Old Town Irvine was designated a California Historical Landmark on November 11, 1991. Today, the place stands as a testimony to the vibrant agricultural history of what has become one of California's most profoundly industrialized counties. This historical place began in 1887 with the arrival of the AT and SF RR. James Irvine chooses this site as the shipping center for crops grown on the Irvine Ranch due to its high elevation. The 125,000 acres Irvine Ranch, Old Town Irvine's distribution and housing center, was planned to expand as a bean and grain storage warehouse over the years. These buildings have been rehabilitated for commercial uses, and their exteriors have been painstakingly preserved.
