The property passed through many hands throughout the twentieth century. In the late 1980s, a group of forward-thinking individuals who saw what Casa Romantica could become took responsibility for its future.
Nearly twenty years later, our vibrant institution programs over 100 multi-cultural events every year, hosts a variety of educational programs, maintains 2.5 acres of diversified water-wise coastal flora from all over the world, and welcomes over 40,000 visitors annually.
Celebrating 97 Years
1925
H.H. Cotton, a financial tycoon, purchases 5,000 acres of land from the old Boca de la Playa Rancho and hires a developer, Ole Hanson, to plan a seaside city.
Ole Hanson begins selling residential lots in San Clemente, which he names after nearby San Clemente Island
1926
The City of San Clemente, patterned as a “Spanish Village By The Sea,” is developed with consistent Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.
H.H. Cotton commissions architect Carl Lindbom to build a Spanish Colonial Revival mansion near the southern tip of San Clemente.
1927
Ole Hanson commissions architect Carl Lindbom to build his Spanish Colonial Revival dream home.
1934
The Great Depression hits, causing Ole Hanson to forfeit ownership of his San Clemente house to Bank of America.
1939
Bank of America leases the Ole Hanson estate to Miramonte Club of Los Angeles for use as a private beach club.
1941
Neil and Lucy Rasmussen purchase the Ole Hanson estate for $10,000.
1946
The Schuyler family purchases the estate, which they name ‘Casa Romantica.’
1952
Evalyn Waring, ex-wife of big band leader Fred Waring, purchases Casa Romantica.
1956
Arthur and Dorothy Whitehouse purchase Casa Romantica and rename it ‘Casa Blanca.’
1959
George and Louise Welsh purchase the property and operate a retirement home onsite. They rename it “Casa Romantica” after finding an old sign in the kitchen inscribed with that name.
1989
Casa Romantica is sold to the Redevelopment Agency of San Clemente for $2.5 million.
1991
Casa Romantica is accepted into the National Registry of Historic Places.
1999
After years of deliberations about the proposed usage of the estate, an anonymous donor gifts $1 million to the city of San Clemente with the condition that it renovate Casa Romantica for use as a cultural arts institution.
2002
The newly-appointed Board of Trustees hosts a Capital Campaign to raise $4.8 million for the restoration of Casa Romantica.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens hosts its first fundraising gala, Toast to the Casa. The cultural institution also hosts the first annual Artists of Tomorrow student art exhibition, featuring works by San Clemente High School and local middle school students, in conjunction with Arts Orange County’s annual “Imagination Celebration.”
2004
Casa Romantica opens to the public full-time for events and daily tours of the home and gardens.
2006
The Amphitheater by the Sea is built on the north side of the property.
2010
The Discovery Gallery opens to the public with historical information about city founder Ole Hanson in a long-term exhibition loaned by the San Clemente Historical Society.
Casa Romantica hosts two major historical exhibitions: Nixon in San Clemente: The Western White House Years, and Memories of WWII.
2012
Casa Romantica hosts the 10th annual Toast to the Casa gala. The cultural institution also begins hosting an annual Mary Colby Tea fundraiser in honor of San Clemente resident Mary Colby, who donated a significant collection of antiques to Casa Romantica to support its youth arts education programs.
The historic La Cristianita Monument is moved to Casa Romantica.
2013 – 2014
Casa Romantica launches Casa Captivating programming, which brings international talent in visual art, music, performing arts, liberal arts, and literature to south Orange County. One of the season’s first events is Casa Classic: Christchurch Cathedral Choir of Oxford University, a 50-piece choir from London, UK. Casa Romantica also expands its family programming with the first annual Casa Nutcracker, performed by the Orange County Ballet Theater.
Casa Romantica commissions its first original performing arts work; a dance commission by the Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles.
2014 – 2015
Casa Romantica launches the First Annual Casa Romantica Music Festival and Academy, a free arts education summer intensive program for children. The cultural institution also launches its biannual Arts Management Internship program.
