Welcome to Los Angles (Downtown)

Introduction

When people refer to Los Angeles, they are typically referring to Los Angeles County or even nearby Orange County (home of Anaheim’s Disneyland). The city of Los Angeles is the second largest city in the U.S. by population and the largest by square miles.

Downtown Los Angeles is located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. This area features many of the city's major sports facilities, art institutions and sightseeing opportunities. There is also many unique shopping opportunities. Downtown is generally bounded by the Los Angeles River on the east, the Hollywood (101) Freeway to the north, the Santa Monica (10) Freeway on the south and the Harbor (110) Freeway on the west.

Map of Downtown Los Angeles

History

The earliest known settlements in Dowontown Los Angeles was by the Tongva, a Native American people. On Wednesday, August 2, 1769, Father Juan Crespi, a Franciscan priest accompanying the first European land expedition through California, led by Captain Fernando Rivera Y Moncado, described in his journal a "beautiful river from the northwest" located at "34 degrees 10 minutes." They named the river Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de la Porciúncula.

In the Franciscan calendar, August 2 was the day of the celebration of the feast of the Perdono at the tiny Assisi chapel of St. Francis of Assisi.

Early in St. Francis’ life, the Benedictines had given him this tiny chapel for his use near Assisi. The chapel, ruined and in need of repair, was located on what the Italians called a porziuncola or "very small parcel of land." Painted on the wall behind the altar was a fresco of the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels. Now contained within a Basilica, the chapel was named Saint Mary of the Angels at the Little Portion.

The newly discovered "beautiful river" was named in honor of this celebration and this chapel. In 1781, a new settlement was established along that river.

The settlement came to be known as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciúncula or The Town of Our Lady the Queen of Angels of the Little Portion although its official name was simply El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles.

On Septemper 4, 1781, the Los Angles was founded on the site that currently holds La Placita Olvera. Land speculation increased in the 1880s, which saw a population of the city explode from 11,000 in 1880 to nearly 100,000 by 1896.

Laying of a street grid and other infrastructure enhancements brought development to the area south of the original settlement into what is today the Civic Center and Historic Core neighborhoods.

By 1920, the city had been transformed into a large metropolitan area, with Downtown as the center. The city's rail lines connected four counties with over 1,100 miles of track. The banking institutions clustered around South Spring Street, forming the Spring Street Financial District. Sometimes referred to as "Wall Street of the West." The Los Angeles Stock Exchange was located here from 1929 until 1986. During the early part of the 20th century, many people worked and lived in Downtown Los Angeles.

Following World War II, several factors lead to the decline of Downtown Los Angeles including suburbanization and the development of the Los Angeles freeway network enabled many corborate headquarters and people to disperse to these new suburbs. The remaining financial corporations moved to newer buildings, leave the former Spring Street Financial District buildings vacate above the ground floor. Many historic office buildings were left intact. They were used for storage or left empty.

Today's Financial District of Downtown Los Angeles

In 1999, the Los Angeles City Council passed and ordinance that made it easier for developers to convert vacant commercial and office buildings into renovated condo, lofts and luxury apartments. Residential population has increased from 28, 878 residents in 2006 to 39,537 in 2008. The Staples Center, which opened in 1999, has been a major contributing factor to the revitalization of Downtown Los Angeles. It added 250 events and approximately 4,000,000 visitors to this area.

Who's Taller

The first high-rise in Los Angeles was the Braly Building. The Braly Building was completed in 1903 it has 13 floors and stands 174 feet high. In 1904, the Los Angeles City Council enacted a 150-foot height limit on on future buildings. This building was originally a commercial structure and has since been renovated into a residential tower. It is now known as the "Continental Building".

For many people, the many skyscrapers of Bunker Hill are synonymous with downtown Los Angeles. Downtown is actually a diverse collection of neighborhoods including Little Tokyo, the New Chinatown and the El Pueblo de Los Angeles along with Civic Center, Financial District, Jewelry District and Fashion District. Downtown is also home to some of the most unique and stunning examples of architecture.

