Volunteers, Docents

Docent positions are available at the Torrance Historical Society & Museum. Training is provided. You choose how often or seldom you're available to serve.

If you're interested in spending an occasional afternoon sharing history with and learning from the fine people who visit the City's all-volunteer historical museum, or would like to volunteer to assist for a special event, call the Museum by phone or visit the Contact Us page on our website.

Names on the Wall Project -- Volunteer Opportunity Honors Vets

Historic Resources Survey

The Historical Society, in partnership with the City of Torrance, is preparing to survey the significant and original housing stock and other structures that were built during the formation of Torrance. This project will require each volunteer to survey one of the blocks of the Olmstead District. No knocking on doors is required, and we will train you. With your help, this monumental task of surveying 4,000 units in this area will be manageable - but we need your help. In other words, - Pick a block and take a walk!

In Celebration of the City's upcoming Centennial in 2012, the Torrance Historical Society is seeking volunteers to assist in a field survey documenting all structures within the Olmsted Tract - the original footprint of the City.

The area is comprised of approximately 100 city blocks with residential, commercial and industrial sub-districts. Boarders encompassing this area are Dominguez St. to Plaza del Amo, and Crenshaw Blvd. to Western Avenue. The purpose of the survey is to document all structures, landscape design and other features that are contributing elements to a potential Historic Preservation District.

Those who are selected to participate will be assigned a block and asked to complete a standard form for each structure, which includes a photo of the structure, the style of each structure, date of structure and asked to identify whether the structure has been altered. Based on the field survey data, each structure will be classified as contributing, altered-contributing or as a non-contributing structure.

The formal survey training took place over three weekends in September 2011. It began with classroom style training and then the volunteers were assigned a block to survey.

Volunteers are still needed. If you'd like to volunteer and for additional information, contact the museum via our Contact Us page or call the museum at (310) 328-5392.

If either the Names on the Wall Project, the Historic Resource Survey Project, or docenting interests you, and you would like to join with other like-minded people to work for the preservation and enhancement of our city's past, please contact the Museum by phone or visit the Contact Us page or call the museum at (310) 328-5392.