We’ve provided some downloadable resources and social media promotional tools for you to help spread the word about Doors Open California! Media inquiries can be directed to cpf@californiapreservation.org or by dialing 415.495.0349.

Doors Open California is a signature statewide event that draws over 1,000 participants who will get rare & special access to amazing architecture and hidden histories weekends in September. As a sponsor, you will be highlighted as a supporter of the largest statewide celebration of historic places. Walking tours, hidden vaults of local museums, inaccessible areas of historic buildings, or enlightening stories – it’s a chance to experience history first-hand. Over 70 amazing places in California will be highlighted. 

Our Sponsors are invited to join us in supporting our third-ever Doors Open California event, where more than 70 local, nonprofit, government, and enterprise partners will showcase sites in 50+ distinct cities in all corners of California. 

BECOME A DOORS OPEN SPONSOR

Click here or on the thumbnail below for the 2024 sponsorship brochure

Click Here to Submit your Sponsorship Commitment Online

Doors Open California Partners are critical to making this event creative, inclusive, and compelling. Partners could be nonprofit organizations, firms, local governments, educational institutions, museums, property owners, or anyone interested in sharing a special, unique place in their community that is worth recognizing and protecting.

Partners create or provide access to places that typically aren’t accessed by the public, and they may share histories that aren’t typically told. Partners, in turn, tap into CPF’s international audience of more than 40,000 supporters and followers. Partners may also solicit Doors Open attendees to support their own efforts – as volunteers, donors, or other types of supporters.

Ways to Partner with Doors Open…

Submit a Proposal for Doors Open 2025

We would love to hear your ideas! This simple form is meant to be completed in less than five minutes. For full details, visit: https://californiapreservation.org/doca/ideas/

Sign Up as an Affiliated Local Business

Local businesses near Doors Open Sites can choose to sponsor Doors Open – or, if they’d like to be included on participant itineraries, they can offer a special discount or gift to registered Doors Open participants wielding a wrist band. 

Sierra Nevada & Gold Country

Alleghany

NEW THIS YEAR!

Mining Memories: A Journey Through History at the Old Theater and Mining Museum
9/7 | 10am to 4pm

Alleghany is the home of the Original Sixteen to One Mine, one of the longest operating mines in the U.S. The town had a little boom in the 1930s during the great depression. The 1940 census recorded a population of around 500. By 1970 that figure was 125 and the last two census’ (2020 and 2010) recorded around 60 people. Pack a lunch, visit the museum and old theater. The old theater and school gym is rarely open to the public.

Alleghany

NEW THIS YEAR!

Behind the Curtain: Exploring the Hidden Charms of the Old Community Theater
9/7 | 11am to 4pm

Alleghany is the home of the Original Sixteen to One Mine, one of the longest operating mines in the U.S. The town had a little boom in the 1930s during the great depression. The 1940 census recorded a population of around 500. By 1970 that figure was 125 and the last two census’ (2020 and 2010) recorded around 60 people. Pack a lunch, visit the museum, old community theater and historical cemetery. The theater is not usually open to the public, but will be for this event.

Forest City

NEW THIS YEAR!

Golden Rhythms: Dance Through Time at Forest City’s Historic Dance Hall
9/7 | 12pm to 4pm

Forest City is a National Register Historic District located in Sierra County. At 4,600 feet elevation, its mines were located on the Great Blue Lead, with highest population and mining activity between 1850-1880. Now, it is almost a ghost town. The Forest City Historical Association manages the Dance Hall, the last remaining large commercial structure, in authentic state, along with photo displays and a museum area. A self-guided walking tour is available to view the historic district.

Sierra City

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Kentucky Mine: Delve into History on a Historic Tour
9/7 | 10am to 4pm

Located on highway 49 in the historic gold mining town of Sierra City, the Kentucky Mine Museum is a real treasure. Tours take visitors from the entrance of the gold mine with its blacksmith shop, into a miners’ cabin, and on through the well-preserved stamp mill. By the end of the tour, guests will understand from beginning to end the workings of a California stamp mill.

The Kentucky Consolidated Gold Mining Company was formed in 1853 and was expanded to ten stamps in 1888. The mine was abandoned during the turn-of-the century and reopened by Emil Loeffler and his son Adolph. The Loefflers rebuilt the mill on the current site during the 1920s, reusing salvaged equipment from local mines from this early period. The mill was equipped with two water-powered Pelton wheels that turned belts and two 5-battery stamps in crushing ore to particles fine enough to pass through fine screens and onto the amalgamation shaker tables. Adolph Loeffler died tragically in a mine explosion in 1944; however, the family worked the ore up until 1953. In 1974, the mill was transferred to the Sierra County Historical Society to serve as stewards.

Today the park displays old mining equipment on the grounds and its museum exhibits let visitors glimpse into Sierra County’s rich history. Come visit the Kentucky Mine Museum to step into the past!

San Francisco Bay Area

Guerneville

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Pond Farm: Embrace Creativity on a Docent-led Tour
9/7 or 9/8 | 9:30am to 11:30am

Take a docent-led tour of Pond Farm Pottery and learn about the history of this significant cultural site that is on the National Register of Historic Places and a National Historic Landmark. Learn about the dreams and challenges of the Herr Family and Marguerite Wildenhain, the first woman master potter to graduate from the Bauhaus. Pond Farm was Marguerite’s home, school and studio for over 30 years and she taught hundreds of her students in the traditions of the Bauhaus.

Livermore

NEW THIS YEAR!

