Are you ready for the Cemetery Tour?

Stroll through Sunnyside and Long Beach Municipal Cemeteries this Saturday October 30 for Long Beach Historical Society's 15th annual Cemetory Tour. Listen to actors and Long Beach notables recount the lives and deaths of long departed citizens buries int the city's two oldest cemeteries. Tickets cost $18 for the guided tours which will be conducted from 9 am to 2 pm.

History and Culture of Long Beach Studied at Conference

After much planning and preparation, Long Beach City College and the Historical Society of Long Beach will host the Long Beach Community Studies Conference this Saturday, September 11 from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Historical Society at 4260 Atlantic. Students from LBCC and other local experts with present their research on aspects of Long Beach history that still impact the city today on topics as diverse as the Ku Klux Klan and the Port of Long Beach. Many of these reports will eventually be posted on LBCC's website. Tickets are $30 and lunch is available for $10.

The Heights of History

Long Beach Historical Society is offering a "See, Sip & Savor" tour of 4 Belmonts Heights homes on June 25. You get to tour the homes and hear about their historic significance and enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres. The event runs from 6 pm to 9 pm and tickets can be purchased by calling the Historical Society at 562-424-2220.

Swing and Sway with the Historical Society of Long Beach

Get out your saddle shoes and bobby sox Friday night for a nostalgic USO Dance with a swing band, vintage dress, and refreshments at the Historical Society of Long Beach, 4260 Atlantic Avenue. The festivities, which runs from 6:30 to 9 pm, mark the opening of a new exhibit called Produce for Victory: Posters on the American Home Front, 1941-1945, sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and the California Council for the Humanities. Fifty-four posters will be on display through April 2 along with items from the Historical Society's Naval Preservation Initiative. Call 562-424-2220 for tickets.

Historical Soc Screens Historical Docs

The Historical Societety of Long Beach will be screening award-winning documentaries this month. Many cover events of U.S. historical interest, like "The Plow That Broke the Plains" (1936) which involves the droughts that caused the Dust Bowl fiasco of the 1930s (screens Nov. 7), and some are more international scope like Sugihara Conspiracy of Kindness (2000) which tells of a Japanese diplomat who saved thousands of Jewish people from Nazi imprisonment (screens Nov. 21). My pick is "Garbage Warriors (2008) where environmentalists use recycled materials to produce energy (screens Nov 14). Screenings begin at 6 pm and tickets cost $10 for nonmembers.

Cemetery Tour on Halloween Day!

Now that's what I'm talking about! The Historical Society of Long Beach will hold its 14th annual tour of Sunnyside and the historic Municipal Cemetery on Halloween day. The tour featured costumed performers located near gravesites and bringing the deceased back to life. The society needs volunteers to help with the event such as set-up book sales and handling refreshments. Training is required prior to the event.

Is This Town Big Enough for Two Museums?

I'm torn about the Long Beach Heritage Museum. After flipping through the website, I sense there's a small but dedicated group that enjoys talking about the golden days of Long Beach (the Pike, the Red Cars, etc.) and has access to a sizable photo collection and memorabilia. It doesn't seem to have the organization or outreach of Historical Society of Long Beach though, and frankly I don't think there's enough interest in this city's history to support two historical museums. Wouldn't it be better to work together and combine the two collections?

What's Echo Park Got that We Ain't Got?

They've got that cool lake with lotus blossoms, but we've got a Japanese garden with a koi pond. They've got Echo Curio but we've got the Long Beach Depot for Creative Reuse. They've got Stories, but we've got {open}.
They've got a go-get-em historical society, but we've got Historical Society of Long Beach and Long Beach Heritage. Sometimes, it seems like the greater L.A. area can't see the forest of great things that Long Beach has to offer for the trees.

Good Day for ducks!

Despite the rain, I headed down to Bay Shore Library for the talk about the history of East Long Beach. It turned out to be more of a reminiscence of Belmont Shore and particularly Second Street. Dr. Gatley had lots of hand outs and slides, which made it worth the trip. He recommended the exhibit on architects at the Historical Society of Long Beach. I got a photo of the spectacular view from Bayshore Library of which I spoke.

On my way home, I actually saw ducks crossing at the duck crossing at Colorado Lagoon. I tried to take a picture from the car but the flash went off and reflected back from the windshield. I did get a photo of the Christmas trees that are still floating in the lagoon. Maybe we should just keep them up year-round and put other seasonal decorations on them. The birds seem to like to perch on them.