El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historic Monument

An amazing place of history. I’ve been to LA Placita SOO many time & never thought about stopping by here. Glad we did. Take ur time here so many pieces of history on the walls.

Best place too come and learn our land’s roots.

My second time coming and it definitely won’t be my last. The tour guides are amazing and make the experiance very memorable. Great place to take people who are out of town. The Pueblo is always full of life and something spectacular is going on.

I agree every time we pass thru LA we stop at Olvera St. This place brings out the true taste of great tacos and other mexican dishes. Parking is a bit hard to get but overall well worth the stop.

There are a few museums in this area along with Olvera Street.
We walked in to the Fire House, it is a museum with lots of memorabilia which will enable you to take a look at its’ history. This Fire House was opened in 1884 and it is Fire House No. 1. The first one! Pretty cool!

Definitely a cool place to drop by in Los Angeles. One of the oldest spots in Los Angeles. I visited Olvera Street here. It was incredible. There’s so many shops, restaurants, and just so much to look at. I’d love to come here and spend more time here next time!

I love the diversity of LA and Olvera Street is always fun to stroll through and show out of towners.
Parking is a pain, trying to find a free meter and walking is your best bet.
Once your there you completly forget you are in a huge metropolitan city and go back in time.
The tiny stalls of vendors, the smell of food everywhere, mexican souveniers, guitars playing.
You won’t spend all day here, maybe an hour or two but I love to see what LA is about outside of Hollywood.
Prices are descent, huge variety of anything you could imagine, worth seeing.

We totally stumble on this place in Olevera St. when we were looking for some autherntico Mexican food, but realized it was Dia De los Muertos festival and the street was PACKED! SO. MUCH. FUN. We kind of ducked into the Pueblo not know what it was, but more so to dodge the crowd and find a bathroom (which it had as well as drinking fountains.
I loved this little piece of preserved history in a city that is so relatively new and really neglectful of preserving historic buildings. They love to knock ‘em down and build new.
They had the little museum/​pueblo that was furnished with replica items, but the home was original and then the courtyard and outdoor kitchen. The whole place was surreal. They accept donations, but it’s free to anyone! Do iT!

Walking around El Pueblo de Los Angeles, you get a great sense of the history of Los Angeles and Southern California. This after all was where the city began. There is much to see here, but I was primarily interested in checking out the murals around the Pueblo.
They have names like El Grito, Blessing of the Animals, The Annunciation, América Tropical, and the Jubilee 2000. There were some interesting things to check out besides these murals. I got to to tour the first fire department building that opened in 1884. It was a volunteer fire department. If there’s an extra volunteer on duty, the second floor is open for touring. It’s great to see the living quarters and other facilities upstairs. The Pico House has a rich history. Built by Pio Pico, the last governor under Mexican rule, it was the first 3 story structure in Los Angeles. The hotel opened for business in 1870 and had 82 bedrooms and some parlors as well as bathrooms for each sex on each floor. That might be a bit of a wait.
Now to the murals. The most famous one I wanted to see is América Tropical. This controversial mural was commissioned for the Italian Hall overlooking Olvera Street. The artist, David Alfaro Siqueiros, began the mural in 1932. From the beginning, it was controversial. Within a short time of the unveiling of the mural, Siquerios was deported from the United States and the mural was whitewashed. The mural is a long one measuring some 80 feet in width. It had an anti-​imperialist theme that was its downfall. The central panel shows an indigenous figure having been crucified on a double cross of commerce and imperialism. If you look at my photo, I have altered the image to make the center panel stand out more. The mural was restored by the Getty Conservation Institute and the City of Los Angeles in the 90s. There’s a viewing platform on the second floor where you can look across the rooftops to see the mural. Bring binoculars to see the mural better.
In addition to the things mentioned, there are stalls that sell tourist stuff and you’ll see on weekends young Mexican girls dancing on the plaza’s performance area. It’s also a great place for people watching. The place deserves more than one visit.

Enjoyed learning about the history of Los Angeles, the significance of the mural and the role politcs played in the whitewashing of it.

a bit dirty but fun little area to visit. I guess this is where La Ciudad de La Reyna de los Angeles all started.
Oh, everything the vendors sell is overpriced as it should.

