Since 1962 the HSLB has collected, preserved and presented the material history of Long Beach.  Today, we celebrate a new museum.  The facility houses historical collections, offices, a research center and two large galleries.

The HSLB is proud to announce its move to a new museum space at 4260 Atlantic Avenue in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood of Long Beach.  The 7,000 square foot museum and research center is planned to open in November, 2007 at a date to be announced.  In the meantime…
visit our ebay store at www.stores.ebay.com/historicalsocietylb
make contributions
volunteer by emailing history@historicalsocietylb.org
attend our upcoming Historical Cemetery Tour on Saturday, October 27, 2007

Mission
The Historical Society of Long Beach preserves the past for the future, connecting people to history and to the place they live. We help develop an inclusive community narrative that gives residents a greater understanding of their role in the story of their neighborhood, the City, and the larger world. Through our programs, exhibitions, collections, and lectures we engage the community in thinking about what makes Long Beach unique.

Special Thanks to

Programs
Annual Historical Cemetery Tour: Started in 1996, the Cemetery Tour is our signature event.  With costumed actors telling the stories of those buried in the city’s two oldest cemeteries, history, literally, comes to life.  Held on the Saturday before Halloween, the Cemetery Tour is a great way to have fun and learn a little about the city and its colorful past.

“Tell Me Your Story” Oral History Education: Students, grade 3 through 12, are given a lesson in oral history collection and asked to select an older person to interview about his or her life’s experiences.  Students prepare essays about their storytellers.  The best essays are selected for a public presentation by the student and his or her storyteller.  This program is deeply moving to all who attend.

Exhibits & Presentations: Over the years, many exhibits and presentations have been created and delivered by the HSLB.  A few of the most popular were “Icons of the Pike,” “The Navy in Long Beach: A Century of Collaboration,” and “Heroines of Long Beach.” 

Publications: The HSLB has published a number of books about the City’s history including “The Pike on the Silver Strand,” “A Step Back in Time,” “Mary Dell Butler,” “Making A Difference Long Beach, Olivia Herrera” and “Shades of the Past.”  They are available for purchase at www.historicalsocietylb.org. 

Research Center & Collections:
We acquire, conserve and serve as a repository for precious documents, artifacts, photographs and maps and other materials for the benefit of new generations of Long Beach residents.

The complete collection is made available to the public at our Research Center. The collection has something for every kind of researcher from the serious historian or policy researcher to the average resident interested in the history of their neighborhood.