Narrating the story of cowboy star William S. Hart through pictures, Images of America: William S. Hart Park chronicles Santa Clarita history in the early days of silent cinema– a story that is now available in paperback.  

Photo Courtesy of Images of America: William S. Hart Park

Available since Jan. 31, Images of America: William S. Hart Park features a collection of pictures and pieces of history accenting the William S. Hart Museum that has since been locked away due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

The old-time relic mansion once belonged to Hart, the Nickelodeon cowboy star who thrilled millions of fans across more than 70 “shoot-’em-ups” in the early days of silent cinema.

“When I was making pictures, the people gave me their nickels, dimes and quarters,” Hart said prior to his death in 1946. “When I am gone, I want them to have my home.”

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Standing as a fitting testament to Hart’s legacy and generosity, the William S. Hart Park sits on 265 acres where visitors can tour his 22-room retirement mansion and ranch house, picnic on the park’s spacious tree-shaded lawns, wander miles of trails, feed animals at the barnyard and admire the herd of American bison, descendants of those gifted to the park by Walt Disney, according to the book summary.

Images of America: William S. Hart Park captures the earliest images of the Santa Clarita relic, while also featuring images of the Heritage Junction, which houses many of Santa Clarita’s most historic buildings and serves as a headquarters for the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. 

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Using archival photographs, the heavily picture-influenced paperback highlights distinctive stories from the past that helped shape the character of the Santa Clarita community today. 

Bill West, a longtime Walt Disney Imagineer and board member of Friends of Hart Park, and Kim Stephens, a 30-year partner with Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank and long-time resident of Santa Clarita co-authored the novel, piecing together the most notable stories that transformed the historical site. 

The book delves into the history of Hart’s career, the purchase of Hart Park, the story of the animals residing on the property as well as recollections of the first annual events that have made their way through Santa Clarita History. 

To purchase the paperback and delve into the archival photographs that helped shape Santa Clarita, click here.

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