Tustin Area Museum

02/19/2026

There are still a few seats left for tomorrow night’s Night at the Museum! Jeff Thompson will be presenting the fabulous history of the third oldest house in Tustin, the beautiful Martin-Thompson House! If you’ve been on one of our Home Tours, you may have been able to see the house but come and listen to the home’s history, the story of its move to the current location and the loving care of this Tustin Treasure!
Visit www.tustinhistory.com for more information and tickets!

02/05/2026

We're celebrating 50 years supporting the history of our great "little" city!

01/16/2026

Scouting has shaped generations of young people in Orange County, emphasizing values of citizenship, outdoor skills, and community service that remain as relevant today as they were when the movement began locally in the early 20th century.

At January’s “Night at the Museum” presentation, longtime Scouting leader John Nielsen journeys through more than a century of Orange County Scouting history, woven together with Nielsen’s six decades of Scouting service. The meeting will be held on Friday, January 30 at the Tustin Area Museum beginning at 7 pm.

Nielsen will speak about the broader context of Orange County Scouting history. Organized Scouting took root locally in the 1910s, paralleling the county’s own growth from agricultural communities into thriving cities. Over the decades, Orange County Scouts have supported war bond drives, assisted during natural disasters, preserved open spaces, and contributed millions of hours of community service.

The audience will learn how Scouting adapted alongside Orange County’s transformation—expanding programs, welcoming diverse communities, and emphasizing leadership development that prepares youth for modern challenges.

Tickets are $20 per person, $15 each for members, and $5 for students under 17. Due to the limited seating area, tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Tickets are available at www.TustinHistory.com.

Call the Museum at 714 731-5701 with any questions.

01/01/2026

We're back in a new year with a speaker on another great topic - the History of Scouting in Orange County. The speaker is long-time Tustin resident and Scout Leader, John Nielsen.

Here's more information and a way to buy tickets to benefit the Museum.

Scouting Leader John Nielsen speaks about a journey through a more than a century of Orange County Scouting history.

11/29/2025

If you're looking for a unique holiday present, consider any of the books that talk about Tustin's history. They make great gifts for all - including long-time and new residents to see vintage photos and learn about what Tustin was like before today.

The books are available through the Tustin Area Museum at 395 El Camino Real (next to American Grub and iInitial near the corner at Main St.) We're open today (Sat) from 11 to 3 and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 to 3.

Visit our website at www.TustinHistory.com (click on Book Store at the top right of the home page) to order online.

08/07/2025

Check out this authentic Tustin Fire Department helmet and more new artifacts here at the Tustin Area Historical Museum!

07/31/2025

We were pleasantly surprised by the turnout at our July Night at the Museum, Japanese History in Tustin. if you missed it, here is the link to the YouTube recording:

On July 26th, 2025, our historian Tim Zierer gave a talk about the history of Japanese citizens in Tustin, their internment and military service with the 442...