Home Forum Gallery Members Todays Posts

Olvera Street Rating: None

California Attractions / Landmarks / Places > Los Angeles Email This Bookmark Print
Olvera Street

-El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula
(one of four pueblos established in California in Spanish Colonial times 1769-1821)-----

On September 4th, 1781, forty some people left Mission San Gabriel and walked to the very FIRST "housing tract" in southern California, their new homes. It was a horse-shoe shaped series of identical little houses. Had farm land for crops. The purpose was to have a community that could trade with the soldiers in the soon to come presidio (fort) Santa Barbara. There were prejudices to overcome, many were mestizos (indian/Spanish) and mulatos (over half were part african descent). They were thought to be useless. Yet after only TWO years, they were not only producing enough to be self suficient, but had surplus to begin trading and sells to the soldiers.

By the time of the American/Mexican war and ultimate occupation by the US, a triving cattle economy had been establish.

Rather you are African-American, Euro-American, Latino, or Asian-American, Arab-American . . . if you have antepasados listed on the plaque in the plaza, or if you just moved to Los Angeles today, or visiting, it is LA's, your's, and California's, and America's historical beginnings down there on Olvera Street.
Edit Article



Olvera Street Pictures Add Picture



Olvera Street Videos Add Video