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Lost LA
Joshua Tree Exists Because of Minerva Hamilton Hoyt
When Minerva Hamilton Hoyt moved to Southern California, she was taken with its desert landscape and went on a quest to protect it from increasing tourism and looming commercial interests. Park Ranger Joe Zarki tells how Hoyt, using a photo album that's referred to as a "pitch deck," lobbied the Roosevelt administration of the 1930s to preserve the land as a national monument. It's an enduring victory for not only land preservation but for enduring accomplishments in women's history.
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26:29
From wildflowers to jacarandas, explore the plants that paint California in vibrant hues.
26:40
Discover how the True Crime genre was shaped by its deep historic legacy in Los Angeles.
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Uncover the origins of the sci-fi genre and its unique connection to historic Los Angeles.
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Auto racing's LA roots, from dry lake beds to movie ranches, left tread marks across the region.
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Trace the devastation of the 1928 St. Francis Dam collapse and its deadly flood.
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How Cold War vigilance and secrecy shaped Southern California culture.
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The Space Shuttle Endeavour’s journey is traced from its origins.
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Tiki culture isn’t a Polynesian import — it’s a Hollywood creation.
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Archives reveal the “forgotten plague” that shaped Southern California: tuberculosis.
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Visit Hollywood Forever, Evergreen and Forest Lawn, where L.A. reinvented the cemetery.
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The hiker-activists who led Angelenos into their hills and onto the trails.