Vintage photos of this Southern California city will make you long for the good ol’ days. Or…it’s possible that seeing just how many things have changed might make you appreciate everything we have today.

Here’s a rare look at one of our favorite SoCal towns from the 1800’s through 1974. It’s truly delightful to see the transformation of Santa Ana. Do you have any fond memories from any of these spots?

1. 1974 -- A vintage shot taken at First Street and Daisy of the A&W Root Beer Drive-In. This sure makes me crave a root beer float!
flickr/orange county archives
2. 1974 -- Who remembers the Alpha Beta on Tustin Avenue? Seems like only yesterday...
flickr/orange county archives
3. 1974 -- The historic Yost Theatre in downtown Santa Ana back in the 1970s. The more things change the more they stay the same!
flickr/orange county archives
4. 1973 -- Santa Fe Depot as it was in the '70s. Just take a look at those cars!
flickr/orange county archives
5. 1960s -- Long before it was MainPlace Mall, this stretch of land used to be Santa Ana Fashion Square way back when.
flickr/orange county archives
6. 1940 -- Off we go...on our way to Santa Ana circa 1940.
flickr/orange county archives

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7. 1927 -- Sawyer's White Garage along 4th Street shows a different side of Santa Ana a long, long time ago.
flickr/orange county archives
8. 1911 -- The Santa Fe Depot in Santa Ana looks absolutely quaint.
wikimedia commons/photo courtesy orange county archives
9. 1910 -- Photo captured on the corner of 4th and Main Street in Santa Ana during a Ringling Bros. Circus parade.
flickr/orange county archives
10. 1891 -- Back when there wasn't a single car on the road. Things sure look a lot more peaceful without modern-day traffic clogging up the streets.
wikimedia commons
11. 1891 -- This group photo at the Santa Ana Fire Department captures a rare moment in time with the town's firefighters.
flickr/orange county archives
13. 1887 -- A rare photo of 4th street that captures what life was like in Santa Ana in the 1800s.
wikimedia commons

Now that was a blast from the past! For more vintage photos of Southern California, take a look at these rare images from the 1950’s.

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