Science

Visionary astronomer George Ellery Hale founded the Mount Wilson Observatory in 1904, high above Pasadena in Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains. At an elevation of 5,700 feet, with exceptionally stable air and nearly 300 days of clear skies annually, this prime location was deemed the perfect site to investigate the secrets of the universe. With funding from the Carnegie Institute of Washington, by 1917 Hale had constructed the world's first two tower telescopes for study of the sun and the world's two largest reflecting telescopes for study of the stars, ushering in the "New Astronomy" astrophysics. Magnetism outside of Earth, stellar evolution, dark matter, our place in the Milky Way, and Hubble's landmark discovery of our expanding universe are just a few of the spectacular discoveries made by the Mount Wilson Observatory astronomers for more than a century. Today, the observatory is run by the Mount Wilson Institute and is open to the public for tours and nighttime viewing through these same historic telescopes. The authors selected the majority of images from the personal collection of Maggie Sharma, which will be donated to the Mount Lowe Preservation Society, and from the vast archives of that society, of which Michael A. Patris is founder and president.

Fillmore is nestled at the foot of the Topatopa Mountains at the confluence of the Santa Clara River and Sespe Creek. The town was formed in 1887 and named after Jerome A. Fillmore, who was the general superintendent for the Southern Pacific Railroad at the time. The rail line enabled passenger travel and the transport of commercial agricultural products, and it put Fillmore on the map. Incorporated in 1914, Fillmore is one of the oldest incorporated towns in Ventura County and is designated as part of the county's agricultural greenbelt. Fillmore's history is based on it being located on some of the most productive agricultural and oil-rich lands in the country. Today, it is still a predominately agricultural town that supplies citrus, avocados, and a variety of vegetable crops around the country and abroad. It is a hidden small-town gem in Southern California, and its downtown architecture epitomizes small-town charm, making it a popular tourist destination and site for film and television productions.

In 1922, philanthropist and president of the San Francisco Parks Commission, Herbert Fleishhacker, purchased a 60-acre site in southwestern San Francisco. Fleishhacker Pool was built in 1925 and an adjoining zoo added in 1929. Originally called Fleishhacker Zoo, it featured a variety of exotic wildlife. Major exhibits were built in the 1930s Depression era as part of the Work Progress Administration (WPA). This book celebrates the San Francisco Zoo's 80-year history as it revisits cherished animals and structures like Monkey Island, Storyland, and Dentzel Carousel. The zoo holds a special place in the hearts of many, as it is a great San Francisco treasure along the foggy shores of Ocean Beach.

Arden-Arcade is a vibrant community. The first inhabitants were members of the Valley Nisenan tribe; however, world events, including the arrival of Europeans and the Gold Rush of 1849, changed the area’s dynamics in drastic ways. Arden-Arcade was part of the Mexican land grant known as the Rancho Del Paso. When Col. James Ben Ali Haggin became the owner of Rancho Del Paso, it became known for breeding champion racehorses. The horse that won the Kentucky Derby in 1886—aptly named Ben Ali—was bred on Rancho Del Paso. In 1905, Orlando Robertson, owner of the Sacramento Colonization Company, purchased the land and began mapping out tracts for development, later advertising the area as the perfect place to farm citrus, olives, and hops. After World War II, Arden-Arcade experienced a boom of economic development. The construction of Town and Country Village, Country Club Centre, and Arden Fair Mall fueled the growth of residential homes. US Route 40 boasted numerous travel accommodations and was a popular destination until the construction of the Capital City Freeway. Notably, the area features many mid-century modern homes and buildings with Googie architecture.

The San Francisco Zoo boasts a rich history.

Situated in the sand dunes of California's Central Coast, Space Launch Complex Ten, often called SLC-10 or Slick Ten, is a National Historic Landmark that commemorates a powerful Cold War legacy. Home to Vandenberg's Space and Missile Technology Center, or SAMTEC, the facility contains the rich technological heritage of the U.S. Air Force's space and missile launch systems. As the only remaining Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile launch site in the world, SLC-10's noteworthy achievements span the globe. The complex trained British Royal Air Force missileers for Project EMILY, assisted during nuclear atmospheric tests in the Pacific and launched military weather satellites in support of the covert National Reconnaissance Program. Former air force space and missile officer Joseph T. Page II introduces these amazing stories of dedicated men and women who led the American military effort to explore space.

From its early beginning in the 1860s, the city of La Habra has grown from a steadfast commitment to community, service, and forward progress while honoring the town’s bountiful past.