Homesteading History: Exploring 1869 at Hagemann Ranch
9/7 to 9/8 | 10am to 4pm

This is the 5 acre homestead from an original 500 acre horse ranch. Almost all buildings are original to our period of significance, 1869 to 1930. Horses, chickens, bees and goats are still housed on the site (managed by 4H), and there is an agricultural acre managed for special needs adults by Sunflower Hill, available for self-guided touring. The buildings are in various states of preservation and restoration. Structural/architectural tour of the house reveals chronology of minimalist farm construction methods. Site tours include the granary, blacksmith shop and large barns. Reconstructed bundle wagon and freight wagon are shown with other farm implements and restored tractors. Visitors are free to roam or join our organized tours.  This site is owned by the City of Livermore, operated by the Livermore Heritage Guild, Livermore’s historical society.

Oakland

NEW THIS YEAR!

Cohen Bray House: Victorian Gems and the Legacy of Gold Rush Families
9/7 to 9/8 |

Come visit this 1/2 acre hidden gem, the Cohen Bray house and property are all thats left of the original 200 acres of the Oak Tree Farm Estate in the Fruitvale district of Oakland CA. once owned by W. A. Bray 1862-1885.  Built from 1882-1884  as a wedding present for Bray’s eldest daughter Emma Bray and her new  husband Alfred Henry Cohen. Alfred Henry’s father,  A.A. Cohen, (the chief attorney for the Central Pacific railroad) not to be out done,  furnished the house in the high aesthetic style of the period. Not much has changed in the front of the house since 1885, big changes caused by the 1906 earthquake, required the back rooms of the house to be rebuilt in the craftsman style. We are discovering amazing things in the house and garden everyday.

Feb. 28th,  2024, we celebrated 140 years of restoring and preserving this house and its collections. Five generations of family has lived here.  In 1989, Family created a 501c3 non profit -The Victorian Preservation Center of Oakland, to continue our goals of education and outreach to the community and educational institutions. Family are still involved and will be leading the tours.  The house is on the National Register of Historic Places in Alameda County as the “Alfred H Cohen House”. We are an Oakland Landmark #8.  Limited parking in the back, please carpool. Parking available nearby.

Oakland

NEW THIS YEAR!

African American Museum & Library: Inside a Historical Landmark
9/7 to 9/8 |

An inside look at a beautiful library dedicated to the African American experience not only in Oakland but in California. On the first floor there is access to the library and information about the archives. On the second floor is the museum dedicated to a new exhibit that will be launch in the mid-Summer, 2024. The library is undergoing an extensive renovation that will continue to honor its beauty while upgrading its facility to the latest library standards.

Oakland

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Mannequin Madness: Where Creativity Meets Reuse
9/7 to 9/8 |

Our facility is so unique it was featured in the travel book, “Secret California, a guide to the weird, wonderful and obscure “

When retail stores close or remodel, they contact us to to recycle their unwanted mannequins. This keeps mannequins from going into landfills, because they are made out of materials that do not biodegrade. Visitors will see behind the scenes at at mannequin warehouse and all the different ways we repurpose mannequins for business and artistic purposes. In addition to what we have onsite, they we will have a continuous slide show on with images of unique and unusual things people make with mannequins and mannequin parts – lamps, furniture, Christmas trees.

This video by Bloomberg showcases our facility and what we do . https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2022-03-03/mannequin-fascination-spurs-sustainable-business-video

Orinda

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Steam Dreams: Tilden Regional Park’s Historic Technology Celebration
9/7 to 9/8 | 11am to 6pm

The power of steam in technology was the key to the Industrial Revolution. Perhaps nowhere more keenly that In Transportation. Steam locomotives moved passengers and freight around the world for more than a century. The Redwood Valley Railway preserves this technology as it recreates passenger transportation as it would have been found on California’s North Coast in the first part of the 20th Century.  Ride through the beautiful Redwood groves of Tilden Regional Park and tour the vintage Roundhouse.

San Francisco

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Unveiling SoMa’s Vibrant LGBTQ/Leather Cultural District
9/7 | 3pm to 5pm

Come visit the world’s first LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District, located in San Francisco’s South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood!

Since the 1960’s, SoMa has been home to a myriad of bars, restaurants, nightlife venues, publishing organizations, homophile organizations, bath houses, and more, putting SF’s Leather scene in the international spotlight. Leather culture was particularly robust along the stretch of Folsom Street once nicknamed the “Miracle Mile” and “Valley of the Kings”.

The tour will start at Ringold Alley, and end at the Eagle, one of the world’s only landmarked leather bar, for an optional Happy Hour!

Woodside

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Filoli: Open Doors to Elegance and Special Tours
9/7 | 10am to 2pm

A one-hour architecture tour of the historic House at 10am  and 1pm on Saturday, September 9, for up to 20 participants for each tour. Forty participants total. The tour will be led by our director of museum collections and curator, Kevin Wisney. Tour includes admission to Filoli for the day.

San Francisco

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Treasure Island’s Timeless Splendor: Discover the 1939 Art Deco World’s Fair Building
9/7 | 10am to 4pm

Come visit Treasure Island’s fabulous Art Moderne air terminal, listed on the National Register. Since 1975 the lobby of of this building has been home to the Treasure Island Museum, with exhibits and models showing and telling the island’s dynamic history and projection into the future. Our building was constructed in 1937/38 to accommodate Pan American Airways and its passengers during the years of the Clipper flights across the Pacific (1938-1945), and to serve as the Administration Building for the Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939-1940. Treasure Island (1942-1997) became a major naval station during World War II and subsequent Navy and Marine engagements in the Pacific. Now the building is headquarters to the Treasure Island Development Group, in charge of the new redevelopment on the island as its ownership is transferred from the Navy to the City of San Francisco. For Doors Open California 2024, we will offer tours of the building and of other “secret places” on the island! We will provide visitors with a guide for a walking or driving tour of the island’s historic and current highlights. Come learn about San Francisco’s best kept secret!

