Plaza Historic District

Downtown Orange, California, is organized around The Plaza, a circular park and public square laid out in 1886 and in continuous use since. The district covers about eight acres and contains fifty-three buildings, thirty-five of which contribute to its historic character. Most are brick commercial structures built between the 1880s and 1930s, with a few concrete buildings. They adjoin one another in a nearly continuous row. Notable examples include the 1928 Orange or Pantages Theater, the 1928 Beaux Arts First National Bank, the 1923 Orange County Fruit Exchange and the 1924 Elks Building. The park holds a 1937 fountain and mature trees, and a sidewalk horse tie-ring is also counted as a contributing object. The district was recognized because a public square this long-used in a business center is unusual in Southern California. It also reflects the town's agricultural, commercial and theatrical history. Today it still serves commercial uses, including antique shops and professional offices.