The Historical Society of Long Beach (HSLB) was formed in 1962 with the mission to collect, preserve, and present the city’s history. Throughout the years the HSLB has occupied many locations around the city, settling at its current location in Bixby Knolls in 2007. Operations are sustained at the HSLB by grant funding, membership dues, and community fundraising through programs and events.

The Library has a large collection of manuscripts, printed books and periodicals, photographs, maps and ephemera relating to Los Angeles.

Collection dates prior to separation from Los Angeles County (1889)to present. Bulk of collection dates from 1889 to 1953 and is Orange County specific.

Founded in 1956, the Orange Empire Railway Museum preserves the railway history of Los Angeles and Southern California. In addition to its large collection of full size railway cars and locomotives, its archives contains extensive materials on the Los Angeles Railway and Pacific Electric Railway, as well as the mainline railroads that served Southern California.