San Francisco

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Angel Island Immigration Station: Guided Stories of Hope and Heritage
9/7 to 9/8 |

Participants will have an opportunity to experience a 90-minute guided tour of the former US Immigration Station at Angel Island. The site is designated as both a California Historical Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. The tour will include part of the outdoor exhibits on the site, the Detention Barracks Museum, and the Angel Island Immigration Museum that recently opened in 2022 in the site’s former hospital building. The tour will be co-led by staff from Angel Island State Park and Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation. Visitors will learn about the history of exclusionary immigration policies, differential treatment, and immigrant stories connected to the site.

San Francisco

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

GLBT Historical Society Museum: Exploring LGBTQ+ History
9/7 to 9/8 |

The GLBT Historical Society Museum, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Castro District, is the first stand-alone museum of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender history and culture in the United States. It celebrates San Francisco’s vast queer past through dynamic and surprising exhibitions and programming.

Open since January 2011, the museum showcases the sheer depth and breadth of the GLBT Historical Society’s archives, demonstrates the importance of queer history to the public, and mounts wide-ranging exhibitions with an emphasis on diversity and social justice.

Participants with Doors Open California can reserve their spot to visit the museum for free on Saturday, September 9, 2023.

Sausalito

NEW THIS YEAR!

Timeless Treasures: Restored Pilot Houses and Maritime Tales
9/7 to 9/8 | 10 to 5

Galilee Harbor is a live aboard marina for 38 low income families on Sausalito’s waterfront. Our docks are open to the public, inviting all to see how families of artists and maritime service workers live in this unique 1960s style co-op. You will be greeted by colorful hand painted mailboxes, our community garden, and a wide array of vessels which serve as full time residences, including a few built from WWII life boats and a 1930s kitchen barge.

Our restored twin pilot houses were rescued from the 1914 ferry boat Issaquah during her demolition. Today, these tiny buildings serve as mini-museums with artifacts and informational plaques seen through the windows. Overlooking the restored wetland marsh, you’ll see a muddy island where, at low tide, you’ll still spot some of the the pilings that cradled the brigantine Galilee. The notable 130-foot ship was launched by Benecia shipyard builder Matthew Turner in 1891, after which it broke speed records ferrying mail and cargo between San Francisco and Tahiti. Later in life she charted Earth’s magnetic fields for the Carnegie Institute, and served as an Alaskan fishing boat before ultimately becoming one of Sausalito’s earliest houseboats. Galilee is physically gone, but her spirit of adventure lives on in her namesake floating community.

San Diego Area

Coronado

NEW THIS YEAR!

Coronado Chronicles: A Stroll Through the Neighborhood’s Historic Treasures
9/7 to 9/8 | 11am to 12pm

The Coronado Historical Association is hosting a 60-min neighborhood walking tour that covers the history and architecture of the historic commercial buildings along Coronado’s mainstreet (Orange Avenue) as well as significant residential properties along Ocean Blvd and surrounding streets.

San Diego

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Cabrillo National Monument: Journey Through Time and Nature
9/7 to 9/8 | 12pm to 3pm

Learn how the Cabrillo National Park (CNM) site was created in 1913 by President Woodrow Wilson.

January 1934, Colonel John R. White, Superintendent of Sequoia National Park, whose jurisdiction also included Cabrillo, arrived in San Diego for his first visit.

When was the first statue placed at CNM? Why the statue has a Portuguese name and the National Park a Spanish name? In 2015, Dr. Wendy Kramer, PhD, discovered thousand of pages and legal document, in three continents, proving that Cabrillo was a native of Spain.

You’ll discover many other interesting facts with twists and intrigue about the Cabrillo National Monument as it is today. PowerPoint Presentation is 45 min.

San Diego

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Villa Montezuma: Unveiling the Grandeur of a Victorian Mansion
9/7 to 9/8 |

The Villa Montezuma, is San Diego’s amazing Queen Anne Victorian house museum and cultural center. The Villa is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is owned by the City of San Diego. Visitors to this beautiful landmark will get a glimpse into the past of the lavish lifestyle of eclectic pianist and composer, Jesse Shepard, who held many seances and performances at the home. Its wonderful stained glass windows and exceptional woodwork, showcases the level of detail incorporated into Queen Anne style architecture. https://villamontezumamuseum.org/_public_html/Home.html

September 14 – 15 (San Jose, Monterey, Los Angeles Areas)

Berkeley

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Divine Architecture: The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Berkeley
9/15

Embark on a journey through Bernard Maybeck’s First Church of Christ Scientist in Berkeley, California—a masterpiece of architectural harmony and spiritual serenity. Built in 1910, this sanctuary captivates with its elegant domed design, bathed in natural light that illuminates its warm wood interiors. Discover intricate craftsmanship in every corner, from hand-carved details to expansive stained glass windows. It’s a place where history and artistry merge seamlessly, inviting you to explore and find inspiration in its timeless beauty and peaceful ambiance. A visit here is a celebration of creativity and contemplation, a true delight for architecture enthusiasts and seekers of tranquility alike.

Los Angeles Area

Beverly Hills

NEW THIS YEAR!

