Crystal Cove Cottages: Islands in Time on the California Coast Book

Tucked between the housing developments and golf courses of the Orange County coast lies a small settlement of rustic beach cottages seemingly frozen in time. Crystal Cove Cottages is the first history of this uniquely preserved beach spot that has lured travellers and campers since the 1920s. Deemed by the National Register of Historic Places to be "the last intact example of California beach vernacular architecture," it is now a registered state park whose cottages are newly available for public overnight visits. From silent-film location to rum-runners' hideout, scenic setting for a vibrant landscape painting community to 1950s luau-party headquarters, Crystal Cove has all the while remained a bohemian yet family-friendly village. Ten sidebars on notable individual cottages highlight the Cove's distinct and often amusing architectural evolution. Crystal Cove Cottages captures the nostalgic ambiance of seaside Americana.

Library Journal

The allure of the Southern California beach is amply illustrated in this intriguing record of Orange County's distinctive Crystal Cove from Steen (senior editor at Metropolis) and contributors Meriam Braselle, an expert on the landscape painting tradition of Crystal Cove; Laura Davick, a third-generation resident and active protector of the cove; and John Connell, a California-based photographer who specializes in landscape and architectural photography. Originally the property of a Spanish land-grant family, the secluded Cove was acquired by rancher James Irvine and his partners in 1864. Although the Irvine family eventually moved from ranching to property development, Crystal Cove retained its sense of isolation until the end of the 20th century. An early mecca for plein air painters, filmmakers, beach campers, and rustic cottage builders, The Cove continues to attract artists and other bohemians. This handsome coffee-table book, the first history of the area, captures the uniqueness of this preserved settlement (now a state park and the property of the state of California) and will be an important acquisition for any library, including academic libraries with a substantial California history collection.-Janet Ross, formerly with Sparks Branch Lib., NV Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.