Cover photo © Debbie Stock 

by Diann Marsh 
Heritage Media Corporation 

Produced by Heritage Media, this hardback book is a 9"X12",  274-page history of the city of Huntington Beach, California.

Some interesting facts: 
 

Huntington Beach --Huntington Beach was once called Shell Beach because of the numerous shells strewn along the shore.  

For a short time at the turn of the 20th Century, it was called Pacific City as entrepreneurs dreamed of  turning it into the Atlantic City of the west coast. Complete with a pavilion, today's pier redevelopment looks somewhat reminiscent of an earlier style.  

The name Huntington Beach was chosen to honor wealthy investor Henry E. Huntington, who owned the railway system connecting Los Angeles to Orange County and who took an interest in Pacific City. 

The first pavilion and pier were built circa 1902. 

The now protected Bolsa Chica Wetlands were once home to the Bolsa Chica Gun Club, one of numerous gun clubs which staked out the territory as a valued location for excellent water fowl hunting. 

The discovery of "black gold" or oil turned the city into a noisy, polluted place beginning in the 1920s. To this day, city coffers are feeling residual effects of that boom which is nearly played out. 

Do you remember the salt water plunge? Then you likely are in your 80s or 90s, at least. 

Lots given away with the purchase of a set of Encyclopedias kept several locations from growing or changing until just recently.