On Shabbat afternoon we like to walk to the Heritage Museum just down the street from us. It is always refreshing and never gets old
The Heritage Museum of Orange County is a time capsule. It was created to preserve the area’s cultural and agricultural history, focusing on life in Southern California in the late 1800s. The museum sits on land that once had a booming citrus industry, with historic buildings reflecting this past.
Key buildings include the Kellogg House (1898), a Queen Anne-style home built by civil engineer Hiram Clay Kellogg, and the Maag Family Farmhouse (1899), showing the farming roots of the region. Both were restored in the 1980s as part of the museum.
Founded as a nonprofit in the late 1970s, HMOC has since expanded to offer hands-on learning through a Blacksmith Shop, Quilter’s Cottage, and Gospel Swamp Farm, focusing on history and environmental education. Today, it’s a popular destination for school field trips and community events, preserving Orange County’s heritage for future generations.