Beverly Hills Unveiled: Behind-the-Scenes of Cultural Landmarks
9/14 to 9/15

Explore a captivating journey through some of Beverly Hills’ iconic cultural and historic landmarks, expertly guided by the City’s Urban Designer, cultural heritage consultant, and historic preservation team. The behind-the-scenes tour will showcase the elegant Beverly Hills City Hall, the iconic charm of Beverly Gardens Park, and the timeless allure of the historic landmark, Greystone Mansion. Gain a unique perspective on the rich tapestry of Beverly Hills’ history and the profound influence these sites have wielded in shaping the City’s illustrious prominence.

City of Industry

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

El Campo Santo Cemetery: Walking Among Legends
9/14 to 9/15 | 12pm to 4pm

Don Pio Pico (1801-1894) lived most of the 19th century and saw in his long lifetime astonishing changes in California and Los Angeles from the Spanish era to the Gilded Age.  A merchant, landowner and member of the legislature, Pico was the last governor of the Mexican era as well as a capitalist who built structures in Los Angeles during its first boom in the late 1860s and early 1870s, including the still-standing Pico House hotel.  Financial troubles, a raft of lawsuits and a swindle plagued his later years and he was evicted from his suburban ranch and died, seen as something of a relic of pre-American California at the Los Angeles home of a daughter.  In 1921, his descendants agreed to move the remains of the ex-governor and his wife Maria Ignacia Alvarado, sister of another governor, to a newly completed mausoleum in El Campo Santo at what is now the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum in the City of Industry.   A PowerPoint-illustrated talk about Pico and the Cemetery and a visit to the burial ground and the Pico crypt comprises the program, and visitors are encouraged to separately visit our historic houses: the Workman House and La Casa Nueva. NOTE: Tours for this program are hourly at Noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Los Angeles

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Los Angeles Union Station: Hidden Gems and Historical Splendor
9/14 to 9/15 | 10am to 2pm

Built in 1939, Los Angeles Union Station is an architectural gem in the heart of downtown L.A. The historic Ticket Concourse features a restored 110-foot-long ticket counter crafted from American black walnut, a hand painted, stenciled acoustic ceiling adorned with massive bronze, chandeliers, towering 43-foot windows, quarry tile flooring traversed by a multi-colored marble runner, glazed polychromatic “Deco” tiles from Gladding McBean Co., and much more. While this space is not typically open to the public, the “Hidden Gems” tours will offer Angelenos a behind the scenes look at this breathtaking treasure. Union Station is designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historical Resources. Additional historic public spaces include the grand Waiting Room, entry vestibule, and the view of the facade with its iconic clock tower, followed by a stop at the original Fred Harvey restaurant, now a brewpub frequented by travelers and patrons alike.

Los Angeles

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Neutra Reunion House: Special Access to Architectural Brilliance
9/14 | 10am to 3pm

Attendees will learn about the history of this multi-generational design for a house by Richard J. Neutra, master architect, from 1951. After the fire at the nearby VDL House, Richard, Dione, and Dion purchased the house. Dione eventually sold it to Dion who lived there until his passing in 2019. House is in original condition with personal items of Dion Neutra. Reunion House features all the classic character-defining features of the Mid-Century Modern style. It also features many of Neutra’s most essential design elements including floor-to-ceiling glass doors, mitered glass windows, spider-legs, clerestory windows, water feature, etc.

Los Angeles

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Nirvana’s Restored Lobby: Hollywood Glamour Returns
9/14 to 9/15 | 10am to 4pm

The incredible transformation of the 1925 lobby of the Nirvana apartment building.

Once richly adorned with wall paintings and plaster reliefs, the lobby’s walls were overpainted in white and red around the 60’s . The recently completed restoration process included both the uncovering and the restoration of all the murals. The facade is also very interesting , it features a pagoda roof and original copper dragons gargoyles among other incredible details. I was the lead conservator on the project and I will be there explaining to visitors both the history of the building and the restoration process.

Los Angeles

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Venice High School Auditorium: Showcasing Local Talent and History
9/14 to 9/15 | 11am to 3pm

The Venice High School Auditorium was constructed in 1937 and is a contributing feature to the Venice High School Historic District eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources. The campus is significant for its association with the School District’s efforts to rebuild following the Long Beach earthquake in 1933 and is an excellent example of the PWA Moderne architectural style prevalent throughout the School District at the time. The Auditorium features two frescoes by Helen Lundeberg completed in 1941. In 2023, LAUSD completed a renovation project including repairs to ornamental plaster features in the interior and upgrades for seismic stability. This project was recently awarded a California Preservation Foundation Design Award.

Los Angeles

NEW THIS YEAR!

HMS Bounty Restaurant: Nautical Nostalgia and Culinary Delights
9/14 to 9/15 | 1pm to 9pm

The HMS Bounty is a historic and well loved restaurant located in the heart of Los Angeles’s Koreatown. The restaurant in its current incarnation has been operating here since 1962, but there have been restaurants in this location (Gaylord Apartments) since 1921.

Los Angeles

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Ebell of Los Angeles: Historic Beauty and Community
9/14 to 9/15 |

Ebell of Los Angeles clubhouse is a three-story Italian Renaissance building opened in 1927. Designed by Sumner Hunt. It includes a lounge with decorated ceiling, art salon, dining room gardens, auditorium library, and a separate Wilshire Ebell Theatre with 1200 seats.

Los Angeles

NEW THIS YEAR!

