Saved buildings
save our heritage organisation

New History of Oceanside Sets Sail
November/December 2022

Kristi Hawthorne, historian and director of the Oceanside Historical Society, has a new book out simply titled The History of Oceanside ($50, 240 pages, soft bound). It is only the third history of the city the society has published in 34 years. With many photos and portraits of the diverse population past and present, the book leads up to Oceanside’s recent growth spurt as the seaside resort town its founder intended it to be. You can order it from the society.

Unless you were buried in the sand over the summer, you know that the pretty Victorian cottage featured on the book’s cover was carried by a tsunami of nostalgia and praise for a certain popular 1986 movie and its well-received 2022 sequel.

The 1887 cottage is one of the oldest homes in Oceanside and is now the county’s “last best” house of its kind. It is also the best representative of the City of Oceanside’s origins and the development of the town as a vacation and tourist destination that continues to this day.

The society and SOHO saved the Graves/Top Gun House from demolition. It was restored and reopened as a specialty pie shop in 2021.

Congratulations to Kristi Hawthorne, who gave herself a hard act to follow. Her earlier book is called Oceanside: Where Life is Worth Living.

Watch a short video of Hawthorne talking about her new book.

SOHO eNEWS

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Mailing - PO Box 80788 · San Diego CA 92138 | Offices - 3525 Seventh Avenue · San Diego CA 92103
Offices, Museums & Shops (619) 297-9327
Home | Contact