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L.A. River is open for recreation between Fletcher Drive and San Fernando Road, from Memorial Day to Labor Day
Get Your Feet Wet: L.A. River is Now Open for Recreation
The natural-bottomed Glendale Narrows section of the river, between Fletcher Drive and San Fernando Road, is now open for recreation until Labor Day.
Circa 1915 postcard of Eastlake Park, since renamed Lincoln Park. Courtesy of the Werner Von Boltenstern Postcard Collection, Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University Library.
When Lincoln Park Was Eastlake
Located in present-day Lincoln Heights, Eastlake Park was once the crown jewel of L.A.'s public park system.
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Arroyo Culture: In the Shadow of the San Gabriels
This week L.A. Letters covers the picturesque communities of Altadena, Pasadena and the Arroyo Seco.
A ca. 1909 postcard of Westlake Park. Courtesy of the Werner Von Boltenstern Postcard Collection, Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University Library.
Westlake (MacArthur) Park: How a Neighborhood Dump Became a Civic Treasure
When Los Angeles created Westlake Park in 1886, the site's use as a neighborhood dump had marred the beauty of its naturally occurring lake.
MacArthur Park, then named Westlake Park, circa 1892. Courtesy of the Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, USC Libraries.
When L.A.'s Oldest Parks Were Young
Many of the city's earliest parks were created out of marshes, hills, and other lands then considered worthless.
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The San Gabriel River & the 562
This week L.A. Letters explores the landscape, built environment, and cultural history of the San Gabriel River, with special attention focused on the southern half of the river's path.
The Tick Tock Tea Room: Comfort Food From An Uncomfortable Era
The tea rooms of the Depression were anything but delicate.
Arch Rock and Castle Rock along the present-day route of Pacific Coast Highway. Images courtesy of the Pacific Palisades Historical Society Collection and Santa Monica Image Archives, Santa Monica Public Library.
Arch and Castle Rocks: Lost Landmarks of PCH
Castle Rock and Arch Rock once stood sentinel along the shore between Topanga Canyon and Santa Monica.
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Huntington Gardens: The Acquisition of Nature
The Huntington Gardens were a labor of love for three people in particular.
Pigeon Farm postcard
L.A. Was Once Home to the World's Largest Flock of Pigeons
They lived at a pigeon ranch on the banks of the Los Angeles River until a flood destroyed their home in 1914.
Tourists pick wildflowers in an Altadena poppy field, 1907. Courtesy of the David Klappholz Collection.
Where the Wildflowers Were: When L.A. Blossomed Each Spring
A century ago, Angelenos didn't have to travel far to see some spectacular wildflower shows.
Andrew Cooper planted this Moreton Bay fig tree in Los Angeles in 1876. By the time of this 1946 photo, the spreading giant was surrounded bya parking lot for a Shell Oil facility.
Majestic Mammoths: A Brief History of L.A.'s Moreton Bay Fig Trees
Spreading giants imported from Australia, Moreton Bay fig trees have become a cherished part of Southern California's arboreal heritage.
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