OCC Planetarium Event
We have a very exciting event coming up on August 13th! We’ve connected with the Orange Coast College Planetarium to give our Historical Society members their very own exclusive showing.
The sky has been an object of fascination for as long as humans have walked the earth. The movements of the spheres are ingrained in every culture on earth and have created mythologies, superstitions, and legends many people still recognize. Today, we turn our scientific tools toward the heavens to get a new perspective of the universe and our place in it. Take a journey through time, from the most ancient astrologers, to the future of manned exploration of the solar system, and see how our view of the cosmos has grown and evolved.
Planetarium Director, Scott Mitchell, will open the program and guide us through the wonders of the sky above us.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, August 13th
Time: 1:30 (please plan to arrive no later than this time, as no one will be allowed to enter after)
Where: Orange Coast College Planetarium (Parking is located in the E lot off of Merrimac Way)
You can purchase tickets here.
OR
You can call the Historical Society at (949) 631-5918 to reserve tickets. Please leave your name, phone number, and quantity of tickets you wish to reserve. You can pick up and pay for tickets at the Historical Society the Thursday or Friday before the event.
Interactive Map Featuring Orange County Historic Sites
Last year, Preserve Orange County launched an interactive map featuring historic sites throughout the county. From their website:
“What’s on the map?
- The map includes all sites that are designated historic at county, state and national levels, under these programs:
- National Register of Historic Places
- National Historic Landmarks
- California Register of Historical Resources
- California Historical Landmarks
- California Points of Historical Interest
- Orange County Historic Sites
- Orange County Historical Site Plaques
- It also includes undesignated sites — places that have historic significance but have not yet been officially recognized.
- Not included at this time are places that are listed on local historic registers.
- The map indicates if a site is open to the public. If it is not, it may be viewed from the public right-of-way only.”
Phase 2 of the map, with more sites added, is due to launch this year.
Fish Fry Coloring Contest Winners
For the 75th Annual Fish Fry, the Costa Mesa Historical Society hosted a children’s coloring contest to reach out and hopefully spark an interest in local history. We received over 100 entries!
While we had originally only planned on a single winner, we were blown away by the creativity and number of entries we received, so we decided to add a second and third place as well. Our three winners came by the Historical Society Museum today to pick up their prizes and to learn a bit about the city they call home.
Congrats to Abigail, Mira, and Scarlett!
Costa Mesa Small Business Appreciation Spotlight the Iconic ” El Matador ” – VIDEO
El Matador restaurant opened its door 56 years ago. The building was constructed in 1923, and is one of the most historic commercial storefronts in the city. Our friend Renee Pina takes us on a tour of this iconic restaurant.
Peggy Gardner Display
We have a new display at the museum! Peggy Gardner was a long-time friend of the Historical Society and a wonderful artist. To highlight Peggy’s talent and honor her legacy, we’ve set up a display at the entry of the museum containing just a few of the many beautiful pieces that Peggy created.
These limited edition pieces will be for sale, and all proceeds will go to the museum. As of now, the pieces are only for sale on-site, but keep an eye out in the coming weeks, as we work to upload them to our online shop.
2022 Fish Fry and Carnival
The 75th Annual Fish Fry is back at its original location in Lions Park! The Fish Fry will take place June 3 – 5. Admission is free. Fish dinners are $15, and tickets for carnival rides are currently on sale for a discounted price. Get your ride tickets here.
The Costa Mesa Historical Society will have a booth for all three days and we’ll be selling books, postcards, and other goods! We also have something fun planned for the young-ins, so be sure to stop by and say hello!
Echoes From the Fields
A one-hour video chronicling Costa Mesa’s history from the time of the Native Americans to the emergence of South Coast Metro in the 1990s
Fairview Register March/April 2022
Our March/April 2022 newsletter is now online! This edition includes a message from President Barbara Steck introducing our new Board of Directors. Also included, “Fairview Declines,” a continuation of “A Town Called Fairview” from our last newsletter, and remembering Dave Gardner, Gladys Refakes, and Ursula Hartunian.
As some of you may have already noticed, we’re updating our online gift shop! There are still many more items to be uploaded, so be sure to keep checking back in here.
If you don’t see something on the online shop that you’re sure we sell, please give us a call! It’s likely that it’s still in the queue to be uploaded.