History Happened Here — Right Where You’re Standing!

Exploring California’s Historic Landmarks: Southern California Edition is your guide to the stories, places, and people that shaped the southern reaches of the Golden State. This volume features 383 state-registered landmarks across 10 counties, ranging from Spanish missions and adobe ranchos to desert outposts, coastal lighthouses, and the cultural landmarks of Los Angeles and Hollywood.

Designed for travelers, history buffs, educators, and explorers, this book offers detailed write-ups, official plaque texts, and GPS coordinates to help you find and understand each landmark—be it along a sun-warmed Pacific beach, hidden in a desert canyon, or in the heart of a bustling city block.

Organized by county, this guide enables you to explore Southern California’s past, including Native heritage, transportation, military history, architecture, and more. Whether you’re planning a road trip, chasing down a specific site, or curious about what happened just beyond the next curve in the road, it’s all in here.

With a deep love for California’s landscapes and layered past, author Shawn E. Bell invites you to rediscover Southern California — one landmark at a time.