In 1935, the Boy Scouts of America decided to celebrate their 25th anniversary by holding a national gathering of scouts in Washington, D.C. called a Jamboree. It was postponed for two years because of the polio epidemic. The second Jamboree was held in 1950 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. But then, local historian Phil Brigandi says, the Scouts looked west.

"In 1953, the Boy Scouts had their national Jamboree in Orange County in the hills above Newport Beach."

Fifty-five-thousand Scouts created a tent city, complete with its own fire company, bank, theatre, hospital, post office, even a zoo.

Brigandi, who wrote the book "Orange County Place Names A-Z," says his father actually attended that Jamboree. "He was from Garden Grove, so he was with Jamboree Troop 1 at the 1953 Jamboree."

The Scout tents are gone, replaced by the Fashion Island shopping center... but Jamboree Road remains.

(Airdate: 4/6/2008)