not as alone as previously believed.
The presentation will be held at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m. The museum also hosts its Back-to-School Focus on Education Open House prior to the lecture, at 4 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested for admission. An RSVP is requested by calling (805) 688-7889 or emailing education@santaynezmuseum.org. The museum is located at 3596 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit santaynezmuseum.org for more info.
This article appears in Aug 15-22, 2019.