Cole’s French Dip & Red Car Bar: A Peek Behind the Culinary Scenes
9/14 to 9/15 |

A behind-the-scenes look at the 116 year old Cole’s French Dip & Red Car Bar. This historic restaurant & bar has lived through generations of history and is one of the oldest operating bar & restaurant in Los Angeles since its founding in 1908. Residing in the Pacific Electric building in downtown Los Angeles, the former terminal of the Pacific Electric Terminal, Cole’s has rich history, decor, and delicious French Dips. We will take a look at the process of how we make our French Dips and tour through the Red Car Bar.

We do our best to honor the legacy of Cole’s and serve our community.

Los Angeles

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

LA VOICES at The Ebell of Los Angeles: Community, Culture, and Celebration
9/15 | 11am to 3pm

The Ebell kicks off the 24/24 season and the first Sunday of its new, free Sunday series, “LA Voices,” with a jam-packed day of free tours of its historic campus and gardens, an informational fair featuring music, dance, theater and visual arts organizations from the local community and performances from the award-winning all-female mariachi ensemble, Las Colibri, along with The Ebell’s own chorale. Attendees will be able to explore the main building, the luscious garden & courtyard and the historic Wilshire Ebell Theatre, which together comprise the breathtaking 97-year-old campus, a noted architectural treasure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a designated Los Angeles Cultural Monument.

All LA Voices events are free of charge and will include docent-led tours of The Ebell of LAs historic campus.

Newport Beach

NEW THIS YEAR!

Mariners Medical Arts: Discovering Neutra’s Healing Spaces
9/15 | 9am to 10am

Reacting to the intimidating clinic design of his day, premier midcentury architect Richard Neutra created an entirely new architectural approach to the medical office. Light and access to nature were balanced by a need for patients’ privacy and sense of calm. These concepts became fundamental to his philosophy about the role of architecture in facilitating the ‘art’ of medicine.

In Newport Beach, California, Richard Neutra’s Mariners Medical Arts building expertly couples health and design by treating outdoor spaces as an extension of its interior. The 2023 renovation to the midcentury building, led by developers Burnham-Ward Properties and architecture firm Shubin Donaldson, restored several significant components, among these three water features removed from the site in the 1970s. Burnham-Ward Properties’ team relied on historic photographs and preserved construction drawings to restore many key elements of Neutra’s original design intent.

Join Burnham-Ward Properties Partner Steve Thorp for a guided tour of the 20,000-square-foot property and hear firsthand how the team approached restoring and preserving this iconic 1963 Neutra site while adapting it for generations to come.

Palos Verdes Estates

NEW THIS YEAR!

Malaga Cove Library: Historical Wonders in Palos Verdes
9/14 | 10am to 4:30pm

The Malaga Cove Library, a Myron Hunt building built in 1929, is the oldest of our facilities and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The adjoining garden is also an Olmsted Associates garden as is the park and fountain directly next to the library. Visitors can see the historic building which served as the community center during the early development of the Palos Verdes peninsula through self-guided and staff-led tours. Malaga Cove Plaza, one street over from the Library was registered on the National Register of Historic Places several years ago and features architecture and development according to plans laid out by the Palos Verdes Project in the 1920s and would be a compliment area to the library facility.

Simi Valley

NEW THIS YEAR!

Parklands: Exploring Historical Treasures Across Six Acres
9/14 to 9/15 | 1pm to 3pm

Strathearn Historical Park Museum and Apricot Festival (ENTER SPECIAL DOORS OPEN ACTIVITY – IF APPLICABLE)

Apricot Festival, Preserving our History through Education and Community

The Simi Valley Historical Society invites the community to an Apricot Festival from 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, September 21, 2024 at Strathearn Historical Park and Museum, 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley, Ca., 93065, west of the Madera Target store.

There is a $5.00 charge for adults/children 4 and older. For children 3 and under the admission is free.

Simi Valley’s Agricultural Industry had a major impact on our community from the 1920’s €“ 1970’s.

On display at Strathearn Park will be an Apricot Pitting shed with a history video of the apricot pitting  process, an original barn moved to this site with farm displays and old farming equipment.

Throughout the day, there will be Entertainment, Makers Market and Arts and Crafts Vendors, (with apricot themed items for sale), Antique/Vintage Car Show, Raffles, Games and Food booths with apricot themed food and drinks.

Included in the day’s events, will be docent led tours of Historic buildings between 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

There will be Historical Talks and exhibits to explore throughout the day.

El Rancho Simi is a State Historical Landmark No. 979. Within this six-acre site, visitors will see elements from three important periods of Simi Valley history: Chumash Indians, Spanish Rancho and Pioneers. For more information, visit www.simihistory.com, facebook/StrathearnPark or call 805-526-6453.

Santa Monica

NEW THIS YEAR!

Santa Monica’s Shotgun House: Uncovering Hidden Histories
9/14 to 9/15 | 11am to 3pm

Built in 1897, the little house features three original rooms where you can explore Santa Monica history and learn about preservation. Look behind the walls and the floor to reveal vintage materials, and see if you can find the one original window in the Shotgun House. Young guests will also enjoy the miniature model house decorated with Victorian-era furnishings that were popular when our shotgun house was first built. Our friendly and knowledgeable docents will share information about what life was like in the early 1900s, how the house was saved and rehabilitated, about our native plant garden, and provide information about tours of the Ocean Park community.

Visitors up to 10 interior and 10 exterior which will rotate for maximum 20 in 1 hour.

Santa Monica (postal zone) City of LA

NEW THIS YEAR!

