An HMOC Overview

Heritage Museum of Orange County is a cultural and natural history center dedicated to preserving, promoting, and restoring the heritage of Orange County and the surrounding region through quality hands-on educational programs for students and visitors of all ages.

HMOC has a significant story steeped in Orange County history. In early 1980, Dr. Mary Nolan (who worked in the Special Services and Enrichment Activities department of the Santa Ana School District), noticed that students in other districts enjoyed a variety of field trips. However, Santa Ana students could not participate, due to lack of funds for buses and entrance fees. Dr. Nolan’s idea was to purchase a historic house, have it moved to a vacant lot in Santa Ana that was owned by the federal government and leased to the school district, and renovate the house so the parents in the district could be docents. Students could tour the house to learn about Orange County history. 

Working with then City of Santa Ana Grants Coordinator Alice McCullough and the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society, the need became apparent to preserve the past and maintain connections to early founders.  The Kellogg Family generously donated their family home to be saved for educational purposes and after a lengthy inspection and restoration process the museum was created and the nonprofit Board of Directors and organization was formed. 

Officially founded in 1981, the museum opened for visitors in 1985 and for the first 10 years served mainly Santa Ana students.  The Museum has gone through various name changes over the years but has matured into the present-day Heritage Museum of Orange County that many are familiar with.

Today, Heritage Museum of Orange County offers elaborate “living history” exhibits, environmental stewardship opportunities, and community events for visitors of all ages. Developed to provide a host of exploratory and interpretive educational and entertainment experiences, Heritage Museum attracts more than 40,000 guests a year.

Heritage Museum of Orange County is moving forward to continue its commitment to excellence as a premier living history and education center.  Its 19th century beauty and historic plaza amid extensive floral gardens and citrus groves sets the theme to experience and learn about the county’s unique past. 

It is vital to respectfully acknowledge the caretakers of the land that we now call Heritage Museum of Orange County. Santa Ana sits on the ancestral lands of the Tongva (Gabrielino) people as well as the Acjachemen (Juaneño) people. We honor the Tongva and Acjachemen elders and descendants, past, present, and future, who continue to steward this land and its waters. We are grateful to work on the land of the Tongva and Acjachemen people. We commit to uplifting this resilient community. We commit to learning how we can become better stewards of this sacred land.

Heritage Museum of Orange County is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID No.: 95-3665050