Googie Architecture in Orange County, CA: What’s Left in 2024?

The origins of Googie architecture

Googie Architecture is a style of architecture that originated in Southern California in the 1950s. It’s characterized by Space Age design elements. (The space race was a competition between the US and Soviet Union during the Cold War to achieve human spaceflight.)

Although laymen commonly refer to this style as “retro”, it was actually very futuristic at the time.

The name Googie was coined by architecture critic Douglas Haskell and is derived from “Googie’s Coffee Shop” on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood.

According to this fascinating article, Googie was a consequence of Southern California’s booming post-WWII car culture. To attract the attention of speeding drivers, businesses relied on big, bold designs, which at the time, were considered garish.

Characteristics of Googie architecture

Googie architecture in Orange County, CA

Orange County was once home to many examples of Googie architecture, but over the years, these structures have gradually been removed in favor of new development.

Below are some examples of what’s left of the Googie architecture in Orange County.

(Click on the address to open its location in Apple maps.)

Coco’s Bakery Restaurant (Garden Grove, CA)

12032 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840

Large concave roof and spire, hallmarks of Googie architecture

Hope International University (Fullerton, CA)

2500 Nutwood Ave, Fullerton, CA 92831

Boulder walls, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and triangular roofs

City of Fullerton Sign (Fullerton, CA)

B&B Donuts (Fullerton, CA)

Anaheim Convention Center (Anaheim, CA)

800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802

A giant concrete flying saucer!

Linbrook Bowl (Anaheim, CA)

201 S Brookhurst St, Anaheim, CA 92804

Many Orange County bowling alleys captured the essence of the Googie era. Alas, no one bowls anymore.

La Habra 300 Bowl (La Habra, CA)

370 E Whittier Blvd, La Habra, CA 90631

La Habra Circle (La Habra, CA)

1925 W La Habra Blvd, La Habra, CA 90631

Seal Beach Liquor (Seal Beach, CA)

112 Main St Seal Beach, CA 90740

Examples of Googie architecture at Disneyland

This model of Disneyland’s monorail doubles as a waterslide at the Disneyland Hotel

The Space Mountain dome looks like a spaceship. The adjacent Pizza Port has the classic Googie upswept roof.

Former Chamber of Commerce Building (San Clemente, CA)

Pedro’s Tacos (San Clemente, CA)

Stuft Shirt (Newport Beach, CA)

Have you spotted any other examples of Googie architecture in Orange County? Let us know in the comments!


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