Los Angeles Public Library. Browse the extensive photograph collection. The collection contains many interesting images from Torrance . Get a Los Angeles City Library Card to view Sanborn maps going back 70 years.
It can be very difficult to research the history of a residence. The LA Public Library has a guide for your search.
The UCLA Library Digital Collections provide a wide array of historic information.
The USC Digital Archive provides access to over 100,000 photographs, maps, manuscripts, records, texts and sound recordings owned by USC and collaborating institutions.
Historical Societies, Museums & Archives in Los Angeles County: http://www.laalmanac.com/history/hi10.htm
Los Angeles County birth, death & marriage records are available at the Los Angeles County Recorder-Registrar’s Website.
The Los Angeles Conservancy is preserving and revitalizing Greater Los Angeles’ architectural heritage.
The Historic Places LA website inventories, maps and helps protect the City of Los Angeles’ significant historic resources.
The Online Archive of California brings together historical materials from a variety of California institutions, including museums, historical societies, and archives. Over 120,000 images; 50,000 pages of documents, letters, and oral histories; and 8,000 guides to collections are available
The California Preservation Foundation promotes historic preservation state-wide.
The California History Resource Guide is a curated list of resources on California history.
Visit the Manhattan Beach Historical Society website.
Torrance High School
New Historic Preservation Survey – City of Torrance – April 2022
The Torrance Community Development Department has been directed by the City Council to study the effectiveness of the City’s Historic Preservation ordinance and program. City staff would like to invite you to participate in this survey regarding the program and gain your insight. Click on the link below to take the survey.
City of Torrance Historic Preservation website information:
The City of Torrance’s Historic Preservation website is here.
For more information and a list of properties on the Historic Resources Survey, please visit the City’s Historic Preservation pages.
Contact Community Development Department for additional questions at (310) 618-5990 or via email CDDinfo@TorranceCA.gov or postal mail to 3031 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503.
For more information and examples please see how the Los Angeles Conservancy is preserving and revitalizing Greater Los Angeles’ architectural heritage.
Information regarding the Mills Act – from Office of Historic Preservation.
Federal and State Designation Programs (from the Office of Historic Resources) Information regarding HPOZ Overlay Zones, incentives and more.
Local History Collection from the Palos Verdes Public Library. Interesting materials about the history of the Peninsula and surrounding areas.
South Bay History South Bay history blog by Sam Gnerre, archivist for the Daily Breeze.
Santa Monica Public Library’s photograph collections and local history materials.
California Newspaper Project. What newspapers covered Torrance in the early years? Where can you find a copy of the 1890 Daily Breeze? Who’s on First? All but one of these questions may be answered through the California Newspaper Project.
California Historical Landmarks from the California Office of Historic Preservation. Information on historic places in California by county.
National Trust for Historic Preservation Historic places create connections to our heritage that help us understand our past, appreciate our triumphs, and learn from our mistakes. Historic places help define and distinguish our communities by building a strong sense of identity.
To ensure that their stories remain a part of our lives today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, now called Saving Places, protects and promotes historic places, including a diverse collection of 27 sites open to the public. When you visit a historic site, you learn from their stories and help keep history alive.
Members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation enjoy discounted admission to all 27 sites open to the public and Distinctive Destinations nationwide.
City of Torrance Green Remodeling Guidelines provides guidelines for remodeling in an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient manner.
Architectural Design Guidelines Are Available for purchase from the City of Torrance.
The City of Torrance’s Historic Preservation website is here.
Community Development Department 3031 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 618-5990
You can pay via cash or a check made payable to “City of Torrance”. The cost is $5.00.
The goal of the Architectural Design Guidelines is to help homeowners in Old Torrance who want to update their home, yet maintain the same charm and architectural characteristics that make this neighborhood work.