Collections

The Laguna Woods History Center collects and cares for an expansive array of historic items, including photographs, documents, videos, objects, and more. Collectively, these thousands and thousands of items help detail the history of Laguna Woods from unoccupied wilderness to working ranch to thriving community.

The Board of Trustees is committed to enhancing the accessibility of the History Center’s collections with the goal of ensuring that the story of Laguna Woods is not only preserved, but shared as widely as possible. To that end, this website is intended to serve as your gateway to the community’s rich past and dynamic present.

We encourage you to check back often, as more of our collections are digitized every month.

Journal Covers
Journal Covers

Currently Digitized Collections

Newspapers

  • The Leisure World News

Before After

Moulton Ranch Barn (Before) and 1988 El Toro Marine Aerial (After)

Additional photographs are available for viewing at the History Center. Consult with the Archivist to schedule an appointment to view the collections.

View some of the other Historic Photograph Collections:

Early Years Collection

Heritage Hill Historic Park Collection

Camera Club

Bowling Club

More collections are available at the Laguna Woods History Center. The volunteers are helping us digitize more records to make them accessible to you.

Before After

Moulton Ranch cattle overlooking Saddleback Mountain, circa 1960s (Before) and Dream Sale in Leisure World, 1978 (After)

Topical Summary of Photograph Collection:

  • Academians
    Activities – Recreation
    Aerial Views
    Airplane Crash
    Aliso Creek
    American Italia Club
    Anniversary – 10th – Leisure World [1974]
    Anniversary – 20th – Leisure World [1984]
    Anniversary – 25th – Leisure World [1989]
    Anniversary – 30th – Leisure World [1994]
    Anniversary – 40th – Laguna Woods Village [2004]
    Anniversary – 45th – Laguna Woods Village [2009]
    Annual Meetings
    Annual Recognition Dinner
    Aquadettes
    Audubon Society
    Bank Opening
    Bicyclers
    Boehm Global Peace Sculpture
    Bowling League
    Brandeis University
    Bridge
    Budget Planning
    Buildings – Commercial
    Buildings – Leisure World
    Buses
    Cable Installation
    California of the Past
    Camera Club
    Carousels
    Cassettes OH Oral Histories
    Ceramics Casters
    Churches #1 & #2
    Classes
    Clubs
    Collections – Schultz & Others
    Community Associations
    Construction
    Cortese Family
    Coyotes
    Dancing
    Diorama
    Docents
    Early Days
    Earth Day
    Eastside Reservoir Project
    Electric Car
    El Nino 1997 -1998
    El Toro Air Show
    Environment
    Exercise
    Existing Site Construction
    Extravaganza Ball (5/21/1974)
    Festival 1983
    Flood 1968 & 1997
    Friendship Gate
    Garden Center
    Gates
    Gate 14, Rebuild Photos
    Glendale Federal
    The Globe [unisphere]
    Golden Rain Foundation
    Golf
    Golf 9-Hole
    Grading
    Health
  • Historical Society – Leisure World
    Historical Society – Volunteers
  • Home Depot
    Home Federal
    Honorees
    Incorporation of Leisure World
    International Executive Service Corps
    Japanese Astronaut
    Laguna Beach
    Laguna Woods City (10th Birthday)
    Landscape Maintenance
    Lawn Bowling
    Leisure World 1964
    Leisure World & Elsewhere
    LW of the Month 1978 & 1979
    Library
    Mall
    Manors
    Medical Center
    Memorial Day
    Miscellaneous
    Model Homes
    Moulton Parkway
    Moulton Plaza
    Music Groups
    Mutual OfficersNew Residents (Openings)
    Northern California Water System
    Orange County Ranchos & Landmarks
    Oriental Gardens
    Parades 1970-1972, 1976-1984
    Parades 1989, 1990, 1998
    Parks
    PCM Staff
    People A – G
    People H – M
    People N- W
    Pioneers
    Post Cards
    Regency Winter Tea Party
    Rossmoor – Leisure World Brochure
    Rosemoor – Planned Office Building
    Saddleback Memorial Medical Center
    Scenic View
    Security
    Shuffleboard
    Snowstorm 1/10/1949
    Society for Humanistic Judaism
    Stables
    Storage Area
    Swimming
    Table Tennis
    Taj Mahal
    Tennis
    Theatre Guild
    Third Mutual
    Towers
    Trees
    TV Installation
    Unidentified Photos – Slides
    United Mutual
    Veteran – WWI
    Villa Valencia
    Walking
    Wedding Anniversaries
    Woodworking