Links

Recommended links for learning about and preserving Orange County history.

Local Businesses

• The First American Corporation
  The First American Corporation traces its roots to 1889, when Orange County, California—a rural, undeveloped area at the time—split off from the county of Los Angeles.
• The Orange County Register
  The evolution of The Orange County Register began on Nov. 25, 1905, when a group of businessmen launched the Santa Ana Register to serve Orange County’s 20,000 residents.

Local Landmarks

• Bowers Museum
  Founded in 1936 by the City of Santa Ana through a bequest from Charles and Ada Bowers, the Bowers Museum is one of California’s finest and Orange County’s largest museums.
• Diego Sepulveda Adobe
  The Adobe encompasses nearly 200 years of Costa Mesa history in beautiful Estancia Park, overlooking the Santa Ana River bed.
• Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle House
  The Dr. Howe-Waffle House was built in 1889 by Alvin and Willella Howe, both prominent Orange County physicians.
• Heritage Hill Historical Park
  Heritage Hill Historical Park is composed of 4.1 acres, four historic buildings and associated structures for maintenance and public restrooms.
• Historic George Key Ranch
  Historic George Key Ranch is an historic house, museum, garden and orange grove, located in the City of Placentia.
• Irvine Ranch Historic Park
  The Irvine Ranch Historic Park is a 16.5 acre special use park established by the County in 1996. The park retains 24 original ranch structures that represent the proud agricultural history of Orange County, and specifically, the Irvine Ranch.
• Ramon Peralta Adobe Historic Site
  It is believed that Ramon Peralta built the adobe in 1871. The Ramon Peralta Adobe officially opened for public use on September 27, 1986. The building was re-opened on April 28, 2006 as an official museum.
• The Bradford House
  The Bradford House has been a part of Placentia since 1902, when the prosperous rancher Albert Sumner Bradford built it.
• The Fox Fullerton Theater
  For over eighty years, the Fox Theatre has been a dominant feature in the heart of the downtown Fullerton business district, located four miles north of Disneyland and 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Local Organizations

• Anaheim Heritage Center Disney Resort Reading Room at the Muzeo
  Opened in 1967, the history room contains almost a million items organized and cataloged for use by scholars, students and researchers.
• Buena Park Historical Society
  The Buena Park Historical Society is a non-profit (501 c3) organization of individuals and institutions who are concerned with and working for the preservation of their community’s heritage.
• Costa Mesa Historical Society
  The Society is an all-volunteer, non-profit group whose mission is to collect, preserve and promote the history of the Costa Mesa area.
• CSUF Center for Oral and Public History
  The California State University. Fullerton (CSUF), Center for Oral and Public History (COPH) is primarily a teaching, training, research, publication, and public service operation.
• Dana Point Historical Society
  Celebrating and preserving the history of Dana Point, Capistrano Beach, and Monarch Beach.
• Fullerton Public Library Launer Local History Room
  The mission of the Launer Room is to preserve for future generations all materials collected or donated that document the history and evolution of Fullerton.
• Huntington Beach Public Library Genealogy Links
  The Library’s extensive collection of 16,000 genealogical books and periodicals is developed and maintained by the Orange County California Genealogical Society.
• Huntington Beach Public Library Local History
  Local information / history.
• Orange County Archives
  The mission of the Orange County Archives is to collect and preserve materials documenting the history of Orange County, and to make this material available to researchers, academics, students and the general public.
• Orange County Historical Society
  The Orange County Historical Society, is a research, archival, and educational organization, dedicated to the discovery, preservation, and dissemination of the history of Orange County, of its people, and the surrounding area.
• Orange County Mexican American Historical Society
  The Orange County Mexican American Historical Foundation was founded in 2003. The Society has a growing digital collection of historic photographs of Mexicans in Orange County.
• Orange County Pioneer Council
  A countywide group of early residents and family members of those hardy settlers who came to Orange County, California prior to 1926.
• Orange Public Library Local History Collection
  The Orange Public Library is located in the City of Orange, California. It was founded in 1885, making it one of the oldest public libraries in Orange County.
• Placentia History Room
  The Purpose of the Placentia History Collection is the acquisition, organization, and preservation of both primary and secondary materials relevant to the history of Placentia and its vicinity.
• Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society
  The Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society is an active group of people concerned and interested in preserving and celebrating the history of our local Santa Ana valley community.
• Santa Ana History Room
  Provide the citizens of Santa Ana with information about the history of the City, County, and State in which they live, and encourage the interest of the City’s youth in that history.
• The San Juan Capistrano Historical Society
  The purpose of the Historical Society is to bring together people interested in history, especially the history of California and the area and region surrounding and including San Juan Capistrano.
• Yorba Linda Public Library Local History Collection
  The Local History Collection of the Yorba Linda Public Library was established to collect, preserve, and make available to the public materials relating to the history of Yorba Linda, Orange County, and California.

Local Web Friends

• O.C. History Roundup
  Information and photos for people interested in the history of Orange County, California.
• Orange County Memories
  A historical perspective based on the memories of people who lived and worked in Orange County, California.

Other Resources

• Institute of Museum and Library and Library Services
  The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
  The National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to save America’s diverse historic places and revitalize our communities.

Recommended Blogs

• O.C. History Roundup
  Information and photos for people interested in the history of Orange County, California.
• Orange County Memories
  A historical perspective based on the memories of people who lived and worked in Orange County, California.