Oldest home in Los Angeles. This place is awesome and FREE. Rooms and yard are the same they were in the 1800’s. Great place to stop by if you’re shopping or eating at Placita Olvera!

So this is one of the sightseeing stops I take out of towners who have not been to Mexico. There is usually someone doing something here (a band/​a dance) and is the begining to Olvera Street where we can walk around and shop. Then I take them to Mr. Churro to get my sweet tooth fix on and proceed to grab a margarita at one of the restaurants. It’s a nice 1 – 2 hour course.

I like coming here. Makes me feel like I traveled to the LA of past. If you like Mexican food (wish I did) then there are some good places to eat here. I went for the posadas and had some really good champurrado!
Getting here is soooooo easy too. It is right across the street from Union Station (Take Metro and avoid parking) and parking only costs $ 6 at the Patsaouras Plaza.

For once I’m not going to bother with the history lesson. Makes me sound (and feel) old when I rattle off facts I spent way too much time reading. Lots of other people here can tell you about the founding of this city and Christine Sterling’s part in preserving Olvera Street.
It’s funny hanging around the plaza watching one Aztec dance group and have another show up and have a «You Got Served”-esque showdown over who gets to stay in one area or another. I’ve watched this happen twice, and couldn’t believe it was happening either time.
Like many L.A. County people, I was first introduced to Olvera Street on a field trip. Can’t remember a time when I hadn’t been to Philippe’s, but for some reason Olvera was just not one my parents’ usual places to take the kid. With the school group the biggest thing was our teacher encouraging everyone to buy up the confetti eggs from the vendors and sneak attack each other. Everyone went home with shell and paper dots in their hair.
Over the years, Olvera Street became something I regularly came to visit. On days when I just bought a Metro day pass and rode the rails heading nowhere in particular, I often ended up at Union Station, and then heading across the street in the plaza before heading up to Chinatown.
As Charles Phoenix said, «If you blur your eyes just slightly, you could be in any of several of the past decades. Time is in a blender at Olvera Street.»
I’ve made a tradition out of coming here for the varied events they host like Dia de los Muertos (people leave Philippe’s French-​dipped sandwiches on altars!) and the Chinese Lantern Festival, and I’m really looking forward to the grand reveal when they open up the observation deck to see the newly restored Siqueiros mural.

If you can’t read spanish, El Pueblo de Los Angeles means City of Angels. I am not a fan of this area, because it’s very expensive to park here, and there isn’t much to see. However, this might be a nice place for visitors to come on the weekends because they usually have activities here. I guess the most festive event is probably Cinco de Mayo. Great place to come if you want to learn about the culture.

We were here to see the Blessings of the Animals annual event.
Nice location!
We hopped off the Gold Line at Union Station and walked across the street.
Adjacent to Olvera Street, we had extra time to walk through the marketplace before the procession started. It’s been years since we last visited there.
It was crowded, but there was enough room to accommodate all the people and their animals.
There was a nice big gazebo in a large patio area where music was played and children danced.

Actually, there was plenty of musical groups situated throughout the area. From what I overheard, you’ll always find musicians there day and night.
There’s no Unilocal page for the Blessings of the Animals, so I’ll share a few pics here.
We chatted with the owner of this 120 lb. pig
Didn’t chat with the owners of this python & iguana. (I’m a scaredy cat)
Watched the blessings for a bit
Nice little outing today!

How many cities can boast important cultural centers for diverse ethnicities within blocks of each other? Los Angeles can!!! Eat your heart out NYC! Los Angeles is far more diverse culturally and we are less into the segregated communities thing here than you! Yes, in Los Angeles perhaps the most important center of Mexican culture is in Chinatown! No one knows this place as Little Mexico. The Chinese American Museum is here as well and so is the new LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes museum — a museum devoted to the Mexican American experience. Here you can also find the shops and restaurants of the Placita Olvera which has a beautiful kiosk. There is also the Church of Our Lady of the Angels which holds a very special place in the hearts of many Mexicans that are devout to the Virgin of Guadalupe. The Placita actually holds events for the Mexican and Chinese community to name just two. The Placita Olvera is also home to an old fire station. There are quite a few very old buildings still standing in this area. I have heard people complain about how we have no history and that few things worthy of visiting are still standing. Come here and you will see that this is not the case. It is impressive that all these buildings are still standing in an area that suffers from earthquakes. It’s not that we do not have taste for preserving monuments and the sort it’s more like mother nature makes it far more expensive to preserve everything. The LA Plaza de Culturas y Artes is a prime example of all the money that needs to be spent on making an old building safe in an earthquake zone!
It gets even better! Few blocks away lies Little Tokyo and the Japanese American Museum. Union Station is nearby. Not too far away are the Chinatown art galleries and Gallery Row. LA is the place!!!

