Tustin city feature
About this landmark
Historic district preserving early Tustin on Main Street and El Camino Real.
Old Town Tustin is centered on Main Street and El Camino Real in downtown Tustin, accessible via I-5 and SR-55. Main Street spans about one and a half miles from Williams Street on the west to just past Newport Avenue on the east. The district contains numerous historic homes and buildings, including the Stevens House (1887), Vance House (1887), and Leinburger House (1888), along with the Tustin Presbyterian Church, which features an original structure from 1882 and was rebuilt in 1928. The Knights of Pythias Building, designed in Italian Romanesque style, and shop buildings at 130–140 West Main Street dating to around 1914 are also part of the district. Downtown construction occurred from the 1920s through 1940s.
Foundation and early growth
Tustin was founded in 1868 by Columbus Tustin, a carriage maker from Petaluma, and Nelson O. Stafford, who purchased 1,300 acres from Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. Columbus Tustin died in 1883 after attempting to secure the Southern Pacific Railroad terminus for the town, an effort that ultimately failed. By the 1880s, Tustin had grown to include three churches, a 50-room hotel, a bank, and a horse-drawn trolley. The city incorporated on September 21, 1927, with Byron Crawford elected as the first mayor and a population of about 900. By the 1890s, Tustin had developed into an established agricultural community known for Valencia orange groves, establishing the prosperity that financed many of the district's historic buildings.
The historic district itself reflects this period. Notable residences include the Hewes House (1881, expanded in 1920), the Leihy House (circa 1915), the Pankey Residence (1928), and the Rock House (1950). The Mary Tustin-Lindsay House, built in 1886, is described as one of the few intact board-and-batten houses remaining in Orange County from that era. The Tustin Area Historical Society and Preservation Conservancy have documented and supported these properties.
Preservation and modern stewardship
The Cultural Resources District was adopted in 1988, following a 1987 moratorium on land-use changes. The locally-designated overlay district spans from the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) to the south, First Street to the north, the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55) to the west, and Prospect Avenue to the east. Historic-resources surveys from 1988–1990 identified 270 pre-1940 properties, and a second survey in 2003 added 150 more. Sixty-three properties carry plaques on the Tustin Historic Register. The City of Tustin achieved Certified Local Government status in 1991, the first city in Orange County to do so. The Tustin Preservation Conservancy, operating since 2004, provides assistance to homeowners pursuing National Register listing for their properties.
A farmers market operates in Old Town Tustin on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and the district includes restaurants and businesses serving the community.
Insurance connection: Earthquake coverage for older homes
Homes built before 1980 that haven't been seismically retrofitted may be subject to higher earthquake insurance deductibles. Earthquake insurance coverage options range from 5% to 25% deductibles deawaiting confirmation on the home's age and value. Properties in historic districts often have older structures requiring careful assessment for seismic risk. California law requires that homeowners policies cover fire damage caused by or following an earthquake, even without separate earthquake coverage. Eligibility and limits depend on the individual policy. The issued policy controls.
Primary sources: City of Tustin, Preserve Orange County
Insurance context is general information only. The issued policy and its endorsements settle coverage.