History

Read more about the article Costa Mesa Celebrates 200: The Story Behind the Bicentennial Committee
Girl Scout Troop 1415 poses after presenting their proposal to paint the city’s fire hydrants red, white and blue.

Costa Mesa Celebrates 200: The Story Behind the Bicentennial Committee

As the nation marks its 250th birthday in 2026, Costa Mesa has its own story to tell about the last time America reached a milestone like this. Fifty years ago, as the country prepared to turn 200, this community didn't simply celebrate — it organized, it innovated, and it inspired a generation of young people to engage with their history in ways that left a lasting mark. The photos and memories that follow are a reminder of…

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Read more about the article H. Ernie Nishii, President, Historic Wintersburg Conservancy on Japanese American history in Orange County, California
Henry Ernie Nishii, President, Historic Wintersburg Conservancy

H. Ernie Nishii, President, Historic Wintersburg Conservancy on Japanese American history in Orange County, California

Fresh from a major statewide historic designation, the Costa Mesa Historical Society is honored to present H. Ernie Nishii, President of the Historic Wintersburg Conservancy, for a timely and important speakers program. On January 2, 2026, Historic Wintersburg was officially listed on the California Register of Historical Resources, recognizing it as one of the most significant surviving sites associated with Japanese American history in Orange County. This rare designation affirms decades of community advocacy and places Historic…

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Read more about the article Historic Eastside Costa Mesa Home Tour

Historic Eastside Costa Mesa Home Tour

Last month, with the help of Renee Pina, we premiered our calendar highlighting historic homes in Eastside Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa Television had the opportunity to tour ones of these beautiful houses. Join them as they walk through 280 Magnolia, November's featured home, and learn about the unique history of this interesting property!

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Read more about the article New YouTube Series Highlights Costa Mesa History

New YouTube Series Highlights Costa Mesa History

The city of Costa Mesa's YouTube page has released a new web series "Costa Mesa Flashback" that highlights certain elements of our town's history. Published on Fridays in honor of #FlashbackFriday, the series so far has covered the history of Costa Mesa's schools, how Costa Mesa got its name, and the origins of Goat Hill and Mackerel Flats.

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Read more about the article A Tale of Two Thanksgivings
Statue of Father Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales in present-day St. Augustine (Photo courtesy Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons)

A Tale of Two Thanksgivings

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Holiday excitement is in the air. As November arrives we of course recall the famous story of the first Thanksgiving: the 1621 feast of good harvest between the pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe. But what about the other European explorers who had celebrated their arrival on the Floridian peninsula a century before? 

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