Floral Park Historic Architecture Walking Tour: Heliotrope Drive

About This Event:

Join us as we stroll along Heliotrope Drive, a beautiful, tree-lined street in Floral Park, a National Historic District located one mile from downtown Santa Ana. The tour begins at the corner of 19th Street and Heliotrope Drive, the spot where, in 1930, building contractor Allison Honer and partner Harry Ball built a Tudor-Revival home, now known as the Hall-Knickerbocker house. An ambitious undertaking in the depths of the Great Depression, Honer and Ball’s Heliotrope Drive development would feature showcase homes on its four corners as well as an Art Moderne mansion built for the Maharajah of Indore in 1938. During the tour, we’ll share histories of each home and the district and details about ongoing preservation efforts. Our tour is the perfect way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon and learn more about Orange County's historic architecture!

History of Floral Park:

Located in the northernmost reaches of Santa Ana, Floral Park originally comprised several tracts of land, the original tract owned by Herbert R. and Oscar Greenwald. In 1923, Allison Honer broke ground on what would become the neighborhood and, along with his partners and other independent builders, began developing homes in the community. Honer was inspired by the “City Beautiful” movement, with its emphasis on community and planning, when designing the neighborhood’s curvilinear street pattern.

What makes Floral Park so unique? No two homes are alike. The district boasts a diversity of intact architectural styles, from Victorian-era farmhouses to circa-1920s and -1930s homes built in Revival styles, including Spanish Colonial, Norman Cottage, Tudor, and Colonial. Also in evidence are Early California Ranch, Tiki Modern, and Split-Level homes, avant-garde Moderne mansions from the mid-1930s, and ranch homes from the 1950s. These homes were built for legendary figures in Santa Ana history and designed by architects of note.

In February 2023, Floral Park was designated a National Historic District for its architectural significance and association with the lives of significant persons. It is the largest historic district in the City of Santa Ana and the second largest historic district in Orange County.

Your Guide

Tim Rush, a founding board member of Preserve Orange County, is an historian, preservation advocate, and real estate executive. Tim has a successful history of civic and preservation advocacy in Santa Ana, where he is a long-time resident and former Chair of the City Of Santa Ana’s Historic Resources Commission. He chaired the Spurgeon Clock Tower Restoration Committee and co-authored the list of historic buildings which became the basis for the original City of Santa Ana historic register.

Your Host Organization

Preserve Orange County is a nonprofit charity with the mission to promote the conservation of the county's architectural and cultural heritage through education, advocacy and research. Founded in 2016 and based in Santa Ana, Preserve Orange County's revenue is derived from donations, grants, membership fees and programming events like this tour. Thank you for supporting our mission!

Meet-Up Location and Parking

Specific details will be communicated via email a day or two before the event. Please check your in-box and read the email carefully.

Tour Details

• The Floral Park tour starts at 10 a.m. and is 2 1/2 hours in duration. Directions and parking information are provided following ticket purchase.
• The route is flat with some uneven pavement. The tour is stroller and wheelchair accessible outdoors, but if the group is invited indoors, the tour is not accessible.
• Children 13 years of age and under are free if accompanied by an adult ticketholder.
• Restrooms are not available on the tour.
• Support dogs are allowed outside but please leave other pets at home.
• Tickets can be purchased here until the start of the tour. Walk-ins are not permitted.

Member Discount

A benefit of being a member of Preserve Orange County is that tickets for this tour are offered at a 20% discount. If you're unsure if your membership is up-to-date, please contact us at [email protected]. If you'd like to join and take advantage of the discount, please click here. To find out more about your host, Preserve Orange County, please go to www.preserveorangecounty.org.

Host or Publisher Preserve Orange County