Archives
Events in 2022Visit With a VeteranVeterans Day is an important day for showing appreciation to members of our military -- a celebration to honor America's Veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. The Torrance Historical Society invites you, your family, and friends to join them in honoring our Veterans. Pull up a chair and visit with a Veteran: World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan
What: Visit with a Veteran "Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory." -- George S. Patton 2022 Original Fall Tour of Historic Homes - CancelledThough it pains us, we are cancelling the 2022 biennial Torrance Historical Society Tour of Historic Homes - a long standing tradition in the City of Torrance since 1980. This event is normally held on even years the second weekend in October and is our primary fund-raiser and signature event. Walking Tours of Downtown TorranceEvery fourth Sunday of the month, May, June, July, August, September, and October. Tour leaves promptly at 1:30 p.m. from the steps of the Museum and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The tour covers about eight blocks. Free - donations accepted. The docent led tour begins at the Torrance Historical Society & Museum (1345 Post Avenue) at 1:30 PM, and will point out many of the historic sites and landmarks of Old Torrance. Guests will also learn about:
The tour is an easy, but brisk walk covering eight blocks - the walk is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. It's open to the public, requires no reservations, and is hosted on the fourth Sunday of every month, May - October. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. You're invited to bring your camera, and a friend. Late Night Thursdays in August
What: Visit the museum on Thursday nights in August and visit with our special guests. See the guest list below.
Enjoy a complimentary treat. Notes/Reminder: The Museum is also open and free to the public on Sundays from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Special hours can be arranged for private tours or research by calling the Museum or sending a message on our contact us page. Explore the Torrance Historical Society's collections:
Thursday, August 4Happy Birthday to Jared Sidney Torrance - celebrating with cupcakes! (Jared would have been 170-years-old on August 3rd) Checkout his family genealogy chart, see a rare picture of our City's founder, and more. Thursday, August 11th
Mike the Map Man will be back by popular demand --- view decades worth of maps from the Historic Map Archives. Thursday, August 18thPeruse Torrance Rose Float Parade entries photos from over the decades, and preview the 2023 Torrance Rose Float design. Thursday, August 25thSee the City's Centennial DVD of Louis Zamperini - Triumph of the Torrance Tornado, and the clip of when Louis won the 1934 Southern California Track & Field Championship. "Running in what was celebrated at the best field of high school milers in history, Louie routed them all and smoked the mile in 4:21:2, shattering the national high school record, set during World War 1, by more than 2 seconds." Laura Hillenbrand (The DVD) will run at 6:00 PM & 7:00 PM - it's approximately 14 minutes long. We will also have some never-before-on-display items of Louis' on this night! We will also have Louis Zamperini's never-before-on-display 65-pound scrapbook which includes family photos, newspaper clippings from his track days, Olympic write-ups, and memorabilia (such as the napkin and menu from the ship he took to Germany on his way to the 1936 Olympics), and more. This is also the same scrapbook author Laura Hillenbrand referenced to write her book, Unbroken. All her sticky notes are still in place marking the pages from which she gathered info for her book. While you're downtown for these events dine at one of our local Downtown Torrance restaurants. The list below is also available on the Old Torrance Neighbors website on their Community Events and Points of Interest page.
9th Annual Summer Stroll 2022 - Wednesday August 10thAfter a two-year hiatus, the always sold-out-in-a-flash Summer Stroll is BACK! See Torrance Historical Society's 2019 Summer Stroll video here. What: The 9th Annual Summer Stroll - docent-led walking tour of Old Torrance Historic Buildings and a taste of what is inside. You will tour some of the hip restaurants in Old Torrance for a sip & a snack, and a peek into the past behind the brick and mortar. When Torrance was founded 110 years ago, business began to build. Downtown Torrance, which was in the center of the original footprint of the City, soon became the heartbeat of the town. A century later, many a business has come and gone through those old buildings - they each have a story to tell. Not only will you learn the building's history, we'll show you old photos of the "before", as you stand in the "now." When: Wednesday, August 10th, 6:00PM SHARP! - You must be on time!
Location: Meet at Torrance Historical Society & Museum, 1345 Post Avenue,
at Cravens.
