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June 2026 Preservation ePost | | |
One of the many roles of the California Office of Historic Preservation is to help communities preserve and celebrate their history. This history is not defined solely by geographical boundaries or buildings, but by those spaces within the context of cultural and historical events. What makes a building, a neighborhood, or a bridge historically significant might be the architectural style, who designed it, its use over generations, or its role as the site of a pivotal moment in history.
In 2014, the National Park Service initiated an LGBT-specific theme study as part of its Heritage Initiative. Other Heritage Initiative studies include women's history, Latinos, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The goals of this initiative included engaging with the public to identify and tell the stories of LGBT-associated sites and to increase the number of these sites listed as landmarks and on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, there are over 20 LGBT-related places listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Japanese YWCA, Compton's Cafeteria, and Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco and Morris Knight House in Los Angeles.
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At the state level, the Black Cat Tavern in Los Angeles is recognized as a Historical Landmark for being the site of the first LGBT civil rights demonstration in Southern California (#1063). The protest started in response to a New Year's Eve raid on the tavern in 1966, resulting in the arrest of 14 men for kissing. Two and a half years before the Stonewall Inn riot in New York City, this was a significant moment in the fight for LGBT+ rights. The ensuing protest and legal challenge to the arrests led to the eventual overturning of discriminatory laws in California.
Please visit our Historic Contexts Library to read about the individuals, organizations, and events that played roles in the LGBT+ history in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. California State Parks offers resources examining the legacies of the LGBT+ community during the Gold Rush and western settlement. The California Natural Resources Agency will host virtual and in-person events to celebrate Pride.
| | Visit the Office of Historic Preservation's website to learn more about our office's role in preserving and celebrating California’s heritage! | | |
Originating in Los Angeles in the late 1940s, Googie architecture is defined by bold geometric shapes, starbursts, boomerang-shaped pillars, and cantilevered rooflines. The influence of Googie architecture evokes a very specific era in American architectural design, where a country emerging from World War II looked to space and technology for a bright future. From Disneyland's Tomorrowland to the Seattle Space Needle, the influence of Googie architecture shaped a distinct aesthetic in American architecture.
The style was most commonly used in service-industry buildings: restaurants, gas stations, car washes, and motels in a country where more and more people traveled by car. Businesses needed a way to stand out to passersby.
Examples include:
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Bob's Big Boy, 4211 West Riverside Dr., Burbank
One of the first examples of Googie architecture. The iconic coffee shop was listed as a California Point of Historical Interest in 1993.
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McDonald's, 10207 Lakewood Blvd., Downey. This is the oldest McDonald's still in operation. It is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and is listed on the California Register of Historical Resources.
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Union 76 Gas Station, 427 N. Crescent Dr., Beverly Hills
Originally designed to be part of the Los Angeles International Airport, this space-age gas station looks like it could just as easily be a refueling station from The Jetsons.
| | While the style became a common sight in suburbia, it fell out of fashion in the 1970s. Many buildings were renovated or demolished. Below are examples of historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects that retain the building's Googie features. | | |
1750 Vine Street,
Los Angeles
Constructed in 1955-56 as the headquarters for Capitol Records, the first major recording label on the West Coast. The unique cylindrical building was designed by the Los Angeles architecture firm Welton Becket & Associates. The studios and reverberation chambers, engineered by guitar legend Les Paul, are designed to optimize the acoustic properties of each space. The Capitol Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2024.
Photo Couresy of Historical Resources Group
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1060 W. San Bernardino Rd., Covina
The sprawling Googie-style, Egyptian-themed bowling center was constructed in 1955 with a major addition in 1962. It was designed by the masters of bowling center architecture, Powers, Daly, and DeRosa, who designed 72 bowling centers during their careers. Covina Bowl was added to the California Register of Historical Resources in 2016.
The long-closed bowling alley and surrounding property were converted into townhomes in 2021, incorporating the bowling alley's Googie architectural elements.
Photo courtesy of Peter Moruzzi
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Hollywood Downtowner Motel
5601 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles
This California Register-listed motel was recently purchased through the State's Project Roomkey program and is being converted into housing for youth at risk for homelessness. The sign and other defining Googie features, including the rock facade and balcony, are to be incorporated into the project.
