Fullerton in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
California Hotel
Photographed by Tatiana Zavala, August 27, 2024
1. California Hotel Marker
City of Fullerton local landmark No. 14
California Hotel built 1922.
Erected 2005 by Fullerton Heritage. (Marker Number 14.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 33° 52.358′ N, 117° 55.472′ W. Marker is in Fullerton, California, in Orange County. It is on Harbor Boulevard near Commonwealth Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Building is now called Villa Del Sol, and houses multiple businesses on the property. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 305 N Harbor Boulevard, Fullerton CA 92832, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles and in the Peninsular Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
this page online
More about this marker. This plaque is to the right of the east entrance archway on Harbor Blvd.
Also see . . . Fullerton Heritage Presents Local Landmark #14: California Hotel. Article from Fullerton Observer newspaper, published By Terry Galvin on February 21, 2022
"The California Hotel, now Villa del Sol (305 N Harbor Blvd), opened as a Class A hotel on January 15, 1922, with 22 apartments, 55 guest rooms, 10 first floor storefronts, two kitchens, a dining room, and a large elaborate dining room. The three-story, U-shaped stucco on brick Spanish Colonial Revival building included a landscaped courtyard area, something not found in other downtown developments.(Submitted on August 29, 2024, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California.)The modern hotel was one of only a few buildings constructed with funds raised by public subscription. It was also the only one built as a replacement for a public comfort station. The building was designed by notable Anaheim architect M. Eugene Durfee...Photographed by Tatiana Zavala, August 27, 20242. California Hotel MarkerMarker visible from Harbor Blvd
In 1964, the owners made plans to demolish the hotel and construct a car wash. After serious opposition to that plan from the community, in 1965 the hotel was instead redeveloped into a series of small shops, restaurants, and offices. The building lost some of its visual effect when it was converted to the commercial uses, especially when a new two-story addition was added across the front, enclosing the courtyard.
New owners in 1995 agreed to construct the necessary seismic structural improvements in a way that would not visually impact the building, thus preserving one of Fullertons major historic buildings. While the building is a designated Local Landmark, the addition across the front makes it ineligible for National Register listing."
Additional keywords. Villa Del Sol building
Photo of vintage postcard from Fullerton Observer, circa 1940s
3. Postcard/photo of California Hotel from 1940s
Courtesy of Fullerton Heritage Facebook page.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2024, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California. This page has been viewed 531 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 29, 2024, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
