Landmarks & Missions

The founding city and the things people go to see. El Pueblo and Olvera Street, the Spanish missions, Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood sign, Watts Towers and the Bradbury Building.

Part of Los Angeles

24 moments in this segment.

1. 1771 - Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. Los Angeles, 1771.
2. 1781 - The founders of El Pueblo de Los Angeles (1781). The 44 pobladores, of African, Indigenous and Spanish descent, who founded the pueblo on 4 September 1781.
3. 1797 - Mission San Fernando Rey de España. Los Angeles, 1797.
4. 1847 - Pueblo de Los Angeles (1847). A William Rich Hutton sketch as US forces took the pueblo during the Mexican–American War.
5. 1850 - Agustín Olvera.webp. Los Angeles, 1850. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
6. 1869 - The Los Angeles Plaza (1869). The old Plaza, heart of the original pueblo, two decades after statehood.
7. 1876 - Agustín Olvera. Los Angeles, 1876. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
8. 1880 - Carleton Watkins (American - The Plaza, Los Angeles - Google Art Project. Los Angeles, 1880. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
9. 1882 - view north from Broad Place up Calle de los Negros towards Del Valle adobe on Plaza. Cor…. 1882 Calle de los Negros. At back, the Lugo House is seen with hipped roof and dormer windows, and, on left, is the cupola and flag pole of Fire Station 38 Source: Los Angeles Public Library tessa.lapl.org-cdm-singleitem-collection-photos-id-95966-rec-6.
10. 1886 - View west on 2nd at Spring; Hollenbeck Block when two stories (left), 2nd City Hall (rig…. Los Angeles, 1886. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
11. 1894 - Central Business District of Los Angeles 1894 from Plaza (r) to Third Street (l). Los Angeles, 1894. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
12. 1909 - Exterior view of the Pekin Curio Store in Los Angeles Plaza, ca.1909. Los Angeles, 1909. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
13. 1927 - Building City Hall (1927). The 1928 City Hall under construction, for decades the tallest building in LA.
14. 1928 - Los Angeles City Hall (1928). The completed City Hall, the icon of the interwar city.
15. 1953 - The Farmers Market (1953). The Third & Fairfax market, an LA institution.
16. 1954 - The Watts Towers, Watts. Los Angeles, 1954.
17. 1954 - The Watts Towers of Simon Rodia. Los Angeles, 1954.
18. 1954 - Detail of the Watts Towers. Los Angeles, 1954.
19. 1955-07-17 - Disneyland opening day, July 17, 1955. Walt Disney opens the park in nearby Anaheim.
20. 1972 - Watts Towers of Simon Rodia "The Ankh Within.". I am sure Simon Rodia had no idea that the support and connecting rods between two of the tall towers he created were formed in the shape of an 'ankh.' The Ankh is a symbol that is also known as breath of life, the key of the Nile or crux ansata (Latin meaning "cross with a handle").
21. 1977 - Chicken Boy on Broadway L,A. 1977. Los Angeles, 1977. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
22. 2004 - Olvera st los angeles. Los Angeles, 2004. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
23. 2011 - United Methodist Church, Olvera Street, Los Angeles. Late afternoon view of the United Methodist Church in Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles. This is the oldest part of Los Angeles, from 1781. Commonly refered as La Placita Olvera, it is a nice touristy place to visit. ISO 100, 10mm, f11, 1/100.
24. 2011 - A touch of Old Mexico, Olvera Street, Los Angeles, California. File name: 06_10_009697 Title: A touch of Old Mexico, Olvera Street, Los Angeles, California Date issued: 1930 - 1945 (approximate) Physical description: 1 print (postcard) : linen texture, color ; 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. Genre: Postcards Subject: Cities & towns Notes: Title from item.