programs

CLVHS Programs & Accomplishments:

Since incorporation on July 3, 1979, CLVHS continues to preserve and share the area's culturally rich and diverse history. CLVHS's contributions broaden public interest in history while enriching the community through:

The preservation and maintenance of the Ruth Loring Collection, named after the founder and first president of CLVHS. This collection contains publications on Southern California History.

The preservation and maintenance of the Kathleen Beachy Memorial Library. This collection features rare and out-of-print books about local history, taped oral histories reflecting the memories of early residents, photographs, artifacts, and other memorabilia.

The Living History Award honoring individuals whose dedication and hard work has been instrumental in making and preserving local history.

The restoration of the 1931 Zig Zag Moderne fountain in Park Moderne, the oldest subdivision in Calabasas (now known as "the bird streets").

Kramer's General Store, Ventura Blvd., 1951

Throughout the year, the CLVHS offers a range of activities for its members and the general public:

Self-guided walking tours and informational brochures for the public: Park Moderne, Old Town Calabasas, and The Heritage of Local Film Making.

The Society has purchased a commemorative brick at Juan Baustista de Anza Park in Calabasas, Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills, and at the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery in Sylmar, California. This site is the location of the second-oldest cemetery in the San Fernando Valley and honors and documents the remains of Civil War veterans from the San Fernando Valley.

CLVHS is also making history with new programs currently in development: Calabasas Historic Preservation Committee; Completion of a video for presentation to schools and local civic organizations and Introduction of a Calabasas Heritage oral history program.

Our major program is a history-related lecture every fourth Thursday at the Calabasas Library who co-sponsors the event. For specific topics and other details, check the library website HERE.

Past Field Trips & Tours

Endeavour Space Shuttle Field Trip

The field trip included The California Story, a companion exhibit featuring images and artifacts that relate the shuttle program to California, where the orbiters were built, in addition to viewing Endeavour at the Samuel Oschin Pavilion.

Homestead Acre Field Trip

The Minnie Hill Palmer House, also known as The Homestead Acre, is the only remaining homestead cottage in the San Fernando Valley. The cottage is a redwood Stick-Eastlake style American Craftsman-Bungalow located on a 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) site in Chatsworth Park South in Chatsworth.

Downtown LA Walking Tour

The tour, led by a special docent of the Los Angeles Architectural Conservancy, included these landmarks: Pershing Square, Biltmore Hotel, Pacific Mutual Building, Mayflower Hotel (now Hilton Checkers), Southern California Edison Building, Los Angeles Central Library, US Bank Tower, Title Guarantee and Trust Building, Subway Terminal Building , Broadway Department Store (now known as the Junipero Serra State Office Building), Angels Flight, Grand Central Market, and the Bradbury Building