Public Events

Read more about the article Fish Fry Coloring Contest Winners
1st place winner Abigail with her family

Fish Fry Coloring Contest Winners

For the 75th Annual Fish Fry, the Costa Mesa Historical Society hosted a children's coloring contest to reach out and hopefully spark an interest in local history. We received over 100 entries! While we had originally only planned on a single winner, we were blown away by the creativity and number of entries we received, so we decided to add a second and third place as well. Our three winners came by the Historical Society Museum today…

Continue ReadingFish Fry Coloring Contest Winners
Read more about the article 2022 Fish Fry and Carnival

2022 Fish Fry and Carnival

The 75th Annual Fish Fry is back at its original location in Lions Park! The Fish Fry will take place June 3 - 5. Admission is free. Fish dinners are $15, and tickets for carnival rides are currently on sale for a discounted price. Get your ride tickets here. The Costa Mesa Historical Society will have a booth for all three days and we'll be selling books, postcards, and other goods! We also have something fun planned…

Continue Reading2022 Fish Fry and Carnival
Read more about the article Community Bike Ride to Celebrate Women’s History Month

Community Bike Ride to Celebrate Women’s History Month

This Sunday March 27, Council Member Arlis Reynolds will be hosting a community bike ride to celebrate Women's History Month. The 8-mile ride will highlight women-owned businesses throughout the city, and will start and finish at the Costa Mesa Historical Society! For more information, please contact arlis.reynolds@costamesaca.gov

Continue ReadingCommunity Bike Ride to Celebrate Women’s History Month
Read more about the article Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in WWII

Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in WWII

From the OC Fair & Event Center: "On display Feb. 16 through Sept. 18, 2022 On Feb. 16, 2022, Heroes Hall Museum will open a new special exhibit called Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II. Produced by The National WWII Museum, the exhibit features artifacts, photographs and oral histories to highlight some of the extraordinary achievements and challenges of African Americans during World War II, both overseas and on the Home…

Continue ReadingFighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in WWII
Read more about the article Free Talk: Chris Lukather on Cinderella Homes

Free Talk: Chris Lukather on Cinderella Homes

Architecture fans are in for a treat. This February 23rd at 2 p.m., author Chris Lukather will talk about his new book, The Cinderella Homes of Jean Vandruff. Cinderella homes are a whimsical variation on traditional tract homes that turn suburban neighborhoods into storybook lands, complete with swooping gables, shake shingle roofs, and faux medieval designs. Never seen one? You don’t have to go far to find them. Costa Mesa has its own set of Cinderella homes…

Continue ReadingFree Talk: Chris Lukather on Cinderella Homes
Read more about the article Spanish Patriots during the American Revolution – Installation Dinner 2020
Bernardo de Gálvez at the Siege of Pensacola by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau. Image courtesy wikimedia.

Spanish Patriots during the American Revolution – Installation Dinner 2020

Join us for one of our most popular events of the year: the 2020 installation dinner! This year, guest speaker Letty Rodella, President of the Society of Hispanic, Historical and Ancestral Research, will discuss an under-studied part of our nation’s history, “Spanish Patriots during the American Revolution.”

Continue ReadingSpanish Patriots during the American Revolution – Installation Dinner 2020
gary barnhill pilot pic 191117 gary barnhill

Hostile Skies – the F-105 in Vietnam with Gary Barnhill

In honor of Veterans Day, The Costa Mesa Historical Society presents its annual salute to our veterans with U.S. Air Force Captain Gary Barnhill on Sunday, November 17, 2019. Captain Gary Barnhill, illustrious Air Force pilot whose missions included hazardous and challenging F-105 missions over North Vietnam in the highest threat air environment of the entire Viet Nam War, will share his presentation “Downtown, everything is waiting for you” from Petula Clark’s 1964 hit song. “Downtown”  referred…

Continue ReadingHostile Skies – the F-105 in Vietnam with Gary Barnhill
tom titus 191020 flier tom titus

The Theatre in Review with Tom Titus

The Costa Mesa Historical Society is pleased to announce that actor/director/theater reviewer Tom Titus  will be our speaker on Sunday October 20, 2019 . Tom Titus was born in 1938, in Corry, Pennsylvania, where he was raised as the only child of Warren and Helen Titus and graduated from high school in 1956. Shortly afterward he embarked on a 60+-year career in journalism when he became sports editor of the Corry Evening Journal.    After four years on…

Continue ReadingThe Theatre in Review with Tom Titus
Read more about the article OC History Roundup

OC History Roundup

Take a trip back in time in an interactive Orange County history experience! Stop by our booth at this fun event presented by the Orange County Historical Society! There will be tons of great activities: • Live Reenactments of some of Orange County’s iconic historical figures.• Tours of H. Clay Kellogg House• Scheduled Talks presented by local historians• Live Music from the Lillies of The West string band• Exhibits featuring OC historical and genealogy societies• “Storytellers Corner”…

Continue ReadingOC History Roundup