You don’t have to dust off your history books. There are plenty of opportunities to discover the past while having some fun along the way! Summer is the perfect time to visit some of this area’s most important sites where history unfolded. Here are a few in our region.

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

Lights, camera, action! What would a visit to Hollywood be without stopping at the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre? You’ll feel like a movie star as you’re taken backstage to check out the six theatres and VIP lounge, learning about the theatre’s history dating back to 1927. The first movie shown on its grand opening night, May 18, 1927 was Cecil B. DeMille’s The King of Kings. When the theatre was constructed, authorization had to be obtained from the United States government to import artifacts from China such as bells and stones. Don’t forget to see if your hands and feet fit in the cement imprints of your favorite stars! Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is located at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.manntheatres.com/chinese/index.php. 

Hearst Castle

In 1919, William Randolph Hearst inherited the 40,000 acres of ranchland his father had purchased in 1865. He built “Camp Hill” so his friends and family could “rough it” on camping trips. With San Francisco architect Julia Morgan, Hearst created one of the most amazing homes in the world. You can take one of the five guided tours to get a taste of Hearst’s idea of good living. Each tour explores different parts of the house from the upper floors and Hearst’s private suites to the gardens, wine cellar and magnificent pools. Hearst Castle is located at 750 Hearst Castle Road in San Simeon, California. For more information, visit www.hearstcastle.org. 

The Fort MacArthur Museum

The Fort MacArthur Museum honors the history of Fort MacArthur, an army post that guarded the Los Angeles harbor from 1914 to 1974. Here, you’ll find historic structures that played an important part in the U.S. Army’s role in protecting the American coastline from invasion. Among the items you’ll see on the tour are bunkers that held 14-inch guns used during World War II. Through the exhibits, you’ll learn about the history of Los Angeles’ harbor defenses, early American air defenses and the role of Los Angeles as a military port. The Fort MacArthur Museum is located in Angeles Gate Park in San Pedro, California. For more information, visit www.ftmac.org.

San Pasqual Battlefield

This park honors those who fought in a battle between California and the United States on December 6, 1846 during the Mexican-American War. This battle was one of the only ones in the state during the war, but it was one of the bloodiest and most controversial. San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park is located at 15808 San Pasqual Valley Road in Escondido, California. For more information, call (760) 737-2201.

While the weather cooperates, spend some days discovering the rich history of the area.