For many years Hanford had the only
opera house between the Los Angeles and
San Francisco areas. In 1923,
construction began on an assembly hall.
This hall, known as the Civic
Auditorium, was dedicated in 1924. It
still stands today in downtown Hanford.
The main auditorium is utilized
extensively by community groups and
organizations. County of Kings
decided to move out of their existing
offices located in the county courthouse
in the center of downtown, to a location
a mile away. As a part of this move,
they decided to abandon the old county
courthouse and the building was to be
razed. Community funds were gathered and
the Downtown has retained its
old-fashion charm, a focal point for
visits.
In 1980, in order to encourage the
restoration and rehabilitation of
historic structures, the city council,
in cooperation with private community
groups, established a Historic District. As a result of the many activities in
downtown Hanford, the restoration and
rehabilitation program, and the
cooperation between private citizens and
city officials, the City of Hanford, in
1985, entered and won a competition by
the League of California Cities based upon the revitalization of
downtown Hanford. Hanford's efforts were
also recognized in 1986 by American City
and County magazine, which chose Hanford
as one of ten cities in the United
States to receive its prestigious Award
of Merit. One of the country's Prettiest
Painted Places in America, Hanford is a
delight to visit, though many don't know
anything about this quaint city till
they stop and explore.
Attractions and Things to See:
The Hanford Carnegie Museum built in
1905 as a Carnegie library was
transformed into the museum in 1974. The
building is of Romanesque architecture
with furniture and photos describing the
history of the Hanford area.
Kings Fairgrounds hosts the Kings
County Fair.
The Kings Art Center was opened in 1989
as an art gallery and art training
center for Kings County. Gallery shows
are changed approximately every four
weeks.
Kings Symphony Orchestra founded in
1963 features performances with a
variety of classical and pops.
The Renaissance of Kings Cultural Arts
Faire the first weekend of October at
Courthouse Square in Hanford's city
center recreates the period during
King Henry VIII of England.