Tour poster: Anaheim Colony: Winemaking, Oranges & Hidden Grids
Red Thread OriginalAnaheim
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Self-guided podcast audio tour

Anaheim

Anaheim Colony: Winemaking, Oranges & Hidden Grids

History & MemoryIdentity, Migration & Globalization
Distance
3.0 km
Duration
99 min
Route
6 stops

Step into 1857 Anaheim, a planned winemaking colony mapped out by fifty German pioneers and an Austrian surveyor. Beyond theme parks lies a hidden grid bounded by North, South, East, and West streets.

Max Krämer
Your guide Max Krämer History & Memory
Audio sample

What awaits you on this Red Thread tour

Step into 1857 Anaheim, a planned winemaking colony mapped out by fifty German pioneers and an Austrian surveyor. Beyond theme parks lies a hidden grid bounded by North, South, East, and West streets. On this walking journey, explore quiet redwood cottages, ornate Queen Anne mansions, oil-boom towers, and industrial packing sheds while discovering how vine blights, citrus empires, and craft beverage makers reshaped Southern California.

Your in-app experience

This is how the Red Thread app brings your tour to life.

Red Thread guides you through the city's stories that you won't find in any guidebook. Authentically and compellingly told by our experts and locals.

Home
01

Home

Get inspired and choose a story that fits your location and your mood.

Search for tours directly
02

Search for tours directly

Use the map to find tours in your city or at a specific address.

Redeem in the app
03

Redeem in the app

Redeem purchased tours or City Passes in the app using a voucher code or QR code.

Start well prepared
04

Start well prepared

Explore the route, stops, and many additional features for your experience.

Listen where it happened
05

Listen where it happened

Hear the stories where they happened.

Ask your guide
06

Ask your guide

Get extra context, deeper details, or useful tips nearby.

Collect discoveries
07

Collect discoveries

Build your travel passport and explore fascinating insights.

Itinerary

1

TOUR START

Mother Colony House

Built in 1857 by surveyor George Hansen, this redwood cottage served as the headquarters and nerve center for the German vineyard colony.

Mother Colony House

Image by AnaliliaP on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

0.01 km • 0 min
2

STOP 2

Woelke-Stoffel House

An 1894 Queen Anne Victorian reflecting the city's economic shift from winemaking to citrus farming following the vine blight.

1.86 km • 29 min
3

STOP 3

Center Street Promenade

The central axis of the 1857 colony grid, serving as the historical spine for commerce and community life.

Center Street Promenade

Image by Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

0.40 km • 6 min
4

STOP 4

Kraemer Building

North Orange County's first skyscraper, built in 1924 by the son of a German pioneer family following an oil discovery.

Kraemer Building

Image by Cbl62 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

0.33 km • 5 min
5

STOP 5

MUZEO Museum & Cultural Center (Carnegie Library)

Houses the 1908 Carnegie Library building and historic collections containing original artifacts from Anaheim's founding families.

MUZEO Museum & Cultural Center (Carnegie Library)

Image by Cbl62 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

0.40 km • 6 min
6

END

The MAKE Building

A restored 1917 marmalade factory turned craft beverage hub, echoing the town's original winemaking roots.

The MAKE Building

Image by Sony 1992 on Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Where the tour takes place

Starting point and rough tour area – the exact route unfolds in the app.

Good to know

  • Ideal for History buffs, urban explorers, architecture enthusiasts, and craft beverage lovers.
  • Best time Daytime or early evening when downtown cafes, museums, and craft venues are active.
  • Comfortable Shoes The tour spans flat downtown sidewalks and heritage parks; cushioned walking shoes are recommended.
  • Museum Hours Check MUZEO and Founders' Park open days if you plan to step inside historic interiors.
  • Refreshment Stops Center Street Promenade and the Packing District offer plenty of spots for coffee, lunch, or craft beer.
  • Parking Public structures near Center Street Promenade offer structured parking with multi-hour validation.
  • Your voucher You can redeem your voucher for two years from purchase. Once redeemed, you have 14 days of access and can enjoy the tour as often as you like during that time.

Your guide

Max Krämer
Audio sample
0:000:00

Max Krämer

  • History & Memory
  • Northern Germany

Historian with a passion for urban places of remembrance. Has worked in archives and museums for years; shows the traces of revolutions, monuments, and colonial pasts in today's streets.

Explore Anaheim at your own pace

Your podcast audio tour through Anaheim

  • Hear the stories of Anaheim right where they unfold
  • Explore 6 hand-picked stops across 3.0 km – at your own pace
  • Atmospheric storytelling, carefully researched and always ready in the app
  • Your voucher stays valid for two years; after redemption you have 14 days of access
Now only €5.99 incl. VAT

One-time purchase – no subscription, no ongoing commitments.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the tour after buying?

You see your voucher code right after payment – and you also receive it at the email address you entered at checkout. Redeem that code in the Red Thread app; that's where the tour starts.

When does my access start?

Only when you redeem the code in the app, not at purchase. From redemption you have 14 days of access to the tour.

Do I need the Red Thread app?

Yes. The free Red Thread app turns your tour into a vivid experience: with audio, a map, and thoughtful prompts, it guides you from place to place in an engaging and entertaining way. It's available free for iOS and Android.