La Senora Research Institute: Exploring Mojica Hacienda
9/15 | 11:30am to 5:30pm

Welcome to La Señora Institute, the historic home of renowned Mexican singer and actor José Mojica. Nestled in the picturesque hills of Santa Monica, this beautifully preserved estate offers a glimpse into the glamorous life of one of the early 20th century’s most captivating artists. Built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the house is a testament to Mojica’s artistic vision and cultural heritage. As you tour the property, you’ll discover exquisite architectural details, lush gardens, and personal artifacts that reflect Mojica’s storied career and deep connection to his roots. This historic gem not only honors the legacy of José Mojica but also serves as a cultural hub, dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich history and traditions of the era.

We could do two sections 1 california’s sole extant private Mexican Rancho Era Cemetery – and/or 2. the botanical gardens of the Mojica Hacienda.

San Pedro

NEW THIS YEAR!

White Point Nature Center: Guided Walk Through Historic Structures
9/15 | 10:30am to 12pm

The White Point Nature Education Center is located on a beautifully restored 102-acre nature preserve where visitors can enjoy historical structures and sites as well as scenic trails through restored natural habitats. This educational facility is surrounded by a native plant demonstration garden and offers guided nature walks, outdoor volunteer opportunities and community activities. It is housed in a repurposed former cold war missile assembly building and includes multimedia exhibits that move visitors through the timeline of White Point’s cultural and natural history from the Pleistocene age to the present. The Preserve is owned by the City of LA and managed by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy and contains several World War II and Cold War era military structures.

Join us on Sun, Sept 15 at 10:30am for a walking (approx. 1 mile) tour of the Preserve’s restored coastal sage habitat and historic military structures.

San Pedro

NEW THIS YEAR!

Point Fermin Lighthouse: 150 Years of Guiding Lights
9/15 |

The Point Fermin Lighthouse, one of the oldest buildings in Southern California, is a source and symbol of local pride. We want to include you in this opportunity to commemorate this milestone year! Take a tour to the top, learn about out lighthouse keepers or enjoy our beautiful gardens. We invite you to come visit us during our “Sesquicentennial” year! Open Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 4 PM. Located in the beautiful Point Fermin Park in San Pedro, California.

San Jose / Fremont Area

Fremont

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Niles Treasures: A Walking Tour Through Historic Charm
9/15 | 11am to 12:15pm

This historic town has a rich history and much to offer. Besides its fascinating filmmaking legacy, it would have been important in history books anyway due to the significant CA Nursery that amongst its many accomplishments supplied trees for the Avenue of the Palms at the SF World’s Fair in 1915 and foliage for the 1939 Treasure Island World’s Fair. Niles could also boast its brickyard, cannery, decorative tile factory and a whole lot more. It served as a train hub with 24 iron horses passing through each day. But there also were the movies!  More than 350 one and two reel films cranked out in a four-year period that featured the picturesque Niles canyon and the first cowboy movie star “Broncho Billy” Anderson and Charlie Chaplin!

Wear some shoes you can move about in and find out what happened here more than one hundred years ago. Important landmarks will be discussed and stories will be shared! Meet at the museum and bring your camera. Includes your own copy of our museum Walking Tour of Niles booklet.

The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum is open for tours Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 – 4:00 pm so after the walking tour has concluded, you are welcome to visit the museum which also includes the Edison Theater.

We suggest you start your day in the historic district of Niles, one of the stops on the Transcontinental Railroad. https://www.niles.org/things-to-do-in-Niles. Have lunch in Niles or get take-out and bring it to Shinn Park before your afternoon Doors Open visit there. It is a short drive from our museum to theirs. They are featuring the Chinese Bunkhouse and it has quite a story to tell.  Other things to do while in Fremont? https://sites.google.com/view/funthingstodofremonthistory/home

Fremont

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Shinn Ranch: From Baby Observations to Chinese Bunkhouse Tales
9/15 | 1pm to 4pm

Babies and Bunkhouses: What do they tell us about life on the historic Shinn Ranch?

Dr. Milicent Shinn’s child development studies were carried out at the Shinn ranch. Her observations of her niece were the basis of her PhD dissertation (1898) and later book, The Biography of a Baby (1900). Her later study notebooks (1906-1912) recorded her observations of her nephew Joseph Jr. In addition to observations about Joseph Jr.’s language development and motor milestones, Dr. Shinn also recorded wonderful snippets of family life and their Chinese workers in the house and on the ranch.  Joseph Jr’s two favorite people were Grandma Lucy and their Chinese cook, Fong Gan – perhaps because they both supplied him with sweet treats? The gardens are captured in words, as little Joseph Jr. explores his world.

The “Chinese bunkhouse” is a the last fragile 100-year-old bunkhouse from the Shinn ranch “China Camp.”  When restored, the building will be used to highlight the historic role of the Chinese immigrants at the Shinn ranch and in our community. This history is recorded in the letters, ledgers, and photos of the Shinn House Museum and other archives. The building is included in the working nomination of the Shinn Ranch to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Shinn House Museum, at the back of the Shinn House, is open 1-4 pm. The Chinese Bunkhouse Preservation group will be on hand from 1-4 with the exhibit “Chinese Roots: Sketches of Life in the Washington Township.”  The regular tours of the two story 1876 Shinn House are 1-4 pm first come first serve, for the donation of $4 adult $2 child. Please bring cash.

Location: Shinn Historical Park & Arboretum, 1251 Peralta Avenue, Fremont CA. Parking is free.

Shinn House Website: www.historicshinnhouse.org. Self Guided walking tour of the park: https://sites.google.com/view/friends-of-heirloom-flowers/tour-guide.