2015 – 2016
Casa Romantica launches the First Annual Summer Dance Workshop, its second free arts education intensive program for children. The cultural center also launches monthly Member Nights at the Casa for the benefit of all members.
2016 – 2017
Casa Romantica launches a year-long art + horticulture initiative which culminates in the commissioned exhibition Casa Coastal: Rebecca Louise Law. The cultural institution welcomes a record number of visitors and national press.
2017 marks the start of D. Yoder Family Sundays, a free admission day held on the first Sunday of every month with activities and performances based on Casa Captivating programming for all ages.
The Beauty of the Butterfly, a sculpture by Omaha-based contemporary artist Matthew Placzek, is commissioned by Casa Romantica with funding from longtime volunteers William “Butterfly Bill” and Eunice Schafer and installed in the Native Bowl Garden.
Casa Romantica celebrated its 90 year anniversary with its Bee’s Knees Birthday Celebration.
Casa Romantica is named “Outstanding Arts Organization of 2017” by Arts Orange County.
2018
Casa Romantica introduces Casa Jazz Club to its roster of Casa Captivating programs with Grammy-nominated musicians.
Casa Romantica launches Casa Vibes, a live music series aimed at young adults with an affordable price point.
Casa Romantica is named “Best Cultural Center of 2018” by OC Weekly.
2019
Casa Romantica launches its first Casa Lumina Garden Walk, a new illuminated night time experience in the gardens.
Berenika Palys steps down as Executive Director, Board selects senior staff member Amy Behrens as Executive Director.
Casa Romantica installs new seats in its Coastal Amphitheater, now renamed the Redmond Family Amphitheater by the Sea.
2020
Casa Romantica commissions its first staged full opera, a reimagining of Pergolesi’s La Serva Padrona starring world-renowned soprano Andrea Zomorodian.
The World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a pandemic, and the US government declares COVID-19 a national emergency.
Casa Romantica closes its doors to the public with all events canceled or postponed; launches Live Virtually @ the Casa to provide its institutional educational resources and art exhibitions accessible to the world for the first time.
Casa Romantica hosted Who was Nellie Gail Moulton?, the historical art exhibition of an Orange County pioneer who has a lasting legacy in landmarks around south Orange County. This exhibition was the first comprehensive collection of her work in over 50 years and held virtually and in-person.
In time for summer, Casa Romantica re-opens its doors in late May 2020 with adaptations in accordance with state and county safety guidelines. New activities including pick-up kits, zoom lectures and classes, and a new Casa Kids Club that provides free crafts each week for children ages 5-12 years old.
For the first time ever, Toast to the Casa takes place virtually and in-person with a limited capacity.
Casa Lumina Garden Walk launches its first holiday-themed garden walk called Casa Lumina Holiday Walk, welcoming hundreds of guests even with limitations in attendance due to state and county safety protocols.
2021
Casa Romantica kicks off its 20th Anniversary Endowment Fund with a $90,000 donation.
For the first time ever, Casa Romantica hosts Living History Night. This event features docents placed around Casa Romantica to take guests back to 1927 when Ole Hanson and his family lived at the property.
2022
Casa Romantica celebrated 20 years of operating as a 501c3 nonprofit organization and 95th anniversary of being built.
2023
Landslides occur in April and June of 2023, causing the loss of half an acre of outdoor gardens.
Casa Romantica launched its digital tour guide on the Bloomberg Connects app. Casa Romantica joins an international network of art institutions featured. The Bloomberg Connects app allows visitors to virtually view areas closed to the public.
Amy Behrens steps down as Executive Director, Board selects senior staff members Kylie Travis and Jacqui Groseth as the co-Executive Director team.
2024
Main Salon and interior rooms reopen to the public for the first time in 18 months after the landslides. Permanent exhibitions were refreshed and created, including Casa Romantica’s art collection on view for the first time to the public.