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 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 […]
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 […]
Acknowledging Native American Heritage
Acknowledging the tribal and ancestral stewardship of the land you occupy is a vitally important step toward educating oneself on indigenous heritage. This Native American Heritage Month, Heritage Museum of […]
Chronicling a Culinary Career: Sybil Kellogg’s Southern Kentucky Pumpkin Pie
Food is a central aspect of nearly every holiday. As we approach the winter holidays, we look forward to the traditional foods we will eat as part of the celebration. […]
From Manicured to Macabre: A Brief History of Dolls
by Museum Conservator Sydney Horner with Research Intern Mandy Lindsay Don’t miss our limited-time mini-exhibit featuring antique dolls from Heritage Museum’s collection. Available for viewing in the Kellogg House […]
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Your Guide to Santa Ana and Greater OC’s Murals
September 15th marked the start of Hispanic Heritage Month across the nation. Here at Heritage Museum of Orange County, we strive to honor Hispanic heritage not just for one month, […]
AANHPI Heritage Month is Year-Long at Heritage Museum of Orange County
As home to the largest Vietnamese population in the United States, Asian Americans make up about one-fifth of the population in Orange County. The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific […]
Spring has sprung at Heritage Museum!
The adage goes that “April showers bring May flowers.” With parts of Southern California reaching an unprecedented two feet of rainfall this season, it’s no surprise to see so many […]
10 March Holidays Around the Globe
Happy holidays! Nope, you didn’t read that wrong. Here in the United States, we’ve become accustomed to thinking of “the holidays” as the months of November and December. Around the […]
OC’s Black History: Summer of Civil Rights Exhibition Preview
Heritage Museum is observing Black History Month with a special feature on our Member Portal! This mini virtual exhibit highlights the history of the civil rights movement in Orange County. […]
Dino Fossils found in Orange County!
With the recent release of the latest Jurassic World movie and our own upcoming “From Dinos to People” event this Sunday July 10th, it’s safe to say dinosaurs are on […]
