Museum Unpacking Memories to Share

Since the San Clemente Historical Society was founded in 1973, its members have lugged boxes of faded photograph albums, dusty 1920s Spanish-style furniture and other antiques in and out of storage because the organization lacked a permanent home.

But all that is about to change.

On Feb. 28, the society is scheduled to move into a historic 1926 home that member Doug Smith offered to lease to the group for its new museum. The 1,200-square-foot structure is one of the first 10 buildings built by city founder and developer Ole Hanson.

“It’s right in the heart of the downtown business district behind Ole’s first office, now the Baskin-Robbins,” said Jim Kempton, president of the society.

Members are unpacking seven decades of memorabilia, most of which had been tucked away in boxes.

“There are surprises here even for us,” said member Mark Johnson, 49, working his way through boxes of photo albums and other goodies stacked inside the four rooms of the white stucco and tiled-roof home.

There’s a chunky headboard and a red velvet chaise lounge that once belonged to Hanson, yellowed newspaper clippings from the era when President Nixon lived here, and a wooden bench that reads “San Clemente 1972 Home of Western White House.”

For the last few years, the historical society had kept its collection stored at the city-owned Casa Romantica. Members were given two of Casa Romantica’s 20 rooms for their artifacts: the Nixon room and the Hanson room.

But a year ago members were asked to move.

The historical society will celebrate the city’s 70th anniversary and the museum’s opening Feb. 28. The event will be from noon to 4 p.m. at 117 Avenida Cabrillo.

Tickets and information: (800) 998-4983.