The Plaza (Orange, California)

The Plaza
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Plaza Park, the centerpiece of The Plaza in downtown Orange.
Show map of California Show map of the US
Location	1 Plaza Square, Orange, California
Coordinates	33°47′16.00″N 117°51′08.00″W / 33.7877778°N 117.8522222°W / 33.7877778; -117.8522222Coordinates: 33°47′16.00″N 117°51′08.00″W / 33.7877778°N 117.8522222°W / 33.7877778; -117.8522222
Area	0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built	1886
Architectural style	Spanish Architecture Art Deco — Spanish Architecture
NRHP reference #	78000729[1]
Added to NRHP	December 20, 1978

The Plaza, also known as Orange Plaza or often mis-referred to as Orange Plaza Park, is a historic commercial and economic area that encompasses downtown Orange, California. The Plaza has roots dating back to 1886 when Orange was one of the first towns to originate out of Southern California. It was here where the founders of Orange (A. B. Chapman and Andrew Glassell) designed the layout for the city of Orange. In the center of the plaza, is a large round-a-bout with spokes coming off from the north, south, east and west. The two roads that intersect at The Plaza are Chapman Avenue, also Orange County Route S-18, from the east and west and Glassell Street from the north and south. The road names change slightly depending on the compass direction of each street. The east side is E. Chapman Ave. while the west spoke is considered W. Chapman Ave. Likewise, the north spoke is N. Glassell St. and the south spoke is S. Glassell St.

The roundabout also features a park, which is the centerpiece of the Plaza as well as downtown Orange. This park is open to the public year round, 24/7 and can feature a wide range of decorations during festivals. During the Christmas season, a large Christmas tree is set up as well as a nativity scene. The park also features a fountain, which replaced the original that was created in the late 1800s. The current fountain was erected on December 1, 1937 with the original moving to nearby Hart Park. The park also features a time capsule, set to open 2073. Also in the park is a large flagpole, about 75 feet tall. The park is full of lush grass, which attracts locals for picnics on the weekends. The Plaza was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 20, 1978 as a historic district, meaning many of the buildings within the plaza contribute to the history and story of the district.

References