This picture is of the sales tent that Hanson sold the first lots in San Clemente out of. This is the corner of El Camino Real and Avenida Del Mar in downtown San Clemente. The main sales tent is pictured on the left.

To the right is Hanson’s future office, as well as Travaglini’s Restaurant. Today, this building houses a Baskin Robbin’s and The Vintage Restaurant.

The other tent is where a hot lunch was served to perspective buyers on that 1st day. On December 6th, 1925, Hanson and his sales team waited for the crowd to come. It had rained, and the cars were parked in deep mud. By noon, a crowd of 600 people, who had driven an average of 60 miles, gathered to hear Hanson speak. By the end of the night, $125,000 worth of property had been purchased! (Picture courtesy of H.B. Estes Collection)