Champions of O.C. history: Phil Brigandi and Ilse Byrnes

Phil Brigandi has a new book out! Orange County Chronicles includes ten essays that cover a pretty wide span of our local history, from the Portolá expedition of 1769 to our post-WWII boom years. Chapters include:

• The March of Portolá
• Drought, Debt & Development: The Story of the Stearns Ranchos
• The Birth of Orange County
• Chinese Pioneers in Early Orange County
• Red Cars in an Orange County
• King Citrus & Queen Valencia
• The Good Roads Movement
• The Great Depression in Orange County
• Breaking New Ground: The Early Years of Knott’s Berry Farm
• Boundary Battles of the Post-War Boom

You can order the book via The History Press or look for it in your local bookstore (assuming you still have one).

This Wednesday, historical preservation superstar Ilse Byrnes will speak at the Dana Point Historical Society, Oct. 23, 6:30pm, at the Dana Point City Council Chambers. The public is welcome to attend. If you didn't see the article about Ilse in the L.A. Times last month, do take a look!