Last updated: December 5, 2023
Place
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Location:
622 N Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Significance:
Located at the western end of the Old Spanish Trail, El Pueblo de los Angeles Historical Monument offers a glimpse of the early history of one of America's largest cities.
Designation:
Certified Site, National Register of Historic Places
MANAGED BY:
The forty-four acres that comprise El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument commemorate the city's founding. In 1781, a diverse group of colonists—including many of African and Indigenous descent—marched nine miles from nearby Mission San Gabriel to found a new settlement on the site of the Gabrieleno village of Yangna. Although it boasted only 315 residents in 1800, Los Angeles has become one of the United States' biggest cities.
Throughout Spanish, Mexican, and early American rule, El Pueblo remained the heart of Los Angeles. It served as the western end of the Old Spanish Trail, and afterwards it hosted a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route. However, by the late 1800s, El Pueblo was no longer the center of the rapidly-growing city; however, it remained important, serving as the site of the city's original Chinatown and Little Italy neighborhoods.
Site Information
Location (622 N Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Like many Spanish cities, historic Los Angeles was organized around a plaza. Featuring a charming gazebo and numerous statues of historical figures, California's oldest plaza represents the heart of El Pueblo de los Angeles Historical Monument. A few hundred feet away lies the Olvera Street Marketplace, a densely-packed mix of shops, restaurants, museums, and galleries. Don't miss the Avila Adobe, one of the oldest buildings in Los Angeles County. Murals and 200-year-old fig trees are some of the other attractions.
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