Suggestion: Start your day in the historic district of Niles, one of the stops on the Transcontinental Railroad. https://www.niles.org/things-to-do-in-Niles. Take a Doors Open walking tour of Niles in the morning with David Kiehn. Have lunch in Niles or get take-out and bring it to Shinn Park before your afternoon Doors Open visit. Other things to do while in Fremont? https://sites.google.com/view/funthingstodofremonthistory/home

Gilroy

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Gilroy Historical Society: Uncovering Stories of Garlic and Growth
9/14 | 10am to 2pm

Visitors will be given a tour of the Gilroy Museum basement which is now the Museum’s main storage area. The original use of the various rooms will be explained when the building functioned as the Gilroy Free Library. In the Museum’s main storage area, visitors will be given a short program on artifact storage and have the opportunity to see unique items not on display.

Monterey / Salinas Area

Pacific Grove

NEW THIS YEAR!

Ketchum’s Barn: Museums and Archives of Pacific Grove’s Heritage
9/14 | 11am to 4pm

The Heritage Society of Pacific Grove is a nonprofit organization formed in 1975 to foster an appreciation of the city’s historical and architectural resources through preservation activities and public education.  The Barn, fondly known as “Ketcham’s Barn,” was built in 1891 by H. C. Ketcham, who used it to house animals.  Hay and other provisions were stored in the loft.

The property was purchased by the City of Pacific Grove in 1979 and is now leased to the Heritage Society to store historical documents and displays of local interest, including a Victorian bay window and replica tent from the Chautauqua era. The Society also maintains the adjacent lot with a wishing well, benches, and garden plantings.

Salinas

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Rancho Day at the Adobe: Crafts, Songs, and Historic House Tours
9/14 to 9/15 |

Guests will be provided historic house tours that include early Californio stories, Fandango dances, 19th century Western music, mid-19th century Californio craftsmanship demonstrations by a blacksmith and saddle-maker, 1910-1920s vintage car show, book and literature displays by area historical societies and conservationists, and costumed re-enactors.

September 21 – 22 (Sacramento, Inland Empire, and Pasadena Areas)

Sacramento & Sierra Foothills

Sacramento

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Sacramento Valley Station: Rooftop Views and Railyard Insights
9/21 to 9/22 |

The City of Sacramento completed an extensive renovation of the Sacramento Valley Station in 2017. The station has 4 spaces deemed to be significant under the NHR. One of those spaces is the second floor corridor which was faithfully restored in our rehabilitation but is only accessible to lease tenants, on a daily basis. This floor also contains the original vault door. The third floor added an exterior 1,200 sf roof deck that is also not available to the public at this time. Both of these spaces would be on the tour, along with a large space that contains many salvage items from the restoration, as well as a tour of the Main Waiting Room and other areas on the ground floor which can be described by guided tour. Points of the restoration, the creative use of the historic elements for sustainable energy design (eg. Storm Windows, radiant floor heat/cool under 6,000 sf marble floor, and recirculating stratified warm air through the Main Waiting Room chandelier medallions, and facts on the restoration of the historic mural, to name a few.

Fiddletown

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Fiddlers’ Jam and Apothecary Tours in Fiddletown’s Time Capsule
9/21 to 9/22 |

We will have the Chew Kee Store Musuem open from 12-4pm.  We will also have 2 other Chinese Buildings open for viewing, the Gambling Hall and the General Store, brick and adobe structures.  Next door, in the Fiddletown Park we will have 3 Tai Chi demonstrations of the Form 24 with Chinese music.

We hope to have a talk on Eastern vs western medicine and a Lion Dance.

Isleton

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Isleton Museum: Celebrating the Filipino Community in the Delta
9/21 | 1pm to 3pm

The Filipino community in the California Delta has a rich and vibrant history dating back to the early 20th century. Migrating in waves during the agricultural boom, Filipino immigrants settled in the Delta region, where they played a crucial role in the development of the area’s agriculture and economy. Despite facing significant challenges, including racial discrimination and harsh working conditions, the Filipino community forged a resilient and close-knit society. They established churches, social clubs, and organizations that provided mutual support and preserved their cultural heritage. This talk with special guests will celebrate their enduring legacy, showcasing personal stories, artifacts, and photographs that highlight their contributions to the California Delta’s rich tapestry of cultures.

Pasadena Area & Inland Empire

Covina

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Covina Bowl: Stepping Back in Time at the Open House
9/21 to 9/22 |

This event will provide visitors with the opportunity for a self-guided exterior tour of the Covina Bowl exterior with docents at various locations to share more detailed information. Guided tours of the preserved coffee shop/ dinner will also occur during the open house. Various historical documents will be displayed throughout the two-day open house. Special guests, including Charles Phoenix and the artist Shag, have discussed possibly participating in the two-day event. Details to follow (upon acceptance into Doors Open Event)

HISTORY

Since its closing in 2017, the fate of the Covina Bowl remained in limbo with rapid deterioration until the new Covina Bowl redevelopment kicked off with a plan that retains the core of the Covina Bowl while marrying it with a new housing development by Trumark Homes. The result of years of collaboration that included LA Conservancy, Friends of Covina Bowl, and Covina Historical Society, who worked closely with the City of Covina and Trumark Homes to find a win-win solution that retains many of the character-defining features, including the Polynesian-themed entry and coffee shop for the Covina Bowl Project.

