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CA Preservation Foundation

@capreservation

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We provide statewide leadership, advocacy, and education to ensure the protection of California’s diverse historical places.

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Join our My Path to Preservation series, a free lunchtime webinar program sharing insights about the variety of pathways and opportunities available for anyone interested in a career in preservation.

Our next program features Kelly Wong, Principal Planner with the City & County of San Francisco Planning Department where she currently manages the Code Enforcement Team and collaborates with other City agencies, property owners, and project consultants to bring properties back into compliance with Planning Code.

She also serves as the building materials technical expert on the Preservation Team. Kelly Wong brings an incredible breadth of experience to this not-to-miss session!

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026 | 12 PM - 1 PM | Online, Free!

Learn more and register at: https://californiapreservation.org/events/mpp-kelly-wong/

This program is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Groundwork Preservation, LLC.

#MPTP #Preservation #Planning #Webinar by @capreservation

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20 hours ago

In September, Orange County lifeguards spotted an olive ridley sea turtle digging a nest and laying her eggs near Seal Beach. Three days later, visitors spotted an olive ridley sea turtle near the Huntington Beach Pier, though it’s unclear whether it was the same animal.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said both areas have been fenced and have clear signs for beachgoers. Along with local, state and federal partners, the agency will monitor both areas until the eggs hatch, which typically takes about 45-60 days.

Of the seven different species of sea turtles, the olive ridley is one of the smallest, according to NOAA. They generally weigh up to 100 pounds and grow up to 3 feet in length. The species is found in waters worldwide, but in the Pacific Ocean, the population typically frequents a long stretch of coastline between Mexico and Panama. Though the species occasionally extends up to Southern California when the water is warm, NOAA says it has never been spotted laying eggs on the state’s beaches.

The species may be evolving naturally, choosing to nest farther up the coast where there’s less competition for nesting space, but other factors could be at play. Their usual beach may no longer be hospitable, for example, because of development or changing water patterns.

Read more at SFGATE: https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/sea-turtle-california-eggs-22444518.php

Photo of Huntington Beach Pier by lunamarina / Adobe Stock by @capreservation

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2 days ago

Coastal erosion has been eating away at the beach in San Clemente, known for nearly a century as a “Spanish village by the sea.” The rising sea and crashing waves have pushed the shoreline landward, splitting the city’s picturesque North Beach. Crumbling seaside bluffs have damaged oceanfront homes and forced the repeated closure of a passenger rail line considered the second busiest in the country.

It’s one of many California coastal communities grappling with the effects of sea level rise. Nearly a decade ago, scientists forecast that more than half of Southern California’s beaches could significantly erode by 2100, radically altering how people live and recreate along the state’s famed coast.

Over the past five years, the rail line that has operated along the coast for more than a century has faced repeated closures due to encroaching surf on one side and fragile bluffs on the other. The 7-mile (11-kilometer) segment is part of a 351-mile (565-kilometer) passenger rail corridor that links San Diego with Los Angeles County’s huge port complex and San Luis Obispo. It’s also used by freight and the military.

Transportation officials have shored up the tracks to ensure passenger safety by laying down rock. But as waves slam against the rocks, they sweep more sand offshore and speed up erosion that will eventually threaten the rail line again.

Read more at AP News: https://bit.ly/4rHtsfE

Photo by jonbilous / Adobe Stock by @capreservation

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6 days ago

Join CPF with architectural historian Christine Madrid French for this virtual version of her richly illustrated Doors Open lecture on more than 150 years of Napa Valley winery design.

From stone cellars and gravity-flow production to grand estates and modernist landmarks, this program shows how architecture helped transform agricultural places into the enduring visual identity of one of the world’s premier wine regions.

Christine Madrid French is an historian and advocate for the study and preservation of American architecture. She has worked as an historian for the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., the California Preservation Foundation, San Francisco Heritage, and directed the Modern + Recent Past Program at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in San Francisco. She is currently the executive director at Napa County Landmarks.

How Napa Wineries Became Icons
Thursday, October 15th | 12 PM - 1 PM | Online - FREE

Register for this free program at: https://californiapreservation.org/events/napa-wineries/

#CPF #Napa #Wineries #Landmarks #Design by @capreservation

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8 days ago

Scotty’s Castle, the long-closed Death Valley landmark, has released dates for tours this winter — including private access for small groups.

A desert retreat built in the 1920s for a rich Chicago couple, the castle drew 100,000 visitors a year until flash flooding in October 2015 caused extensive damage. A 2021 fire that destroyed an outbuilding hindered the rehabilitation. Not only the building but the land around it has remained off limits.

Limited tours of the grounds have been offered during the closure; those from January to March this year sold out in days.

The Death Valley Natural History Association is selling tickets for three types of tours from October through April. All are of the grounds only; there is no public access inside the castle.

Read more at The Mercury News: https://bit.ly/MercuryNews-Scottys

Photo by Natalia Bratslavsky / Adobe Stock

#DeathValley #ScottysCastle #California by @capreservation

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10 days ago

St. Peter’s Chapel, the beloved and historic landmark on Mare Island, was dedicated on October 13, 1901. As the first naval chapel in the Pacific, and now the oldest naval chapel in the United States, it holds a special place in Vallejo’s history. The chapel is also home to one of the largest collections of Tiffany stained glass windows under a single roof.

Over a century of exposure has left the chapel’s exterior siding in need of significant refurbishment, a project scheduled to begin later this year. The neighboring Admiral’s Mansion will undergo an exterior restoration at the same time, returning both of these historic structures to their former glory.

Step back in time and explore the oldest naval chapel in the United States, and a true treasure on Mare Island.