To view photo gallery for Los Angeles Skyline, click here.

Location used in Media

• 4Movies: The Omega Man, Collateral, The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, Dragon Wars and Blade Runner.
  
• 4Television miniseries: 10.5.
  

References

1. ^ a b "Downtown Los Angeles". wikipedia.org. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Los_Angeles. Retrieved on 2009-08-14.

Downtown Los Angeles

When people refer to Los Angles, they are typically referring to Los Angeles County or even nearby Orange County (home of Anaheim’s Disneyland). The city of Los Angeles is the second largest city in the U.S. by population and the largest by square miles. Los Angeles translated from Spanish is the City of Angels.
Downtown Los Angeles is commercial and central area of Los Angeles. Downtown is generally bounded by the Los Angeles River on the east, the Hollywood (101) Freeway to the north, the Santa Monica (10) Freeway on the south and the Harbor (110) Freeway on the west. For a map of Los Angeles, click here.

For many people, the many skyscrapers of Bunker Hill are synonymous with downtown Los Angeles. Downtown is actually a diverse collection of neighborhoods including Little Tokyo, the New Chinatown and the El Pueblo de Los Angeles along with Civic Center, Financial District, Jewelry District and Fashion District. Downtown is also home to some of the most unique and stunning examples of architecture.

Move your Mouse over picture to see the names of the buildings.

This is a view of Downtown Los Angeles from Angels Point. Many of the tallest buildings are located in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is ranked first in the Pacific Coast Region and fifth in the United States (after New York City, Chicago, Miami and Houston). The tallest building in Los Angeles is the U.S. Bank Tower. Completed in 1989 this 73 story builing rises 1,018 feet. This building is also the tallest building in California and the 9th tallest building in the United States. The ten tallest buildings in Los Angeles are:

(1) U.S. Bank Tower, 73 stories, 1,018 feet, 1989
(2) Aon Center, 62 stories, 858 feet, 1973
(3) Two California Plaza, 52 stories, 750 feet, 1992
(4) Gas Company Tower, 52 stories, 749 feet, 1991
(5) Bank of America Plaza, 55 stories, 735 feet, 1974
(6) 777 Tower, 52 stories, 725 feet, 1991
(7) Wells Fargo Tower, 54 stories, 723 feet, 1983
(8) Figueroa at Wilshire, 53 stories, 717 feet, 1990
(9) City National Tower, 52 stories, 699 feet, 1972
(9) Paul Hastings Tower, 52 stories, 699 feet, 1972

Grand Central Market

General Information

317 South Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Type: Open-air Marget
Architect: John Parkinson
Built/Founded: 1917

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The Grand Central Market in Los Angeles is the oldest open-air market on the west coast. It has an early 1900's feel. Grand Central Market is one of the best places to visit if you want to experience the international diversity of Los Angeles. Grand Central Market has over 40 vendors selling fruit, vegetables, meat, spices and other items. There are also many informal restaurants thate offer many cuisines—including Thai, Chinese, Peruvian and Mexican—in the midst of sawdust floors.

History

Grand Central Market is on the ground floor of the Homer Laughlin Building. This building was built by Ohio entrepreneur Homer Laughlin. This was the first earthquake and fire proof building in Los Angeles. Hoper Laughlin Building was designed in the Beaux Arts style. It was the fifth building in the United States, and the first building west of Chicago, to use concrete floors. Originally built in 1897 by architect John Parkinson and further expanded in 1905 by architect Harrison Albright. The landmark Grand Central Market opened in 1917.

Through the years Grand Central Market has undergone many interior cosmetic changes, mostly as a means of keeping up with the mode of the day. A tile facade was added in the 1960's which hid a second story window. The Homer Laughlin Building and the Grand Central Market underwent a major renovation in the 1990s. As part of the restoration project, residential units were added thus creating a true mixed use of developments in Los Angeles. The exterior facade, however, has remained true to its heritage and is still a prime example of the architecture of a bygone era.