Place to hang out. Usually a lot of tourist off of buses and the occasional film crew. Historic buildings mixed with the usual homeless on pretty much all the benches. I give this 3 stars only because it’s my escape from work on my lunch break and even with all the seedy people they pretty much leave you alone. Live music during the day around lunchtime if there’s not an event/​filming going on.

One of my favorite places in LA, maybe the world. Where my beloved Ecuadorian festival transpires every year. Where many of the city’s cultural celebrations begin. Where my favorite free concert happens in the street daily. This is where it happens. This is where it all began.
El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historical Monument. What does that mean? Pueblo means «city.» Los Angeles means «the angels» SO this place marks the birth place of the city of Angels, AKA LA. The most epic cultural melting pot in the world and my hometown.
This fantastic cultural diversity stems from the birth of Los Angeles. We ALL belong here.:-)
Historians have gingerly preserved the history of Los Angeles and the history of the pueblo. Literature is widely made available at the Visitors’ Center where you can watch a film, arrange a walking tour and more.
Forgive me, but I’ve done my homework before writing this review. It has been long in the making. This promises to be another long review. Sorry!
Before the City of Los Angeles was founded, the Los Angeles region was occupied for thousands of years by Native Americans. Their roots and agricultural genius are still our bounty. Smell the flowers blooming? Who are the immigrants? Most of us.;-)
Originally, the City of Los Angeles was founded by settlers from the present-​day Mexican northwest states of Sonora and Sinaloa in 1781. Mexico has not lost her cultural grip on the pueblo ever since.
African Americans, since 1781, have made significant contributions to the history of Los Angeles. In arts, culture, science, education, architecture, politics and more when they came to the pueblo by way of the Moors through Mexico.
By 1870, 200 Chinese immigrants had set up shop here at Los Angeles Street as entrepreneurs when they were banned from labor due to small-​minded thinking.
In 1832 the French brought a vineyard to the pueblo. Italians, Mexicans, Native Americans, Spanish and many more cultures from all over the globe had a hand in painting this masterpiece known as Los Angeles. And they still do.:-)
Now, within walking distance of the Pueblo, you will find a great number of our museums and cultural centers. Our most prominent and oldest train station is here. (Union Station)
Mexican and Latin heritage thrives at the famous Olivera street. Chinatown celebrates the Chinese New Year with a parade here every year. Little Tokyo’s Japanese museum enlightens us.
Most of the public transportation lines in the city will take you here. Why pay to park?! Union Station is the hub for most bus, metro and train lines. How far is Union station? Right across the street.
If you are one of my most cherished friends, chances are that I have taken you here. Or at least invited you here. I love to take the train here on the weekends and listen to the most soulful sound that is the FREE live music here.
I have kept this secret from you too long. Come here to listen to the music, while you still can. A dollar might walk out of your pocket and into the tip jar. A tear might roll down your cheek for listening. Even if you can not hear the music, the expression on the flute player’s face will tell you what the song is about.
Andean music fills the Pueblo lately. Andean flutes play notes that most other instruments are incapable of. It sounds like the sound of sorrow. It is hard to explain how that is a good thing. It just is OK!
LA is the coat of many colors. My living proof that so many of us can get along, thrive and prosper. People of a thousand different colors, creeds and faiths now live among the nearly 4 million residents of LA. This marks the place where we got this party started. This fantastic cultural diversity started with the birth of Los Angeles. This monument marks the spot. We ALL belong here:-)