Open Chapel is the only time this historic site is open to the public, so don’t miss this rare opportunity! Knowledgeable docents will be there to share fascinating stories and answer your questions. Learn more at: https://mihpf.org/open-chapel

2ND & 4TH SUNDAYS from 11 AM - 2 PM
1181 Walnut Ave, Mare Island, CA

Learn more about the upcoming restoration at: https://www.myvallejo.com/vallejo-weekly/news_feed/st-peters-chapel-renovation

#StPetersChapel #MareIsland #NavalChapel #Vallejo #History

Photos from Mare Island Historic Park Foundation by @capreservation

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12 days ago

The Bembridge House — Doors Open CA, Final Weekend — Long Beach

Tour Long Beach's 1906 Bembridge House, a Queen Anne Victorian filled with original fixtures, ornate details, and family contents preserved by its longtime owners.

This special tour explores the home's architecture, furnishings, and layered stories, offering an unusually complete glimpse into early twentieth-century domestic life in Southern California.

Exclusive Tour of Long Beach’s Bembridge House
Sept. 26 · 12:30 – 3:30 PM | Long Beach

Register at: https://californiapreservation.org/doca/

#DoorsOpenCalifornia #DOCA2026 #CA #CaliforniaHistory #LongBeach #BembridgeHouse by @capreservation

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15 days ago

Marion Davies Guest House — Doors Open CA, Final Weekend — Santa Monica

Explore the rehabilitated Marion Davies Guest House with Santa Monica Conservancy docents at the Annenberg Community Beach House.

Doors Open visitors can connect the remaining pool and guest house to William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies, Julia Morgan, Hollywood’s 1920s beach culture, original artifacts, and the estate’s public rebirth as a community beach house.

Along with the tours, for the first time, the Beach House will be exhibiting historic remnants that are stored on site.

Marion Davies Guest House: Hollywood’s Beachside Remnant
Sept 26 & 27 | Santa Monica · Los Angeles

Don't miss the final weekend of Doors Open CA 2026!

Register at: https://californiapreservation.org/doca/

#DoorsOpenCalifornia #DOCA2026 #CA #CaliforniaHistory #SantaMonica #LosAngeles #MarionDavies by @capreservation

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17 days ago

Don't miss the last weekend of Doors Open CA 2026!

Doors Open CA - Weekend 4
Sept. 26–27 | Los Angeles · High Desert · Inland Empire

Explore places like:

Richard Neutra's 1950 Modernist Office
Glendora’s First Firehouse and Hand-Built Castle
Marion Davies Guest House
Exclusive Tour of Long Beach’s Bembridge House
Cal Edison’s 1931 Lobby and Balcony View

and more!

One $20 registration gives you access to all sites across the state.

Learn more at: https://californiapreservation.org/doca/ by @capreservation

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19 days ago

Save these upcoming dates for an unforgettable week of La Jolla Modernism and Architecture programming!

La Jolla Modernism Weekend: October 2–4, 2026

Architecture Week Programming: October 5-11, 2026

Celebrate the beauty and legacy of modernist architecture with a weekend of exclusive events! Whether you attend one or all, your participation directly supports the Museum of History and Culture La Jolla's free exhibitions, educational programs, and preservation initiatives.

Keep the inspiration going with Architecture Week—a weeklong series of engaging talks and special programs, running through October 11, that spotlight La Jolla’s iconic landmark buildings and architectural legacy. Don’t miss this extended celebration of design, history, and innovation.

Learn more at: https://bit.ly/LaJolla2026

#LaJolla #Modernism #Architecture #Design #History by @capreservation

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22 days ago

🏛️ Step into a little piece of Santa Monica history! 🏛️

Join us September 26 & 27 for Doors Open California, a statewide celebration of architecture, history, and cultural landmarks. Explore the Marion Davies Guest House with free docent-led tours and see historic Beach House artifacts on exhibit for the first time!

Take a closer look at original wood floor detail, historic wallpaper, ephemera, and even a personal item belonging to Marion Davies. ✨

Once part of Marion’s grand 1920s beachfront estate, the Guest House is one of the few remaining pieces of the property and a glimpse into the Old Hollywood history that once unfolded along this stretch of Santa Monica coastline.

📅 September 26 & 27 | 12PM–4PM
🎟️ FREE | No reservations required

And don’t stop your history tour there! Continue your journey through Santa Monica’s past with a visit to the historic Shotgun House.

Doors Open California is presented in collaboration with @capreservation and @smconservancy.

#BeachHouseBliss #SantaMonicaHistory #CommunityByTheSea #DoorsOpenCalifornia #HistoricPreservation #OldHollywoodByTheSea #SantaMonica #HistoricPreservation #LosAngeles #History #WeekendPlans #SMBeachHouse taken in Annenberg Community Beach House by @capreservation

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24 days ago

Western Flyer — Doors Open CA, Weekend 3 — Moss Landing

Board the restored Western Flyer, the 1937 sardine fishing boat made famous by John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts during their 1940 Sea of Cortez expedition. Guided by the Western Flyer Foundation, visitors will explore the wheelhouse, engine room, science lab, craftsmanship, and the vessel's new life in research and education.

Visitor details: Boarding tours are first come, every 30 minutes from 11:00 AM; last tour begins 3:30 PM. Maximum 20 per tour. Release/photo waiver required before boarding.

Step Aboard Steinbeck and Ricketts’s Western Flyer
Sept. 19 & 20 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Moss Landing · Monterey

Claim your spot at: https://californiapreservation.org/doca/

#DoorsOpenCalifornia #DOCA2026 #MossLanding #Monterey #CA #CaliforniaHistory by @capreservation

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24 days ago