Historic Contexts Library

New Contexts from the Office of Historic Preservation

As an ongoing part of our office's effort to help preserve and tell the full story of California, we recently embarked on development of two new historic context statements in collaboration with associated communities and organizations. Please click on the titles below to learn more about each of these important contexts:

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California 1850-1970
Native Americans and the California Mission System

Underrepresented Communities

Latinos in Twentieth Century California (2015) 
African Reflections On the American Landscape: Identifying And Interpreting Africans (2003)
Asian Reflections On the American Landscape: Identification And Interpreting Asian Heritage (2005)
Hispanic Reflections On the American Landscape: Identifying And Interpreting Historic Heritage (2009)
Reflejos Hispanos en el Paisaje Americanos: Identificacion e Interpretation de la Herencia Hispana (2009)

Local Historic Contexts

Benicia -
City of Benicia (2011)

Berkeley -
Shattuck Ave Commercial Corridor Historic Context and Survey (2015)

Fresno -
Mid-Century Modernism (2008)
South Van Ness Industrial District Historic Survey (2015)

Los Angeles -
African American History of Los Angeles (2018)
Chinese-Americans in Los Angeles, 1850-1980 (2018)
Jewish History of Los Angeles (2016)
LGBT Historic Context Statement (2014)
Latino Los Angeles Historic Context Statement (2015)

Monterey County - 
Agricultural Resources Evaluation Handbook (2011)  
Agriculture in North County (2010)
Agriculture in South County (2009) 

Napa -  
City-Wide Historic Context Statement: Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 (2009)         
Spencer's Addition (2010)
West Napa (2010)

Ontario -
Ontario International Airport Historic Context Statement (2017)

Pebble Beach -
Pebble Beach Historic Context Statement (2013)

Riverside - 
Modernism Context Statement (2009)
Citywide Modernism Intensive Survey (2013) 
Latino Historic Context Statement (2018)           

San Diego - 
San Diego Modernism (2007)
San Ysidro (2011)
San Diego Citywide LGBTQ Historic Context Statement (2016) 

San Francisco - 
Mission District (2007)
Auto-Related Buildings: Van Ness Auto Row (2010)
Modern Architecture and Landscape Design (2010)
Citywide Historic Context Statement for LGBTQ History in San Francisco (2016)

San Jose -
Guadalupe/Washington Conservation Area (2009)

San Luis Obispo -
Citywide Historic Context (2013)

Sacramento-
Raised Streets & Hollow Sidewalks (2009)
Mid-Century Modern in City of Sacramento Historic Context Statement and Survey Results (2017) 

Statewide Historic Contexts

The following contexts and guidelines are provided by and with thanks to Caltrans' Cultural Studies Office. Additional guidance documents are available on the Caltrans Guidance page.