Help the City of Ventura Community Development Department by telling us about people, places, and stories that matter to you!

We are particularly interested in the lesser-known places that shaped your community. These places may be important for a broad range of reasons, including architecture or landscape design; association with an important person; social, cultural and/or ethnic heritage; residential development, commerce, or industry.

The Historic Context Statement and Survey project will include properties and development trends dating from 1980 or earlier. All information received from the community will be considered by the project team and reviewed using professional standards for evaluation.

How should I decide what to identify?
 
In considering which people, places, or stories to identify, think about the following questions:

• What are the neighborhoods, commercial areas, and landscapes that have distinctive architectural or cultural characteristics, or reflect important aspects of social history or planning and development? What qualities of these places make them important or unique?

• What sites or buildings have traditionally served as gathering places or focal points in your community?

• Which buildings and districts may have been associated with important architects, builders, designers, developers, or engineers whose work helped define the character of Ventura?

• What people or places shaped social movements or the cultural evolution of your community?

• Who are the important people in Ventura’s history? Where did they live and work?

Banner photo: Main Street, date unknown
Source: Los Angeles Public Library