The Temecula Valley Historical Society has produced a Historical Guide to Old Town Temecula.

It provides a map and lists eleven historical properties through out Historic Old Town together with a brief summary of their historical import. The Guide also lists four historical sites including that of the Temecula Hotel built in 1885 and a number of historical residences.

For further information on HIstorical Old Town please visit TVHS new website. 

Founded in 2000, the Temecula Valley Historical Society is celebrating its 10 year anniversary. The mission of the Society is to "identify, preserve and promote the historical legacy of the Temecula Valley and to educate the public about its historical significance".

Projects have included the placement of plaques and markers on historic buildings and sites in Old Town Temecula, the restoration of the Louis Wolf Tomb, the restoration of a stagecoach and the production of a DVD about the local history. The Society provides self guided walking tour maps of Old Town Temecula to local shopkeepers for public distribution. Monthly meetings are held at the Little Temecula History Center which include speaker presentations on the local history of Temecula Valley. The Society also organizes local field trips as well as sending out volunteers to the community to educate youngsters on the valley's historic legacy.

The Society holds regular meetings and produced it's own Historical DVD "Early Boom Town Temecula" which may be purchased for a small donation.

Visit their new website for more information and membership details.

Source: City of Temecula

Since its early beginning, the Temecula Valley has always been a place where the combination of mild climate and beautiful rolling hills have attracted human settlement.

The name Temecula comes from the Luiseño Indian word "Temecunga" - "temet" meaning "sun" and "-ngna" which means "place of". The Spanish interpreted and spelled the word as "Temecula". Over the years, the meaning of "Temecula" has been translated into several different versions of this interpretation, including the most popular, which is "Where the sun breaks through the mist".

The hillsides were the home of the Temecula Indians, the first residents of the area. Ancestors of the Temecula Indians were in this area as early as 900 A.D. The native people from here to the coast who shared the same language and culture became commonly known as the Luiseños, because many of their villages were once under the influence of Mission San Luis Rey.