Mail to: Buildings on Tour: The Museum, Red Car Brewery & Restaurant, Tortilla Cantina, The Depot, Local Kitchen, Chado Tea Room, Torrance Bakery and more. RSVP: 310.328.5392 or email Debbie Hays debbie.simpson@acssoftware.com. Reservations honored on a first-come/first-served basis. Payment must be received within 48 hours of reservation in order to hold your spot. This is always a SOLD-OUT event each year and sells out FAST. Info: If you have any questions or would like additional information, please visit www.torrancehistoricalsociety.org or call the Museum at (310) 328-5392. All money raised will be used to fund programs and projects for the Torrance Historical Society & Museum. The Torrance Historical Society Rocks Around the Block in Celebration of the All-America City Award
What: FREE Family Fun, The 16th Annual Torrance Historical Society, ROCK AROUND THE BLOCK, nominal fee for optional food & beverage The Torrance Historical Society and our sponsors will host this 1950s-style family summer event in celebration of Torrance's All-America City Award -- one of America's original and most prestigious community recognition awards. The City received this award for "Growth without strain" back in the 1956 when Albert Isen was Mayor of Torrance. This free event is open to the public and will be held in front of the Museum (1345 Post Avenue). Post Avenue will be blocked off from Cravens to Sartori, so guests can:
This FREE 1950s-style family event is sponsored by the Sares-Regis Group, and hosted in partnership with the City of Torrance, Old Torrance Neighborhood Association, Torrance CitiCABLE, Torrance Bakery, DJ Ozzie and Downtown Torrance Association. Schedule of events for Rock 2022
Annual Meeting & Installation of Officers - Sunday, June 5th, 2022Join us on Sunday, June 5th, in celebrating the City's Centennial + 10! Lucky for us Jared Sidney Torrance was a visionary and established our city in the PERFECT location - near the beach, close to LAX (but not too close), and just a stone's throw from the Harbor. He built it, and they came! We invite you to grab a lawn chair and meet us in El Prado Park - the very first park in Torrance - near the Centennial Plaza, where we'll share some of the not-so-well known facts and behind-the-scenes stories about the founding of Torrance. Such as, while the "come pick your parcel for purchase event" held in 1912, was a men-only, cigar-smoking, rubber chicken dinner, Mrs. Torrance made certain that the foundation, established to build and manage a hospital with the million dollars Jared bequeathed toward the project, always had a woman on the Board! You'll also have an opportunity to experience the echo and reverberation beneath your feet as you stand on the lid of the time capsule in the center of Centennial Plaza and shout, "I LOVE Torrance!" And Torrance Bakery treats will be served! We will also vote on the Proposed Slate of Officers for 2022-2023 . . .
Date: Sunday, June 5th
Position
Note: Michelle Polcari, 2022-2023 President, appointed Rebecca Poirier to another term as Parliamentarian. Names on the Wall RemembranceHere is the YouTube link to the 2022 Reading of the Names on the Names on the Wall Remembrance. It includes a touching words from Kurt Weidemann, Torrance Historical Society Board member about Jerry Ronan. See notes below about Jerry Ronan.
The Torrance Historical Society will conduct a memorial service for Torrance service personnel who gave their lives in U. S. military actions. The program will include the reading of the 146 Names on the Wall. Those names include war losses from World War I to those in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.
What: Names on the Wall Remembrance "On Monday, we will be grateful for the gift of those who never came home. We will remember -- every day is Memorial Day. We will pray that we may never add another name to that cold, black wall," noted Jerry Ronan, retired Torrance Historical Society Board Member and WWII Veteran. We will also remember Jerry Ronan, past Torrance Historical Society Board Member and WWII Veteran who started the Names on the Wall Project. Jerry caught the last train out on December 9th, 2021. He was 95. May he rest in peace. Note: With the help of a handful of volunteers, the Torrance Historical Society is continuing to gather and preserve the too-short life story of each of the Torrance military war causalities. To date, the organization is over halfway to their goal of putting a face on each name. The organization aspires to research, and place in the Museum archives, the story of each of these heroes. For more information and if you'd like to volunteer with this project please visit the Opportunities page or call The Museum 310.328.5392
Tea at 3:00 for You & MeIt's tea time, and the pleasure of your company is requested! We're hosting a Tea at 3:00 for You & Me on Saturday, April 23rd, at CHADO Tea Room. See the event flyer for details.
The afternoon will include . . .
When: Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 Where: CHADO Tea Room - 1303 El Prado Avenue, Old Torrance Time: 3:00 PM (doors open at 2:50 PM) Cost: $40 per person -- seating is limited, so reservations are required and will be taken on a first come/first served basis. - Checks (made payable to the "Torrance Historical Society") are to be mailed to: Torrance Historical Society - 1345 Post Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501. Payment must be received within 48 hours of reservation in order to hold your spot. Each year, this is a SOLD OUT event! RSVP: Call today to reserve your seat - 310.328.5392 - no later than Thursday, April 14th Parking: Free on-street parking is available Info: 310.328.5392 or visit: www.TorranceHistoricalSociety.org Attire: Tea attire -- hats and gloves, optional Proceeds from this fund-raiser directly benefit the Museum - archiving activities, historical discoveries, research projects, special programs, its operation and exhibits. Presentation by Mark Rozelle: "Beside the LA River"The Torrance Historical Society in partnership with the LA Maritime Museum will have a special presentation of Beside the LA RIVER with author Mr Mark Rozelle.
What: LA River Presentation with author Mr Mark Rozelle After author Mark Rozelle discovered his grandmother's archives containing hundreds of photographs, documents, and ephemera, he spent over a decade researching the history of his family who lived on a 114-acre ranch along the Los Angeles River. Learn how the Rozelles overcame droughts, floods, earthquakes, and the Great Depression, as the river brought them both wealth and tribulation. The talk is free and co-hosted by the Friends of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and the Torrance Historical Society. Past Events2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 |
