Exploring Irvine: The Discover Irvine Tour & More
Irvine is renowned for its leading-edge planning, schools, parks, business centers, and open space. Our historical roots reach back to pre-California history, the Irvine Ranch dynasty, and military presence at El Toro. This tour will take you all over Irvine to points of interest including City facilities, business centers and historical sites.
—from City of Irvine’s website
The building at right, which is located at 5 San Joaquin and houses the Irvine Historical Society, was attached to the first James Irvine home in Irvine. This James Irvine home was the first wood structure built between Anaheim and San Diego.
PHOTO COURTESY THE IRVINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
As I mentioned yesterday (”Comparing Irvine“), one way to get familiar with Irvine to attend some of the open houses currently available or to drive around some of the neighborhoods. Another way is to go on the Discover Irvine Tour put on by City of Irvine’s Rec department.
Since the City is only 35 years young, many people don’t think of Irvine as having that much history to talk about. And up to this point, Irvine has been like many edge cities: In a hurry to tear down anything that is the slightest bit old. (UCI is a prime offender. Note the recent tear down of the Frank Gehry building and the removal of the Farm School.) However, believe it or not, Irvine has a history—and it’s an interesting one. And in spite of this inclination to get rid of signs of the past, some of the visible signs of Irvine’s history remain. The tour will take you to some of these historic Irvine’s sites.
In addition to the past history of Irvine, the tour will include visits to some of the current features in Irvine. These include the business centers (which are part of Irvine’s claim to fame and part of what makes Irvine an edge city) and the City facilities. The $15 fee includes lunch at the Knowlwood Restaurant. The building that houses the Knowlwood Restaurant is a conversion of the blacksmith shop that was a part of the Irvine Ranch operations, when the Ranch actually was a working ranch. Not really that long ago.
The next tour is Saturday, April 19, 10 am – 3 pm. However, if you are interested, you might need to get on a waiting list. To get put on the waiting list, call 949/724-6610, or go to www.irvinequickreg.org and reference class #59407. The Discover Irvine Tour is geared toward those who are 18 and over; however, ages 12+ are welcomed with a parent.
Here are some other ways to learn more about Irvine’s history:
Irvine Ranch Historical Society Museum
For various opinions on edge cities and Irvine, see the following:
Society and Culture Research Guide
The Irvine Company’s “Irvine Ranch of Orange County: The City Which Does Not Imitate the City”
