A Little Background Info on Brea
Brea officially became a city on February 23, 1917. Since then, the city had flourished primarily for its abundance of naturally occurring tar. Brea's oil boom lasted until the 1940s. As oil production declined, the next three decades brought new housing developments and businesses to Brea. The 1970s saw big changes with the opening of the Brea Mall. The city grew steadily through the years. As oil production declined, the 1940s through the 1960s brought many new housing developments and new businesses. The 1970s saw major changes with the opening of the 57 Freeway and the construction of the Brea Mall. Industrial parks and retail areas thrived in Brea during the 1970s and 80s, as more and more companies took advantage of the city's strategic location in the center of Southern California. To this day, the city is widely known throughout Orange County for its illustrious mall and action-packed, promenade-style downtown.
Brea is fortunate to have two museums:the Olinda Oil Museum & Trail and the Olinda Oil Museum & Trail. The Olinda Oil Museum & Trail is located at the historic headquarters of the Olinda oil operation, the Field House. The Field House has been converted into a museum where visitors can experience the old-town charm Brea has and still does possess. The Brea Museum and Heritage Center is located at the outskirts of the bustling downtown. It features a walk-through exhibit where historians will guide you to through the city’s history. Brea has taken part in many significant events such as WWII when the city sported a small airfield. Brea also hosted a baseball game where Walter Johnson, a Brea native, pitched against Babe Ruth in 1924.
