You may not think of California as an old state, but historians will tell you different. There have been Europeans in California since the 1500s, and Native Americans in California for thousands of years. If you're interested in getting away from your normal modern life selling Oshawa real estate, then during your visit to Orange, California you should make an effort to visit the Old Towne and learn about what life was like in California in the olden days.

Old Towne is built upon the city of Orange's original plaza, which is currently part of downtown. The buildings in this area are the first buildings that were constructed in town after it was founded in 1869. Just to put that date in perspective for you: that's about 15 years before modern time and frequency standards were adopted at the behest of Sandford Fleming. When Orange was founded, there was no standard time or time zones. Each city set its own time by the sun.

If you developed an interest in building styles after meeting an architect at a Toronto bed & breakfast, you'll be fascinated by the architecture of Old Towne Orange. There are many styles represented in the Old Towne that are characteristic of old California, like the Craftsman Bungalow, Spanish Mission, and Classical Revival styles that fit so well with the geography and climate. There are over 1,300 homes and buildings, including churches, schools, and shops in Old Towne, making it the largest registered historical district in the state of California.

In many cities, old historical districts were torn down and replaced with new real estate offices advertising a home for rent in Puerto Vallarta or with modern chain stores. That hasn't happened in Orange. The district was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1997, protecting it in its current state. Going to the Old Towne district is like stepping into the past, because it still runs pretty much the way it always did. The bank is still open, the post office is still running, and there's even a soda fountain that's the oldest in the county.

Old Towne is an attraction that's good for all ages, so pack your baby's cloth diapers and come out to visit. You can play in the park, pick up a bit of history from plaques and museums, do your errands, have a snack, and buy some souvenirs. Old Towne is a whole self contained little world and a definite must see.