Western Avenue, as the oft-repeated explanation goes, is so named because it once formed L.A.'s western boundary. But is there any truth to this just-so story?
In these photos, the city's farmers' markets can be seen evolving over the past century, with many growing from small clusters of trucks or buildings into the grand enterprises they are today.
Today, there is almost no evidence of the Japanese American community that played such an important role in the early twentieth century development of El Monte and the San Gabriel Valley.
Before the Hollyhock House, there were olive trees -- a veritable army of them, each spaced 20 feet apart, marching up the hillside in an orderly grid formation.
The real benefit of the Wilderness Act, celebrating its 50th Anniversary this week, lies in a point made inadvertently by its fiercest critics. And another anniversary taking place this week provides one of the best examples of why we need the act.