The history of the San Luis Obispo County and the Central Coast of California.

Our members are local residents from all walks of life. We share a fascination with Central Coast histories and cultures, particularly as they relate to each other and connect our region to the wider world.

Heritage Shared fosters inclusive, participatory community histories, especially through historical research and interpretation, publications, history education, exhibits and public programs, and historic preservation. The organization also encourages cooperative ventures among Central Coast cultural organizations, believing that the past belongs to all of us and grows richer in the sharing.

HeritageShared.org strives to help keep news about Central Coast history timely and easily accessible. It serves as a newsletter, calendar of upcoming historically related events, medium for virtual tours of notable historic sites and structures, and as an open archive of historical resources for the convenience of the broader community.

A series of video podcasts is available for download through iTunes from the History Center of SLO County at Historic Downtown San Luis Obispo Walking Tour.

A Sample of What's Inside An Excerpt from: Barns are Noble Historical resources include, but are not limited to, buildings, structures, sites, areas and places that are historically significant or that are significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military or cultural annals of the city, region, state or nation. Some prominent examples found in California include Hearst Castle, the Golden Gate Bridge, Luther Burbank’s home, the Santa Barbara Presidio and the towers of Simon Rodia. In San Luis Obispo, we are fortunate to have several historical resources including the Karl Kundert Medical Building, the Mission, the Stenner Creek railroad trestle, the Dallidet Adobe and the Octagon barn, to name just a few. The Cultural Heritage Committee, a group of seven citizens who advise the City Council on cultural resource preservation, developed guidelines, and they are a part of the city’s environmental guidelines. Private citizens, property owners, developers, design professionals, staff, the Cultural Heritage Committee and decision makers will use these guidelines as a resource for determining whether or not a property is a historical resource and for determining whether their undertaking is subject to the city’s regulations governing historical resources.

Heritage Shared is a chartered, 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to inclusive, participatory community history.