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Hawthorne Historical Society

Mission Statement: Hawthorne Historical Society, founded in 2011, is a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire and empower people to make Hawthorne’s richly diverse past a meaningful part of their contemporary lives.

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Love Hawthorne? Love local history?

Help preserve its stories.

The Hawthorne Historical Society is accepting applications for the 2026 Volunteer Board of Directors.
Time Commitment: Average of 2–6 hours per month.
Available Roles: Research, Docenting, Collections, Writing, Events, Digital support
Application Deadline: November 30, 2025.

Submit Your Application
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About Hawthorne

Hawthorne is located in the very heart of the favored Southwest, being in the direct path of Los Angeles, towards the only natural deep-water seaport in Southern California.

We endeavor to bring you closer to the City of Hawthorne, past and present, by providing exhibits, materials, local history speaker events, walking guided tours for area school classes, historical reference books and photographs, personal histories (oral and written) and our annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner where notable people and organizations are recognized and honored.

The Hawthorne Land Company published and distributed thousands of circulars to entice people to purchase lots and or homes in the Hawthorne area. We welcome your input, comments, and contributions of photographs and memories to augment the collection.

Learn More
Who We Are

Hawthorne Historical Society, founded in 2011, is a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire and empower people to make Hawthorne’s richly diverse past a meaningful part of their contemporary lives.

Donations

The Hawthorne Historical Society is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We are funded through memberships, direct cash donations, events, and sponsorships.

Members

Membership is not required to access our website or physical museum. We do offer paid membership to support our organization and offer exclusive content and your name is acknowledged on our website with consent.

Merchandise

In both the online store and at the Museum, we have limited supplies of hard copy high school yearbooks, electronic copies of yearbooks, digital vintage photographs and historical documents.

Become a Member
Make a Donation
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Hawthorne Historical Gallery
Member Gallery
Free Gallery
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing Manual Membership or Automatic Membership.
Hawthorne Historical Society Membership

Your tax-deductible membership supports the mission of this organization.

Membership Benefits

  • Tax Deductible Receipts
  • Member Gallery & blogs
  • Exclusive Content
  • Online Store Discounts
  • Event Priority Invite

Membership Annual Plans

  • Senior - 1 year = $15
  • Senior - 2 year = $27
  • Senior - Lifetime = $99
  • Single - 1 year = $20
  • Single - 2 year = $36
  • Single - Lifetime = $129
  • Family - 1 year = $30
  • Family - 2 year = $54
  • Family - Lifetime = $149
  • Organization - 1 year = $50
  • Organization - 2 year = $100
  • Organization - 5 year = $250
Become a Member

Bob Jensen Day, A Celebration of Life

All Cougars, Friends of Hawthorne, and friends and family are invited to attend the Public Memorial for Robert (Bobby) Raymond Jensen, HHS ’71 who passed away far too soon on February 19, 2025.

In May 2018, Bob Jensen revived the vanishing Cougartown.com website (after the passing of its creator, John Baker) by setting up Cougartown on Facebook. He invited his Cougar friends to join. Those Cougars invited their friends who invited their friends and, in a few days, Cougartown had more than 1,500 members. Today, the community he created is lively and thriving and has grown to nearly 3,500 members who live all over the United States and abroad.

In addition to being Cougar town’s fearless leader, Bob was elected President of the Hawthorne Historical Society in November 2018. He worked tirelessly to improve the museum and access to its exhibits, amass collections and reach out to allwho love and lived in Hawthorne.

During this festive occasion, we will honor and remember Bob, celebrate the Hawthorne Historical Society’s work, and enjoy a lovely summer day in the park, something Bob would love. The Museum will be open to the Public. Classmates, friends and fans of Bob and community members are welcome.

  • Activities:

Lunch, guest speakers, live music, museum tours and membership opportunities, socializing and sharing stories about Bob and life in Hawthorne And of course, no event about Bob would be complete without an opportunity for everyone to show off their Vintage cars! Email sueking18@aol.com if you’re interested in showing off yours!

  • Date and Time:

Saturday, August 16, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

  • Place:

Hawthorne Historical Society Museum in Jim Thorpe Park, 14100 Prairie Avenue in Hawthorne

Please be sure to RSVP to sueking18@aol.com with your name and the number of people coming with you so the Committee can plan as needed.

HHS Upcoming Events
Up Coming Event

Request to Serve on the Board

November 20, 2025 01:00 am
HHS Past Events
Past Event

2025 Hometown Pancake Breakfast

June 7, 2025 08:00 am
Jim Thorpe Park - Jim Thorpe Park- 14100 Prairie Avenue, Hawthorne
Past Event

Keep your eye on this date

May 31, 2025 08:00 am
MUSEUM - MUSEUM, 14100 PRAIRIE AVE HAWTHORNE, CA 90250 HAWTHORNE, United
Past Event

Board Game Nights at the Museum Discontinued

March 25, 2025 08:00 am
HAWTHORNE HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 14100 PRAIRIE AVE HAWTHORNE, CA 90250 HAWTHORNE, United - HAWTHORNE HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 14100 PRAIRIE AVE HAWTHORNE, CA 90250 HAWTHORNE, United

The Hawthorne Historical Society is accepting applications for our volunteer 2026 Board of Directors. Average 2–6 hours/month. Roles include research, docenting, collections, writing, events, and digital support. 

Apply by Nov 30, 2025. Complete the application and submit it to admin@hawthornehistoricalsociety.org (subject: “2026 Board Application – [Your Name]”).

Click here to get application form
Upcomming Events
Past Events
Learn About Hawthorne
Members Blogs
Free Blogs
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Members Blogs

You Are Here – A History Timeline

You Are Here- Think of Hawthorne as being on the edge of a continent.  Beneath you, the Pacific  Plate chunk of the earth’s crust dives beneath the North American Plate and lifts California up with sometimes disastrous consequences.  Within two miles, you can wet your toes in the Pacific Ocean where it fills in the…

To access this post, you must purchase Manual Membership or Automatic Membership.
Members Blogs

Welcome back Hawthorne Historical members!

Welcome to 2021 redesign of our website. In appreciation of your membership support, you are given additional access through this website to some of the following features: Galleries with historical photos and descriptions   Free products from our E-store (shipping and taxes may apply)   We hope you enjoy what we have to offer and you…

To access this post, you must purchase Manual Membership or Automatic Membership.
Our Sponsors
Ways To Support Us!

Support for the organization comes to us in the form of memberships, cash donations, engraved nameplates on the perpetual memorial plaque displayed in the museum, online store items, major sponsorships, museum and community events, and with the deepest gratitude, the City of Hawthorne who provides the museum building and utilities.

Click below to begin your commitment to preserving and sharing the evolution of Hawthorne, CA from 1922 to the present.

Make a Donation
Want To Get In Touch?

We do offer paid membership to support our organization and offer exclusive content and your name is acknowledged on our website with consent.

Location:

Jim Thorpe Park, 14100 Prairie Ave,
Hawthorne, CA, 90250

Museum Hours:

Tuesday and Saturday
11AM – 2PM (Except Holidays)

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1262, Hawthorne,
CA, 90251