Because the residents at Orange decided to preserved the city´s historic dwellings it contains the second largest historic sites and buildings in the entire state if California. The Orange Historic District or Old Towne is a square mile located around the old plaza and still consists of the historic structures developed during and after the city of Oranges incorporation. Orange´s active commercial center is home to oldest soda fountain and oldest running bank in Orange County. In 1997, the city of Orange was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Orange is home to a small zoo, lakes, a wildlife sanctuary and a variety of parks for everyone´s enjoyment. Located at the Block at Orange, you will find Saks Fifth Avenue, Hollister, Ann Taylor Factory Outlet and Old Navy. In addition, The Block offers a variety of entertainment including the AMC Movie Theaters, Vans Skate Park, the Luck Strike Bowling Alley and Dave & Buster´s. The entertainment and shopping center is located on the western section of the city, north of the 22 freeway.
The Orange Plaza is home to a unique variety of shops. Antique collectors are drawn to its array of antique shops located near the old traffic circle. Recently, clothing stores and many different types of restaurants have been introduced. In addition, the area is home to Wells Fargo Bank, Radio Shack, a Masonic Lodge and Starbucks. The Plaza area is just a few steps from Chapman University with its refurbished library which is open to the public.
Organized back in 1915, the Woman´s Club of Orange sits near the Old Towne District. The clubhouse which was finished in 1923 is currently home to 180 active members. The Woman´s Club holds an annual Flower Show has become a major attraction.
Over Labor Day Weekend and for over a century, the City of Orange´s Plaza hosts the Orange International Street Fair. During the weekend, homeowners, residents, friends, families and people from all over Southern California join together to celebrate a number of different cultural backgrounds. The fair offers a great variety of music, food and dance from every part of the world. Best of all, the revenues from the event are donated to different charities which help improve the quality of life for many that make their home in the City of Orange.
