By Keith Johannes The Dana Point Historical Society receives many questions about historic buildings and their preservation. Many comments express concern about the building at the up-coast entrance to the Dana Point Commercial District, now called the Lantern District. The first use of the building at the split of Pacific Coast Highway and Del Prado was as the Sidney H. Woodruff Real Estate Tract Office (shown c. 1930.)   An...

by Barbara Force Johannes The “Blue Lantern Gazebo” (pictured) at the Ken Sampson Overlook Park continues to be fenced off due to a rockslide on January 13, 2018.  Cove Road was also closed when 18 tons of rock, including a two-ton boulder, dropped on the stone restrooms below.  Cove Road was re-opened but the restrooms below and the gazebo above remain closed and fenced off, although the Ken Sampson Overlook still remains a...

by Barbara Force Johannes As one would expect, whenever our Historical Society volunteers meet the public we receive questions about historic buildings in Dana Point.  This was especially true for our volunteers at our outreach boothduring the Festival of Whales on March 7th and 8th.   Santa Clara Avenue neighbors wanted to know what was being done about the Blue Lantern Gazebo at the Ken Sampson Overlook.  Many people asked about the...

The Dana Point Historical Society’s Founders Day Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the history of Dana Point, and this year’s honorees, Geody and Richard Deffenbaugh (below), have also contributed to the Society directly. Both grew up in California — Richard Deffenbaugh in Anaheim and Geody in La Mirada.  Richard’s first experience with Dana Point was in 1962 as a teenager when he...

The Dana Point Historical Society Scholarship Committee has chosen two high school seniors headed for college to receive the Society’s $1,000 scholarships.  Chair Heidi Hyde and her committee, consisting of Judy Henderson, Judy Brandmeier, Fay Kristjanson and Susan Hinman, have awarded the $1,000 Doris I. Walker Scholarship to Brisa Romero (below) of Dana Point High School.  Aside from graduating with Academic Distinction and the...