The quiet agricultural community of La Habra emerged with modest beginnings. The cultivation of produce such as avocados, walnuts, and citrus put La Habra on the map, while the expansion of the railroad and oil industries helped connect the city to a greater Southern California region that was experiencing a wider development boom. This led to the incorporation of the city on January 20, 1925. Yet the city’s greatest resource has always been its friendly and passionate residents, whose dedication can be seen through the endurance of beloved community events such as the renowned annual Corn Festival and Tamale Festival; iconic local, family-owned and -operated businesses; service and social clubs; churches; and so many more fruitful contributions that make La Habra a caring community.

To honor the centennial celebration of the incorporation of La Habra, Lauren Blazey, Kimberly Albarian, and the La Habra Centennial Celebration Committee diligently gathered a collection of captivating photographs that chronicle its abundant past. By embarking on this visual journey through time, we have the privilege to witness the transformation of our city and get a rare glimpse into the lives of those who built it.

Solving the mystery of California’s most persistent smog.Once known as the Smog Capital of the World, Los Angeles has changed “air you can see” into “air you can breathe.” While the fight to eliminate pollution in the city continues, modern smog is not the thick, oppressive, silver-blue haze that drove people to move out of Los Angeles altogether during the mid-twentieth century. Professor Arie Haagen-Smit became a key leader in the fight against smog after making a crucial discovery—what caused it.   

Join author Carl R. Oliver as he delves into the sixty-year battle to clear the air in Los Angeles.

Lima beans have been a part of the central and southern landscape of California for over 150 years. Farmers realized the coast offered fertile soil and the natural moisture of coastal fog, and only a minimal workforce was needed until harvesting. 

Robert McAllister’s chance encounter with a ship from Lima, Peru, off the coast of Carpinteria led to a small quantity of beans being planted, and they prospered. By the 1880s, the beans were introduced in Ventura County, and Orange County followed. San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and San Diego all tried their hand at the dry farming crop, as did the farmers in Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Monterey County. California became the largest lima bean producer in the world. While other crops and city encroachment have replaced the vast acreage of lima beans, parts of the Oxnard Plain, Lompoc, Monterey, Costa Mesa, and other scattered fields continue the tradition.

Jeffrey Wayne Maulhardt is a fifth-generation descendant of two lima bean–farming families, the Maulhardts and Borchards. He has written 17 local history books, including his last book, Ventura County Lima Beans: A History. To expand on the central and southern sections of California, Maulhardt traveled the state to showcase the photographic history of the lima bean.

On July 16, 1969, a Saturn V rocket launched the Apollo spacecraft carrying American astronauts to the surface of the moon, where Neil Armstrong would take his famous first steps and fulfill Pres. John F. Kennedy's goal of a successful lunar landing by the end of the decade. This event marks one of the greatest achievements in human history and is in large part due to the years of rocket testing that took place at the Douglas Aircraft Company's Sacramento testing facility (SACTO). The SACTO facility played one of the most important roles in the success of the Apollo 11 lunar mission and is where the Saturn rocket's S-IVB stage was developed and tested--making this historic accomplishment possible.

A wine country odyssey.

In 1976, the picturesque, agrarian Napa Valley was all but unknown to those who didn’t live there. That changed dramatically when Steven Spurrier and Patricia Gallagher decided to host a blind tasting of American and French wines in Paris. When wines from California defeated those of France, the world was shocked, an industry reawakened, and Napa Valley exploded in a frenzy of growth and development. Families who had farmed for generations battled to hang onto their land, and many paid a steep price as the area transformed into one of the world’s premier wine-growing regions.

Join author Mark Gudgel as he explores the trials and tribulations of Napa’s meteoric rise to prominence.

From Spanish Missions to World-Class Wines, the San Luis Obispo County wine industry is legendary.  

Local viticulture originated with the Spanish Missions, but it blossomed with the influx of intrepid adventurers seeking their fortune in 19th century California. Many of them settled in San Luis Obispo County, drawn by the Mediterranean climate perfect for planting a familiar crop — grapevines. Growers and winemakers like Pierre Dallidet, an immigrant who helped save the French wine industry, and Henry Ditmus and James Anderson, who were the first to plant Zinfandel grapes, established vineyards and set about crafting award-winning wine in the fertile soil of Central California.

Join the experts at the Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo County as they share the unique stories of these legendary winemakers.

Through a side by side comparison of historic and modern photographs, Ryan Lee Price illustrates the evolution of Glendora from a quaint town known for its abundant citrus groves to the beloved suburban community it is today, affectionately called "The Pride of the Foothills'? by locals.

On April 1, 1887, the first lot in Glendora was sold, and in the years since, sage and oak trees gave way to farms and orange trees. Acres of citrus trees soon yielded to rows of houses, and what is left of the orchards of yesteryear are small backyard orange groves, century-old farmhouses, and memories of the people who made Glendora their home. Although Glendora has evolved from a dusty village into a city, it is still a small town with plenty of history. Ryan Lee Price spent his formative years growing up in Glendora, and no matter where he lives, he considers it his hometown.