Mapping: Walking through Sycamore Grove

Students from the Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts (LFCSA) and the Living Museum Sycamore Grove are collaborating with Departures Youth Voices to document their exploration of the area and develop interactive tools that will become part of the Living Museum's community resources. Follow the students as they work with community residents and learn about the history of the neighborhood, urban planning, and placemaking.

Below are the student's maps and reflections of the field trip to the Sycamore Grove District in Highland Park. For most of them it was the first time they had spent time exploring the neighborhood. To read more about the trip click here.

"My grade went to Sycamore Grove, and each class separated and went to a different location. My class went to a few places within the neighborhood. First we visited the Metro Gold Line, and then up to the Southwest Museum. Unfortunately it was closed. After that we visited two local Victorian houses, and The Casa De Adobe. Then we visited the Avenue 50 Gallery and the Arroyo Park.

When I was in the local houses, the ones that have been around for over 100 years, I was in awe. They were beautiful, as if sculpted out of clay by hand. The shingles were painted the color of the houses, usually a deep purple or a turquoise. The Casa De Adobe was cracked and grey, and yet so amazing. It was sculpted out of adobe! (A type of mud). Though we could not go into the Southwest Museum, it looked amazing, I can't wait to go in!" --Pauline B.

"I was excited and happy to be in a place that people (Native Americans) lived on and had so much history." --Lukas Seifu-S.

"During our visit we saw many murals and clay and glass art work that made me feel that there should be more art around town and also that the places we went to should be more well known." --Remali De S.

"What can we do to help the Southwest Museum? Will we ever be able to go into the Southwest Museum as a class?" --Maxine T.