Boy Scouts, Costa Mesa, and more Home Savings

Today's photo shows a portion of the campgrounds at the National Boy Scout Jamboree on the Irvine Ranch in 1953. This land is now part of Newport Beach.

Local historian Phil Brigandi will speak on the subject of his book, "On My Honor, A Century of Scouting in Orange County," at the Oct. 16 meeting of the Costa Mesa Historical Society. Doors open at 2pm with the program starting at 2:30. Free admission and refreshments. The meeting will be held at 1870 Anaheim Ave., near the northwest corner of the Lions Park complex.

On Oct. 23, the Autry Museum in Griffith Park will host a bus tour entitled "Art Along the Valley: The Home Savings Bank Art Project." ($25 for Autry Members / $35 for Nonmembers.) From their website:

"For more than three decades, beginning in 1952, Millard Sheets created artworks to decorate Home Savings and Loan banks, studding their iconic properties with mosaics and murals. The images told a multiethnic and multicultural version of California’s history. Adam Arenson, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Texas at El Paso, has written extensively on these public/private artworks and will lead a bus tour to six mural locations in the San Fernando Valley that speak to the portrayal of Mexican Americans in public art. Includes box lunch."

Why only Mexican Americans? Your guess is as good as mine. But this tour could be a good way to see another portion of this massive public art project that included all the Home Savings buildings in Orange County as well. Link over to the Autry for more information or for tickets.