This location was chosen because of its proximity to the Angels Flight Railway. Originally, the wealthier people of Los Angeles rode the Angels Flight Railway for a penny down to the best open-air shopping in town. At the Market, there was wide range choices for small snacks to full meals. This is still true today.

Visitors Info

You can enter Grand Central Market from Broadway or Hill street. For the official site, click here.

Photo Tips

Besides a good place to eat, there are photographic opportunities for food, neon signs or of people going about their day to day business. You might need permission to photograph.

References

1. ^ a b c d e "Grand Central Market Los Angeles Oldest and Largest Open-air Market". http://www.grandcentralsquare.com/. Retrieved on 2009-08-22.
2. ^ a b c d e "Grand Central Market Los Angeles Oldest and Largest Open-air Market". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer_Laughlin_Building. Retrieved on 2009-08-26.

Little Tokyo

General Information

Located:
Bounded on the west by Los Angeles Street,
on the east by Alameda Street,
on the south by 3rd Street,
and on the north by First Street.
Type: Japanese American district
Architect: Edgar Cline, Et al.
Built/Founded: 1942

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Little Tokyo, also known as Little Tokyo Historic District, is an ethnic Japanese American district in downtown Los Angeles and one of only three official Japantowns in the United States. This area is sometimes referred to as Lil' Tokyo, J-Town, 小東京 (Shō-tōkyō). In 1995, Little Tokyo was declared a National Historic Landmark District.

History

In 1886, an ex-seaman from Japan, Charles Kame, opened a Japanese restaurant at 340 East First Street. By the turn of the century, a small Issei (immigrants from Japan) community was formed around San Pedro and First Streets. This area became known as Little Tokyo.

In 1903, Henry Huntington recruited 2000 Issei in northern California to lay tracks for the Pacific Electric Railway. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, thousands more fled the heightened tensions and settled in Little Tokyo. The Issei succeeded in fishing, agriculture, wholesale produce and retailing. They were denied citizenship by federal law and not allowed to own property.

The Nisei (children of Japanese immigrants) were American citizens by birth. They could own property and vote in elections. As the Japanese Americans began to leave downtown to neighboring cities, community leaders formed the first Nisei Week to maintaining commercial and cultural links.

After the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin Roosevelt on February 19, 1942. The Order gave the United States Army authority to force more than 110,000 Nikkei (people of Japanese ancestry) living on the west coast to live in concentration camps. Not all Nisei were sent to camps, a few were secretly recruited to be translators for the Military Itelligence Service. After the war, because of lack of housing in Little Tokyo, Japanese Americans soldiers and camp internees moved to the suburbs of Los Angeles. The population continued to shrink in the early 1950s when Parker Center was built. In order to built Parker Center, housing for 1000 people and one-fourth of the district's commercial businesses were destroyed.

Beginning in 1969, committees were formed and the Little Tokyo Redevelopment Project was established to prevent the Little Tokyo be eradicated. While there has been construction from the 1970s until today, the character of Little Tokyo has been maintained by the 15 structures making up the Little Tokyo Historic District. Little Tokyo has resisted eradication and continues as a tourist attraction, community center, and home to Japanese American senior citizens and others.

Cultural Attractions & Monuments

Cultural attractions in Little Tokyo include Japanese American National Museum, the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, the Geffen Contemporary Museum, and the East West Players theater. There are public sculptures such as the monument to Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka, a Japanese American from Hawai'i who was a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger when it exploded during takeoff in 1986 and Japanese American National War Memorial Court. There are two public Japanese gardens in Little Tokyo.

The James Irvine Garden (Garden of the Clear Stream) is a triangular are of 8,500 square feet next to the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. The garden was completed in December 1979 and was designed by Takeo Uesugi. In 1981, the First Lady Nancy Reagan in a ceromony at the White House presented prestigious National landscape Award of Nurseymen. This is the highest and oldest national honor such a project can receive in the field of environmental improvement and community beautification.

