From city expansion to celebrity guests, January has welcomed exciting news throughout the years. Celebrate Anaheim’s rich history by reading the timeline of notable events that have taken place this month.
1872
January 6 – Orange you glad that the name “Orange County” was first suggested as a possible name for a county in Southern California at a meeting held in what is now Downey, CA.
1913
January 9 - The 37th President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, was born in Yorba Linda. The Nixon Presidential Library is a short drive from Anaheim and includes the historic Nixon home that served as his birthplace.
The historic Nixon home that served as his birthplace, currently located at the Nixon Presidential Library.
1930
January 30 - Oh boy! The iconic Mickey Mouse makes his first comic strip appearance in 40 newspapers. The comics were done by Ub Iwerks, a chief animator who worked with Walt Disney®.
1945
January 16 - Hot off the grill since 1945! Carl Karcher opened Carl's Drive-In Barbecue in Anaheim, Calif. The first Carl's Jr.® restaurant opened in 1956.
1968
January 5 - Get your motor running! The High-Performance Trade Show takes place inside the Anaheim Convention Center for the first time.
January 13 - Anaheim has hosted a variety of shows throughout the years, from the NAMM Show to BlizzCon. On this day, California Men’s Apparel Exhibit was held at Anaheim Convention Center confirming its always been the stylish choice.
January 25 - The Harlem Globe Trotters had their first appearance at the Anaheim Arena. The team played in front of 7,000 fans and with Freddie Neal putting on a spectacular shooting display, Meadowlard Lemon staging unbelievable dribbling, and antics the Globetrotters did not disappoint. The team beat the Washington Generals 93-92.
January 26 - Are we there yet? The Recreational Vehicle Show said, “Yes, we’re there!” when it took place at the Anaheim Convention Center.
January 27 - If you know all the words to “Stayin’ Alive,” this show was one you should have attended. The Bee Gees, Vanilla Fudge & Spanky and Our Gang play at the Anaheim Convention Center.
1974
January 17 - The First Expansion finished at the ACC. 135,000 sq ft added to Hall B. January’s a big month for the growth of the convention center.
January 17 - The Anaheim Convention Center held its second Grand Opening Ceremony. At a cost of $16.9 million, the facility added 135,000 square feet of exhibit space. As a result of this expansion, Anaheim was able to attract prestigious events such as the American Dental Association, the Society of Nuclear Medicine, and the National Computer Conference & Exposition.
Anaheim Convention Center in 1974
1978
January 26 - Radio and television star Red Skelton performed in front of a crowd of 7,301 fans at the Anaheim Convention Center.
1993
January 1 - The Anaheim Convention Center continues to grow and evolve to best suit convention attendees’ needs. The fourth expansion was completed on this day and added 150,000 square feet onto Hall E.
2001
January 12 - More magic came to Anaheim as Downtown Disney® District officially opened to the public as part of an expansion of the Disneyland® Resort from one theme park to a multi-park resort complex.
2012
January 19 - Faith, trust, and a little Presidential pixie dust were in order when President Obama paid a visit to Disneyland® and gives a speech in front of the Princess Castle.
Anaheim Convention Center's Grand Plaza Expansion in 2013
2013
January 12 - The ACC, or Anaheim Convention Center, continues to expand to this day. On January 12, 2013, the fifth expansion was completed. The ACC’s Grand Plaza gained 100,000 sq ft along with landscaping, walkways and water features.
This month, we look back at how our city has grown with numerous expansions of the Anaheim Convention Center over the years. Anaheim’s rocked with great concerts and rolled with numerous automotive trade shows. January history also brought Anaheim plenty of magic with the first appearance of Mickey Mouse. What will today hold for Anaheim? You’ll need to save the date to find out!
