Halls of Justice in Downtown Santa Ana

Santa Ana is the county seat and the second most populous city in Orange County. The most important criminal justice facilities are located in downtown. Pictured below is the Orange County Central Courthouse.

Orange County Central Courthouse -- 700 West Civic Center

Short Tour of California State University, Fullerton

California State University, Fullerton, was founded in 1957. Architect Howard van Heuklyn oversaw the construction of this campus which actually occurred in the 1960s. The older buildings have a futuristic design which was popular in that era. Pictured below is Langsdorf Hall, which is the university's primary administration building and the gateway to the campus.

Langsdorf Hall -- 1971

Anaheim Convention Center is a Major Center of Activity

The Anaheim Convention Center is a Major Hub in Anaheim's growing resort district. Opened in 1967, it has already undergone six major expansions, and currently has 1.6 million square feet of convention space.

Anaheim Convention Center -- 800 W. Katella

Unique Eichler Houses are in High Demand

The Mid Century Modern architectural style seems to be growing in popularity. Fortunately for fans of this style, renowned architect Joseph Eichler's home designs were built in several housing tracts in Orange around 1960-1962. According to Eichler real estate specialist Kelly Laule, Eichler enthusiasts are quickly buying these homes and renovating them as soon as they come to market.


Eichler Residence - 564 S. Woodland Street, Orange, Ca.

Downtown Anaheim is on the Rise

Downtown Anaheim is an often overlooked area that has seen a resurgence of positive activity lately. It is brimming with interesting architecture and places to check out. Downtown is actually located in the Anaheim Colony Historic District which is bounded by North, West, South, and East streets. Center Street runs down the middle of downtown and has recently been branded as simply Center Street Anaheim. The area is full of treasures so this post is only a sample of what's available to see. I will be back for more photos in the future.

Anaheim Blvd. & Center Street - Taller building is Anaheim City Hall

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Boutique "Hotel Indigo" Established in Anaheim

A Hotel Indigo was recently opened near Disneyland at 435 W. Katella. This boutique hotel was converted from a Holiday Inn with a $5 Million investment. There are a lot of hotels in the area but this one simply stands out from the crowd and will catch your eye.


Hotel Indigo - 435 W. Katella

Old Towne Orange Will Take You Back in Time

Old Towne Orange is certainly one of the best historic districts in California. It is known as the "Antique Capital of Southern California" with numerous antique, collectible, and specialty shops. There are also numerous restaurants, specialty food shops, and tea rooms. The historic downtown is an outstanding example of "Main Street USA" and has been used as the backdrop of several films. Old Towne is full of historic structures that could never be covered in one blog posting, so this is only a sampler of what a visitor might see.


Old Towne Orange - South Bound View of Glassell St. from Orange Circle

Little known Lyon Air Museum Tucked Away by John Wayne Airport

The Lyon Air Museum is discreetly located directly next to Orange County's John Wayne Airport at 19300 Ike Jones Road, in Santa Ana, and it is a genuine treasure. It was founded by retired Major General William Lyon, who also happens to be the founder of William Lyon Homes. This museum contains fully restored and flyable aircraft, vehicles, and related memorabilia, all with a primary emphasis on World War II.

Lyon Air Museum - 19300 Ike Jones Road, Santa Ana, Ca. 92707

Orange County's Premier Food Hall Now Open in Anaheim

On May 31, 2014, the Anaheim Packing House was finally opened to the public after several years of intensive renovation. Described as a Spanish Revival Citrus Plant, the Packing House was originally built in 1919 during Orange County's Agricultural era.

Anaheim Packing House -- 440 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Newport Beach's New Civic Center is an Architectural Gem

In 2013, the City of Newport Beach completed its brand new civic center project, located at 100 Civic Center Drive. Costing over $135 million, this major project included a new City Hall (95,000 sq. ft.), Library Expansion (17,000 sq. ft.), and new parking structure (450 stalls). The project earned national recognition in the 2014 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel Awards program.


Newport Beach City Hall -- 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach, Ca.

Historic Houses on the Campus of Cal State Fullerton

The campus of California State University, Fullerton, was founded in 1957. In addition to its modern buildings, it also holds three beautiful historic houses that pre-date the university, each with its own unique history and architecture. Each of these houses has been fully renovated to preserve their historical character while also serving practical functions for the university at large.

Heritage House -- Fullerton Arboretum