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Surfing Heritage and Culture Center
The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center (SHACC) in San Clemente is where legends gather. They have a vast collection of boards that start from the inception of the sport. Stroll on by for a docent led tour at 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente, CA 92672. Call ahead at (949) 388-0313 to schedule your museum tour and education program, which include ukulele lessons to Scout Troop programs. Hawaiian native Duke Kahanamoku is honored for his numerous contributions to surfing. SHACC by 70 Degrees Current Exhibition Exhibits Past Exhibitions Surf Travel: From Twain to Tavarua January- March 2025 From Mark Twain’s first attempt at surfing in 1866 to the modern surf travel…
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Field Notes | January 2025
As we step into a brand-new year, we’re excited to celebrate the timeless history and heritage. Whether you’re preserving historic landmarks, curating exhibits that bring the past to life, or simply cherishing the stories that connect us to our roots, 2025 is a year to honor the importance of our shared past. We’re grateful for your dedication to historic preservation. We know that you’ll be inspired by the legacies of those who came before us. Stay tuned for our museum openings. Huntington Library The Huntington Library, located in San Marino, California, is home to one of the most distinguished and comprehensive collections of rare books, manuscripts, and ephemera in the…
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Sawdust Art Festival
We are working on Sawdust Art Festival’s 60th archive. You can follow the project and contribute your story! The archive contains thousands of never-before-seen photos, slides, newspaper clippings, and ephemera. Dive into the fascinating history of Sawdust and explore how Laguna Beach’s art scene developed. This collection contains photographs, oral histories, written stories, and ephemera. What was life like in the Laguna Canyon in the 1960s? The archive is a time capsule to the past. What did people do for fun? What were their hobbies? Discover this story within the space of six decades in these pages. You will see a variety of materials from the Sawdust Art Festival. Some…
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December 2024
From the Archives 📁 These photographs have been digitized and archived in our family’s collection. Have you started archiving your family’s history? Consider purchasing a Family Archives Preservation Kit. The History Hub is managed by the National Archives. It is for researchers, citizen historians, and archival professionals. 70 Degrees provides resources to you as you document your heritage. San Clemente Historical Society Discover the charming city of San Clemente. It was developed by Ole Hanson as “The Spanish Village by the Sea.” While in San Clemente, explore the historic district of Del Mar Avenue where the pier is near the founder’s house. On November 8, 1925 the Los Angeles…
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November 2024
On November 1, 1776, Saint Junipero Serra re-founded Mission San Juan Capistrano for All Saints’ Day. It became the seventh of twenty-one missions to be founded in Alta California. Learn more about SJC’s vibrant history. Learn More Artist of the Month “To me the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim—the rocks—the motion of the waves—the ships with men in them; What stranger miracles are there?” — Walt Whitman The Ocean Institute unveiled an incredible mural created by renowned ocean advocate and artist NöcHe, in collaboration with the Mares Foundation. This 17 feet tall and 56 feet wide mural highlights native marine species and ecosystems. It is a…
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Nirvana | Hollywood
Written by Dylan Arseo, USC History student and 70 Degrees Intern Originally built in 1925, The Nirvana is an ode to the revivalist style of architecture that was popular in the early twentieth century. The designers of the building were fascinated with the idea of “exoticiscm” and hence, were inspired to employ a Chinese aesthetic. However, in true Hollywood fashion, the style seen at The Nirvana is not a style that one would find in China but was rather manufactured from a Western perspective. This would also influence the Spanish and Egyptian-inspired architecture that can be found around Hollywood. In fact, its designers never even visited the continent Asia and…
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October 2024
Katie Wheeler Library, Irvine, CA The Irvine Ranch grew Valencia oranges prior to our county’s incorporation. It was a leader in dry farming and livestock. The rangelands were reminiscent of the hills of Ireland where James Irvine lived and left in 1846 when he was nineteen years old.
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Irvine
Cattle on Irvine Ranch, 1900. The Irvine Ranch grew Valencia oranges and was a leader in dry farming and livestock. The rangelands were reminiscent of the following hills of Ireland where James Irvine left in 1846 at nineteen years old. According to the Irvine Historical Society, James took a one-hundred-one-day journey and ate hard beans, harder tack, mahogany beef, and bilge water daily. James met Dr. Benjamin Flint, a future business partner, and Collis P. Huntington, his business challenger. “The purchase of Rancho San Joaquin from Don José Andrés Sepulveda in 1864 marked the beginning of their operations in Southern California, as well as the beginning of the land holdings…
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Maritime History
Discover the message with the maritime alpha-numeric flag key. Maritime History by 70 Degrees 16th Century 1542: Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo becomes the first European to explore the California coast, landing in what is now San Diego Bay. His journey establishes Spanish maritime claims to the region. 1579: Sir Francis Drake explores the northern California coast and claims it for England, naming the area “Nova Albion” (believed to be present-day Point Reyes). 17th Century 1602: Sebastián Vizcaíno charts the California coast and renames Cabrillo’s “San Miguel” Bay to San Diego Bay. His expedition produces more accurate maps for Spanish navigation. 18th Century 1769: The Spanish Portola Expedition establishes Mission San Diego…
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September 2024
Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15th. We celebrate the Hispanic explorers that created California’s multi-cultural identity. From the Archives ⚓Balboa Park was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa. His crew crossed the Isthmus of Panama to reach the Pacific Ocean in 1513. As the first Europeans to lead an expedition and reach the Pacific, our coastal communities from Newport Beach to San Diego’s Balboa Park are named after him. The city of Newport Beach would not be possible without Captain Dunnells and William Abbott who arrived on the vessel called Vaquero. This team is credited for having discovered a safe entry into a “new port” in 1870. This landing…
