Los Angeles' history is a story of trials and triumphs, a microcosm of the American dream. Its first inhabitants were Gabrieleño and Chumash Indians who lived in the area for thousands of years. In September 1771, Father Junipero Serra and a group of Spaniards founded the San Gabriel Mission and in 1781 they sent a group of settlers to establish a town, which they named El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula (The River of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porciuncula). The pueblo developed rapidly and would eventually become known as Los Angeles.
California was ruled by Spain until Mexico gained independence in 1821 and jurisdiction over California in 1822. In 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo made California a United States territory. With statehood, Los Angeles was incorporated (1850) and made the seat of Los Angeles County.
By 1900, LA's population had jumped from 2,300 in 1860 to 100,000. This population explosion resulted in a severe shortage of drinking water. The problem was creatively solved in 1904 with the creation of an aqueduct to carry snowmelt from nearby mountains. By 1920 LA's population had increased to one million and to two million by 1930. This was related to the discovery of oil and the consequent boom of the aerospace industry during WWI and WWII.
The next major draw was the arrival of 'the industry'. The city has lived a self-fulfilling prophecy as they strive to both create and live up to the reputation of the Studios. With that has come a flood of people eager to experience the Hollywood lifestyle. And why wouldn't they come? Los Angeles has always been a trend-setter and although life there sometimes seems to hover between dream and reality, it is always evolving and exciting.
However, under this glittering façade there were also the growing problems of ethnic friction, which eventually exploded in August 1965 with the worst race riots in the nation's history.
Today LA's leaders struggle to solve the problems that have plagued the city for years: limited natural resources, economic disparity, rising population pressures and, of course, traffic. Violence erupted again in the LA riots of 1992, leaving 51 dead and a billion dollars worth of property destroyed. In contrast, the city banded together to face the many natural disasters of the 1990s. They were faced with a surprising number of earthquakes, wildfires, floods and mud slides which helped to unify the Angelenos in their desire to persevere and thrive despite the disasters facing them.
Historical attractions:
Downtown Los Angeles
This busy center contains many places of historic interest including the Civic Center (America's largest complex of government buildings after Washington D. C.), Little Tokyo, Chinatown, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. A few blocks east of the Civic Center, El Pueblo de Los Angeles is a 44-acre state historic park commemorating the site where the city was founded in 1781 and preserving many of its earliest buildings. Its central attraction for most visitors is Olvera Street, a narrow, block-long passageway that was restored as an open-air Mexican marketplace in 1930. Union Station is also worth stopping by whether you actually need to catch a train or not. It was built in 1939 in Spanish Mission style with Moorish and Modern details and is often overlooked.
Several unique museums you may want to check out:
Museum of Tolerance
The Museum of Tolerance is a high tech, hands-on museum. It was founded to challenge visitors to confront bigotry and racism, and to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts. Using unique interactive exhibits, the museum chooses to focus on two central themes: the dynamics of racism and prejudice in America and the history of the Holocaust.
Since its opening in 1993, it has hosted 3.5 million visitors from around the world, and nine heads of state including King Hussein of Jordan, three Prime Ministers of Israel and the Dalai Lama. The Museum receives 350,000 visitors annually including 110,000 children.
Museum of Jurassic Technology
The Museum of Jurassic Technology is a small nondescript storefront on Los Angeles's Venice Boulevard. Hidden inside this plain exterior is an unexpected and unusual delight. Museum creator David Wilson has been mounting a series of unbelievable exhibits there for the last fifteen years. He has collected spore-inhaling ants, x-ray bats, human horns, peach-pit carvings, and novel theories of oblivion.
Getty Center
The Getty Center is actually a collection of museums. The museum's European and photography and numerous other collections are now on display at the stunning 110-acre Center in the Santa Monica mountains. It opened in 1998 following 14 years of planning and construction costs of a billion dollars. Admission is free, making this one of the best bargains in town.
Sources:
( http://www.los-angeles-travel-services.com/ ) (Accessed June 7, 2004)
( http://www.lonelyplanet.com ) (Accessed June 2, 2004)
( http://web.ask.com ) (Accessed June 3, 2004)
(
http://www.lacounty.info/history.htm
) (Accessed June 3, 2004)