Artwork Analysis: Siempre Santa Ana
written by Karina Trujillo Murals bring beauty and an invitation to the neighborhood, encouraging one to slow down and admire the surroundings, and even create dialogue. The mural Siempre Santa […]
The Local Fight for Equal Education: Mendez vs Westminster
written by Betzaira Ruiz In 1947 the Ninth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that segregation practices implemented by the Westminster School District were unconstitutional. This […]
The Fourth of July
written by High School Intern, Makayla Finn Oh, the Fourth of July, a festivity where families and neighbors get together to fill the night sky with colorful fireworks and eat […]
The Evolution of Cattle Ranching in 19th Century America
Updated: Nov 10, 2020 American Cowboys TAKE the Great Plains We have all seen the cowboys in the movies and our favorite western TV shows. The classic western has been a […]
Migrant Farm Workers 1929-1976
Updated: Nov 10, 2020 Written by Kimberly Dennin California has long been known for its agribusiness. With a mild climate allowing for long growing seasons and a diversity of crops, California […]
Labor Day
Updated: Nov 10, 2020 by Betzaira Ruiz What is Labor Day? Labor Day is a holiday created for the labor movement. It is celebrated every year on the first week of […]
The Autumn Equinox
Written by Kimberly Dennin This year (2020) the autumn equinox falls on September 22. Every year there are two equinoxes (autumn and spring) and two solstices (winter and summer). The […]
Indigenous People’s Day
by Melinda Alvizo What is Indigenous People’s Day? Indigenous People’s Day is a counter-holiday celebrated in opposition of Columbus Day. The holiday usually celebrates the Italian explorer who “found” the […]
Día de Muertos
By Melinda Alvizo Often incorrectly associated with Halloween because of its eerie moniker, Día Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is much more than a holiday. It is a special […]
Halloween
By Betzaira Ruiz Today is Halloween! But did you know Halloween was not always known as a trick or treat night? In fact, what we know of today as Halloween is […]
“The Spirit of 1776”
By Jamie Hiber I am often asked about the Suffrage Movement here in Orange County and it’s a difficult question to answer. There just isn’t a whole lot of documented […]
Veterans Day
By Kimberly Dennin History of Veterans Day Veterans day has its origins in the end of WWI. On November 11, 1918 an armistice went into effect and so this date […]
Thanksgiving
By Betzaira Ruiz Origins of Thanksgiving The first group of colonists arrived in the Americas in 1621. They were known as the Plymouth colonists who traveled on the Mayflower. The […]
The Emancipation Proclamation
By Kimberly Dennin Brief History of the Civil War In order to understand the importance and circumstances surrounding the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation, we have to go back in […]
Orange County
By Betzaira Ruiz Knowing the history of Orange County helps us understand how it was created. The first people who lived in Orange County were known as the Juaneno and […]
Chinese New Year
By Betzaira Ruiz History: One of the most celebrated festivals around the world is known as the Chinese New Year. Some of the countries that partake in these celebrations include […]
Father O’ Sullivan and the Spanish Flu in Capistrano
By Chris Jepsen, President, Orange County Historical Society San Juan Capistrano, famous for capitalizing on the romance of all things Spanish, found nothing romantic about the Spanish Influenza of 1918. […]
St. Patrick’s Day
By Betzaira Ruiz History: St. Patrick’s Day is a Roman Catholic celebration that honors the patron saint of Ireland. Much of Patrick’s life has now been shrouded in myth and […]
Earth Day
By Betzaira Ruiz Origins of Earth Day Earth Day dates back to April 22, 1970 with 22 million Americans participating in the first celebration. This day was established to increase […]
Burning of Santa Ana’s Chinatown
by Kimberly Dennin We have once again entered a time where violence, hate, and racism against Asian-Americans is at the forefront of the nations’ consciousness. Now that we are in […]
Historic Wintersburg
by Kimberly Dennin We have once again entered a time where violence, hate, and racism against Asian-Americans is at the forefront of the nations’ consciousness. Now that we are in […]
Memorial Day
by Kimberly Dennin Early Observances of Memorial Day Memorial Day as we know it now has its origins in local observances held in various towns and cities across America. These […]
Bones in Our Backyard
Updated: Jun 25, 2021 It might be difficult to imagine Orange County without shopping malls, freeways, housing and people, but if we go back far enough in time the area was […]
Annexation of Hawaii
By Kimberly Dennin Businessmen vs. Native Hawaiians The story of the annexation of Hawaii is one of the struggle between white businessmen after favorable trade conditions and native Hawaiians protecting […]
