D23, Crystal Cove, Evangeline, Dana Point, etc.

Welcome to everyone visiting us for the D23 convention in Anaheim this week. The photo above is from 40 years ago, and shows the reaction in Tomorrowland to Apollo 11's moon landing. Hundreds of people watched the landing on large TV monitors set up at Disneyland. The group shown in this photo includes Americans as well as the Russian Olympic track team and their tour guide.
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Interested in the historic cottages at Crystal Cove and their preservation/restoration? Laura Davick of the Crystal Cove Alliance will be the speaker at the Orange County Historical Society’s meeting, Thursday night (Sept. 10), 7:30pm, at Sherman Gardens, 2647 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, in Corona del Mar. The meeting will be preceded by an appetizer and dessert potluck at 6:30pm. (If you plan to attend the potluck, please bring a dessert or appetizer for six people.) In addition to the talk, there will be a follow-up tour of Crystal Cove on Sept. 12th. This two-hour walking trip is free, but parking at the State Park is $10 for the day. For information about the tour, contact Carolyn at ochsschoff@aol.com.
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Gordon Bricken’s new book, Pioneers in Blue and Gray, is now out. It expands on O.C.’s civil war heritage, offering biographies of local Civil War veterans. It retails for $35.
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Speaking of Civil War heritage, the historic Evangeline Hotel (1906) in Huntington Beach is once again up for sale. Read more about it in the Register. (I've blogged about this property before, including here and here.) This one's worth fighting for, folks.
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On Sept. 27, the Dana Point Historical Society will hold its annual Home Tour, as well as a a Hawaiian Luau and a Historic Tallship Tour. From 1-3pm, there will be a tour of two 1929 "Doheny homes" on the same block in Capistrano Beach. One of these homes was the home of artist Louise Leyden and a private collection of her paintings will be on display along with the original Roy C. Kelley plans for the house. The second home, just doors away, is a Spanish Colonial Revival home, currently undergoing restoration and featuring beautiful tile, inside and out, a wood trussed ceiling and the original hardware and doors. Both houses are on the Historic Register and this will be a self drive tour. From 2-5pm, a luau will take place at Doheny State Park, complete with surfing exhibits tracing the history of surfing from Hawaii to Dana Point. There will be a great feast, music, booths, vintage photographs and some "old school" surfers to "talk story" with. Serving begins at 3pm and will include all of the authentic luau trimmings. From 4-6pm, there will be a tour of the Curlew (1926), the 82' schooner moored in the Dana Point Harbor. Built in Maine she was a very successful racing boat before becoming a training ship during WWII. The DPHS is helping to achieve a listing on the Historic Register for the beautiful Curlew. The cost is $25 for all three events. For reservations, mail your check to the DPHS, P.O. Box 544, Dana Point, 92629 or call (949) 248-8121.