Support the Manhattan Beach Historical Society
Please click to download our membership application.
The Manhattan Beach Historical Society began as a historical committee for the city of Manhattan Beach in October 1970. On October 20,1977, it was incorporated as a nonprofit historical society.
Members receive a quarterly newsletter plus a 10% discount on most purchases from the Society.
Your contribution is tax deductible. Please make your check payable to MBHS and mail this form to: Manhattan Beach Historical Society, P.O. Box 3355, Manhattan Beach CA, 90266.
Please download, complete and mail a membership application.
Under the direction of James Gill the Manhattan Beach Pioneers have formed to acknowledge special members under the umbrella of the Manhattan Beach Historical Society. Three new categories of membership have been adopted.
“Pioneer” is a 50+ year resident of Manhattan Beach, past or present. Must show addresses and years of residency.
“Associate Pioneer” a 30-50 year resident of Manhattan Beach, past or present. Must show addresses and years of residency.
“Sons and Daughters of Pioneer” a direct descendant of a Pioneer. Must show addresses and years of Pioneer’s residency.
The purpose is to share and preserve our city’s history, foster fellowship, and create more awareness of the Historical Society.
Separate quarterly meetings for Pioneers are held to congregate and share stories.
The next Pioneers MEETING will be on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at the Mara Costa High School Drama Room. These meetings are for the MBHS members in the Pioneer, Associate Pioneer, and Son & Daughters of Pioneers categories. They hear speakers and share stories about Manhattan Beach in “the old days.” The speakers for the May Pioneers meeting will be James R. Gill and his father, Bob Gill.
A small discount to the General Membership annual dues serves as a special offering to new Pioneer members of the Society. A second page to the application is required for Pioneer proof of residency. Download a Current Membership Application and become a pioneer. A special certificate for the categories is being planned.
For more information contact James Gill at JamesRGill@Aol.com
Inaugural Meeting of the Manhattan Beach Pioneers 2015
General Meetings Schedule for 2017. The quarterly general meetings will be held on:
The next General Meeting is on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Beach Cottage museum at Polliwog Park. All are welcome.
Steve Meisenholder will give a PowerPoint presentation entitled Steve’s Memories of the Los Angeles Area from the Summer of 1947. This presentation uses various old photos to show what Steve saw in Los Angeles. Those of you that are over 50 or 60 will have fond memories of these locales. You are invited to attend this presentation, invite your friends, and we can share memories.
Steve Meisenholder is a 48 year resident of Manhattan Beach. He retired from TRW when it was sold to Northrup Grumman in 2002. Steve then became active in the Manhattan Beach Historical Society and was the MBHS president from 2006 to 2012. He is currently the principal MBHS docent and corresponding secretary.
The next Pioneers MEETING will be on September 16, 2017 at 10 a.m. in the meeting room of the Manhattan Beach Unified School Disrict Office at 325 S. Peck Ave. These meetings are for the MBHS members in the Pioneer, Associate Pioneer, and Son & Daughters of Pioneers categories. They hear speakers and share stories about Manhattan Beach in “the old days.”
Membership Renewal. If you haven’t renewed for 2017 (as denoted by the “16 Member status in parentheses on your mailing label of the mailed version of this n ), you will have a orange form as the last page of the newsletter.
Please send in this form with your check to MBHS as soon as possible..
Volunteer Docent Opportunities. We are now very short of docents. Please consider becoming a docent! It only requires three hours a month - from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. on a Saturday or Sunday. An experienced docent would train you for your first one or two sessions. Please call Steve Meisenholder at (310) 318-2625 if you wish to volunteer.
Visit the Heritage Square Museum
Visitors to Heritage Square (heritagesquare.com) can experience the open-air museum of Los Angeles architecture (mainly from the Victorian Era), with eight historic structures, and many interesting exhibits and tours during the year.
Our meetings are on the fourth Saturday of the month starting at 11:00 a.m. in the 1905 historic beach cottage located in Polliwog Park at 1601 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Beach, California. The meetings are free and the public is invited. Step back in time with us and enjoy interesting and educational programs on the history of the South Bay. Bring a friend!
GENERAL MEETINGS Schedule for 2016. Quarterly general meetings are scheduled for the fourth Saturday of the month. Meeting dates for 2016:
The SPRING GENERAL MEETING is on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Beach Cottage museum at Polliwog Park. At the start of the meeting members will be introduced to the Society’s newest Board member, Cheryll Lynn.
After that, Gary McAulay will give a presentation on history of the Boy Scouts in Manhattan Beach. This is the same presentation that he gave at the last Pioneers Meeting. You are invited to attend this presentation and invite your friends.
Gary McAulay is a retired police officer and is a long time resident of Manhattan Beach. Gary became active in the Manhattan Beach Historical Society in 2006 and has served as the MBHS president from 2012 to the present.
The pictorial history book "Manhattan Beach 90266" tells the story of how we became the great city that we are today. It was published in July 1995 and has 150 photographs. The book is easy to follow and includes a chronology, demographics and index. It is a wonderful reference book and is used by many for research. It is a hard covered quality book. The photo on the cover extends to the back cover and displays a panoramic view of a large segment of Manhattan Beach. John Post, a professional photographer took the picture on March 24, 1995. It had rained the day before and it is as if one can see forever.
The book, "I’ll Take Manhattan" was published in June 2000. It required three years of photography and one year of writing. The book begins with the early 1900s and travels into time to January 2000. The book has 144 pages, 250 photographs, chronology and captures the community as it was and through the turn of the century. The front cover features a 1907 Manhattan Beach Girl in her bathing suit. The back cover features two Pacific Electric trolleys traveling along the oceanfront through Manhattan Beach to Redondo Beach. The Society thanks Dr. Leland Whitson for his kindness in allowing us to use his art of the trolleys for the back cover.
The books are available weekdays in the office of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce at 15th Street and Valley Drive. On weekends, they are available at the Manhattan Beach Historical Society, 1601 Manhattan Beach Boulevard. If you buy both books the total will be $40.00 instead of $45.00. The author will autograph the book upon request.
Priority Mail is two to three days delivery. Media Mail is one week to three weeks delivery. For Mail orders, call Steve Meisenholder at (310) 318-2625, or send your check to the Manhattan Beach Historical Society, P. O. Box 3355, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Please include current shipping charges.