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Yorba Linda is located in the northeast region of Orange
County where the hills are lush and green after a spring rain. Best known
to visitors as the birthplace of Richard Nixon with a museum and library
namesake, the city also has a reputation for its love of horses with a
over 100 miles of maintained horse trails and three state-of-the-art equestrian
arenas. The nearby Chino Hills State Park also an unspoiled wilderness
for riders.
One of the city's great assets is Featherly Park which
serves as a rest stop for bicyclists using the Santa Ana River Bicycle
Trail that runs from the Orange/Riverside County line to the Pacific Ocean
in Huntington Beach. The park features an amphitheater for summer evening
campfire programs. Guided nature walks are available through the wilderness
area. Open turf areas provide space for recreational activities and for
younger visitors, there's one fully equipped playground enjoyment.
The land on which Featherly Park was built was originally
granted to Jose Antonio Yorba by the King of Spain. Jose's son, Don Bernardo,
expanded the Rancho and it became the greatest ranchero of early California.
He was known throughout the state for his wealth and hospitality.
The park provided both picnic and camping facilities until
the late 1970's. Featherly Regional Park was converted to camping only
following the opening of Yorba Regional Park just five miles to the west
(which is a picnic only, day use facility). Nineteen RV sites with electrical
and water hookups were completed in 1996.
Today the park contains 119 individual sites, organized
group and youth area camping, two amphitheaters and a visitor center.
Featherly Regional Park encompasses 795 acres, 66 are now developed leaving
the rest of the park in its natural state. F The name Yorba dates as far back as 1769 when Jose Yorba
was part of a Spanish expedition exploring the area now known as Orange
County. In 1809, Jose Yorba petitioned the King of Spain for a land grant
and was awarded 62,000 acres of land which came to be known as Rancho Santiago
de Santa Ana.
Early residents came to Yorba Linda with the intent of
operating small farms. These families came between 1910 and 1920 and constructed
numerous ranch houses, and planted citrus groves; Yorba Linda began as
a community of hard-working citizens. The construction of the Pacific Electric
Railroad line between Yorba Linda and Los Angeles established an important
transportation link; Yorba Linda growers could now easily get their produce
to a major produce market. Soon after, two packing houses were built adjacent
to the railroad station and the center of the community had begun.
During the post World War II era, Yorba Linda retained
its small town character. It was not until the 19600's that Yorba Linda
began experiencing the tremendous population growth which the rest of Orange
County had been experiencing for the previous two decades. Yorba Linda,
once a small agricultural community of approximately 4,000 people, began
its transformation into a modern community with incorporation occurring
in 1967.
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Photos © Debbie Stock
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The Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace opened on July
19, 1990. It is a privately supported, non-profit institution dedicated
to educating the public about the life and times of the 37th President
and encouraging interest in history, government and public affairs.
The nine acre Library & Birthplace is a three-dimensional
walk-through memoir featuring a 52,000 square foot museum, 22 high-tech
galleries, movie and interactive video theaters, the First Lady's Garden,
the President's restored 1910's birthplace, and the memorial sites of President
and Mrs. Nixon. Visitors can watch a 27-minute movie entitled "Never Give
Up: Richard Nixon in the Arena" and then proceed through the 52,000 square
foot main gallery.
Galleries include: Road to the Presidency, The Vice
Presidency, World Leaders, Structure of Peace Gallery, Berlin
Wall Freedom Presentation, The Lincoln Sitting Room, The Gowns gallery,
Domestic Affairs Gallery, The Watergate Gallery, President Nixon's Private
Study - a part of the room from his New Jersey home and the President and
Mrs. Nixon's Memorial.
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