There is a 170-foot stream which winds through the garden. The beginning of the stream is a waterfall which represents the struggle fo the immigrant Issei generation against harsh economic realities and prejudices. In the middle cascades, the stream divides, this represents the conflict experienced by the Nisei. The stream gradually becomes a serene pond. The pond symbolizes the hope for a peaceful world for the Sansei and future generations.

On the other side of the the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center is the National Japanese American Verterans Memorial Court. The Memorial Court is dedicated to those Americans who have fought and died in conflicts of the United States of America and most are of Japanese anchestry.

The other public Japanese Garden in Little Tokyo is a rooftop garden in the Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens, formally known as the New Otani Hotel.

Nisei Week Festival

The Nisei Week Festival began in 1934 by the Nisei (second generation Japanese Americans)community leaders as a way of maintaining commercial and cultural links between Little Tokyo and the increasingly dispersed Japanese American community. The first festival included poster and essay contests, radio broadcasts, a fashion show, various cultural exhibits and demonstrations and an ondo parade. In 1935 a queen pageant was added. The festival was to continue for only seven years before the start of World War II and the incarceration of Japanese Americans in internment camps within the nation's interior. In 1945, the Japanese Americans began to return to Los Angeles, but the festival did not restart until 1949.

Today the Nisei Week is an annual celebration and is held every August which actually last two weeks. The festival includes a large parade, a pageant, athletic events, exhibits of Japanese art and culture, a taiko drum festival, the Japanese Festival Street Faire and other events. Some of the events are sumo match, martial arts, tea ceremony, ikebana and odori dancing. In addition to cultural exhibits and dynamic cultural entertainment is delicious Japanese food.

Events such as the reenactment of the moment when Japanese samurai pledged their lives, then marched to battle being done by men and women in 15th and 16th century warrior armor topped with giant horns.

Place mouse over picture for black & white version

One of the many sporting events is Sumo Westling. This sumo westling match was held with a sumo westler and an audience member. Winner in the middle.









This taiko drum was performance one of many performances held thoughout the festival. In Japanese, the word taiko literally translates as “big drum” or “fat drum”.

To view photo gallery for Little Tokyo, click here.

Visitors Info

This is a major tourist attraction that has lush Japanese gardens, world-class museum, shopping, gift shops and over 30 restaurants.

Photo Tips

Many things to photograph in Little Tokyo, but the best time to go to Little Tokyo is during the Nisei Festival. The Japanese Gardens are green year around, but as you would expect the best time to go is during the spring.

Additional Links

• ● JACCC Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
• ● Little Tokyo Business Association

References

1. ^ a b c d e "JACCC Outdoor Spaces". http://www.jaccc.org/outdoor.htm. Retrieved on 2009-09-04.
2. ^ a b "Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California". wikipedia.org. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Tokyo,_Los_Angeles,_California. Retrieved on 2009-09-04.
2. ^ a b "Little Tokyo". http://www.publicartinla.com/Downtown/Little_Tokyo/little_tokyo.html. Retrieved on 2009-09-04.

Millennium Biltmore Hotel

The premier choice for celebrities, presidents and dignitaries for over 85 years, the Millennium Biltmore Hotel offers historic grandeur and modern luxury in the heart of exciting downtown Los Angeles.

Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

Founded in 1979, MOCA is the only museum in Los Angeles devoted exclusively to contemporary art.

Plaza Firehouse

The Plaza Firehouse was the first building to be constructed by the City of Los Angeles for housing fire fighting equipment and personnel. The City Council hired architect William Boring to design the structure which was built by Dennis Hennessy. Boring's design followed closely a fashion then current in his native Illinois, with the horses stabled inside the station as was the custom in colder climates. A unique turntable in the floor made it unnecessary to back the horses in or out. Construction began in May, 1884 and was completed by mid-August. Firehouse No. 1 opened for business in September that same year.