Pasadena

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Blinn House: Behind-the-Scenes of Historical Elegance
9/22 | 10am to 2pm

Join us as for a behind-the-scenes tour of the 1906 Blinn House, formerly the Women’s City Club of Pasadena. Named for its original owners, Edmund and Kate Blinn, the Blinn House was designed by George Washington Maher, a prominent Chicago architect. The Prairie-style home is the only known Maher residence on west of the Mississippi. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the California Register of Historical Resources, and it is a City of Pasadena landmark. In 1945, the Women’s City Club of Pasadena acquired the home and it was used as a clubhouse until the Club’s dissolution in 2020. Pasadena Heritage, a nonprofit organization that promotes historic preservation through advocacy and education, is the new steward of this historic landmark. We welcome the public to tour the house with our experienced docents and explore some areas not open to the public on the second and third floors. The Blinn House is located in the Ford Place Historic District, which was nominated by the City of Pasadena to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. Ford Place was developed between 1902 and 1916 as an exclusive upscale residential neighborhood. Tour guests will receive a self-guided walking tour brochure of this historic neighborhood, which is now home to Fuller Theological Seminary.

Please note the first floor of the Blinn House does have wheelchair access and is accessible via the Hunt Room ramp. If you have special accessibility needs, please contact Pasadena Heritage staff at 626-441-6333 or education@pasadenaheritage.org prior to your visit so we can accommodate you as fully as possible.

Riverside

NEW THIS YEAR!

Trujillo Adobe Showcase: Stories of the Past and Local Heritage
9/21 to 9/22 | 10am to 2pm

Visitors to the historic Trujillo Adobe in Riverside will delve into the rich tapestry of California’s past, exploring the lives and legacy of the Trujillo family and their contributions to the region. Guests will learn about the architectural significance and the cultural heritage of this adobe structure, one of the oldest in Riverside County. Recent events have brought exciting developments, including zoning changes around the adobe to support its restoration and expansion, ensuring that this landmark can be preserved and enjoyed by future generations. Additionally, the state has awarded $10.5 million for the adobe’s restoration, a monumental investment that underscores the site’s historical importance and the community’s commitment to its preservation. This funding will facilitate extensive restoration work, providing an authentic and enriched experience for all who visit. Moreover, the nearby Agua Mansa Cemetery will also be open to the public, offering a poignant glimpse into the final resting place of many early explorers of the area, further enriching the historical exploration of Riverside’s storied past. The Agua Cemetery is part of the overall community of the Trujillo Adobe

Riverside

NEW THIS YEAR!

Riverside’s Oldest: Discovering the Trujillo Adobe
9/21 to 9/22 | 10am to 2pm

The Trujillo Adobe is Riverside’s 162-year-old historic landmark. Registered by the State of California as a point of historical interest in 1968, the Trujillo Adobe is one of the oldest remaining structures in the area. Built around 1862, it predates the city of Riverside’s establishment.

https://savetrujilloadobe.com/

Riverside

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

The Peter J. Weber House: Architectural Marvels and Historical Intrigue
9/21 to 9/22 | 10am to 4pm

The Peter J. Weber House is a historic house and landmark in Riverside, California. The house was designed and built by architect Peter J. Weber in the 1930s as a family residence and conceptual showcase of his creative work. The house is notable for its eclectic Depression-era design inspired by Medieval Spanish brick and half-timbering structures (with additional elements of Moorish and broadly Mediterranean influences) and its reliance on salvaged materials.

San Marino

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2023

Michael White Adobe: Preserving History in Adobe Form
9/21 to 9/22 | 10am to 2pm

Friends of the Michael White Adobe (FoMWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to the historic restoration and preservation of the Michael White Adobe. We are a broad coalition of community, industry representatives and preservationists committed to rehabilitating the building which defines our community rich cultural heritage. FoMWA works in close cooperation with the elected leadership of the San Marino Unified School District.

The Michael White Adobe is a hidden treasure of San Marino and LA County. One of only 38 remaining 19th century adobe structures in LA County, the Michael White Adobe is a significant Southern California landmark, and a reminder of how earlier settlers built homes, families and communities.

The Friends of the Michael White Adobe (FoMWA) welcome visitors to this open house event to tour the building which is typically closed to the general public, learn about the history & significance of the site, and hear about the work of FoMWA to preserve the building, develop educational material, and future plans! Tours will include an update on our Historic Structures Report.

September 28 – 29 (San Luis Obispo)

Sacramento & Sierra Foothills

San Luis Obispo

LOYAL DOORS OPEN PARTNER SINCE 2022

Monday Club: Julia Morgan’s Legacy and Community Spirit
9/28 to 9/29 | 11am to 4pm

Doors Open California attendees will enjoy a docent guided tour of The Monday Club, a historic building, designed by famed California architect Julia Morgan. Attendees will also have the option of learning about The Monday Club community service activities, enjoy a talk by a Julia Morgan expert and view a documentary on The Monday Club.

San Luis Obispo

NEW THIS YEAR!

Sauer-Adams Adobe and Tilhini Aqueduct: Gardens and Historic Waterways
9/28 to 9/29 |

Visitors will see the inside of two circa 1801 Chumash adobes, converted around 1860 to a two-story Greek Revival adobe faced with redwood clapboard, along with the remains of a Chumash-built aqueduct that ran behind what was once a complex of 80 Chumash adobes of which only three survive. The Suaer-Adams Adobe is the oldest house and oldest inhabited building in San Luis Obispo County, owned by the family of accused bandit Pio Linares when he was shot down by the 1858 Vigilance Committee.

In 2024, over 60 sites are participating in Doors Open from all corners of California. 

The full Doors Open map of sites for this year can be found here: bit.ly/mapdoca

You can also find a map embedded at the bottom of this page.