Photo courtesy of Hollywood Downtowner Motel
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News, Education, Grant Opportunities,
and More
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Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Events Calendar
Stay up-to-date on ACHP events and meetings.
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California Strategic Growth Council
The California Strategic Growth Council released new Tribal Technical Assistance Guidance to its Technical Assistance toolkit. This new section includes background on California’s unique historic relationship with Tribes, a set of core principles for working with Tribes, best practices for developing a Tribal-specific TA program, resources to inform Tribal engagement, and a Tribal-specific glossary.
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National Park Service
The National Park Service has issued additional information that supplements the Historic Preservation Certification Application instructions for Part 1 application documentation requirements for requests for preliminary determinations of significance.
This additional information is intended to simplify submission requirements and the amount of documentation required for properties not already listed in the National Register of Historic Places participating in the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program.
The Technical Preservation Services (TPS) division of the National Park Service offers a series of free online trainings on a variety of topics, including Sustainability Guidelines, Rehabilitation Guidelines, Incentives, Local Historic Districts, and more. TPS also offers an extensive series of publications that provide guidance and how-to on a broad range of preservation topics and applications.
Grants
The National Park Service is accepting applications for the Save America's Treasure Grant. This grant is divided into two parts:
Preservation projects: Properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places for national significance or designated a National Historic Landmark. The property may be listed either individually or as contributing to a nationally significant district. These awards are managed by the National Park Service.
Deadline: June 16, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
Collections Projects: Projects involving collections (including artifacts, museum collections, documents, sculptures, and other works of art). These awards are managed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Deadline: June 16, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
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Fall 2026 Artist-in-Residence Program
Redwood National and State Parks have announced the opening of the submission window for the Fall 2026 Artist-in-Residence Program, inviting artists of all disciplines to apply for a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring landscapes of the ancient redwood forest.
The submission window will be open June 1 – June 15, 2026.
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California Preservation Foundation
Stay up-to-date! Visit the upcoming events calendar to find workshops and webinars for preservationists, architects, planners, and anyone else interested in learning more about preservation issues.
2027 CPF Conference Proposals - Call for Ideas
The California Preservation Foundation is excited to announce that the 2027 Annual California Preservation Conference will take place next Spring in downtown San Jose and is accepting ideas for sessions, tours, or other program offerings through August 13th.
Doors Open California
The 5th Annual Doors Open California returns for the weekends throughout September 2026, offering behind-the-scenes access to over 75 historic sites across the state for a flat $20 fee.
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California Grants Portal
Hosted by the California State Library, this is a one-stop portal for searching for grants and loans offered by state agencies.
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National Trust for Historic Preservation
America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2026
In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the National Trust for Historic Preservation released its list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, honoring eleven historic sites that bring to life the principle that all people are created equal. This year, in honor of the 250th anniversary, each site featured on the list will also receive a one-time $25,000 grant from the National Trust.
National Preservation Summit, Washington, D.C — This year's theme is "All People Are Created Equal," exploring community revitalization, the interpretation of the past, and unity through historic places. Remote/online attendance is available for those who can't travel.
September 22 - 23, 2026
Grants
The Moe Family Fund for Statewide and Local Partners supports current dues-paying members of the National Preservation Partners Network (NPPN) with grants focused on strengthening preservation organizations and addressing pressing issues in the preservation field. This year, grant-funded projects will fall into one of three categories:
-Advocacy
-Capacity Building
-Climate Change
Deadline: October 15, 2026
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HistoriCorps
HistoriCorps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides volunteers of all skill levels with a hands-on experience preserving historic structures on public lands across America. Volunteers work with HistoriCorps field staff to learn preservation skills and put those skills to work saving historic places that have fallen into disrepair. HistoriCorps works to ensure America’s cultural and historical resources exist for generations to come.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:
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AHP: Stanislaus National Forest Recreation Residence Survey
Stanislaus National Forest
June 21-26, June 28-July 3, July 5-10, July 12-17, August 2-7,
August 9-14, August 16-21, and August 23-28
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Jesse Ross Cabin, Sierra National Forest,
July 5-10, July 12-17, and July 19-24
| | Items posted in the ePost are presented as an informational courtesy and do not constitute an endorsement by the Office of Historic Preservation. | | |
News from California State Parks
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