LA Heritage Day 2013 a Resounding Success!

On April 14, 2013, thousands of people from across Southern California descended upon the heart of LA, the birthplace of the City, for the 6th LA Heritage Day at El Pueblo.

Inside the Pico House and Hellman Quon Building, over 75 organizations set up exhibits to share their organizations' good works, passions, and their portion of LA history. The Heritage Showcase featured over a dozen speakers in a crowded mini-auditorium, including elected officials, museum curators, archivists, and historians -- all experts! Hundreds of children were able to make a craft or participate in some activity that created a fun experience for the whole family as they connected with our shared past.

With interactive dancing in the Plaza (in the Kiosko!), costumed historic interpreters, historic vehicles free guided tours, and lots of give-aways, the day had something for everyone!

You can see photos and get updates of other LA heritage news and events at www.facebook.com/LosAngelesHeritage.

Started in 2008 with the first LA Heritage Day, the LA Heritage Alliance serves its members by providing no-cost resources, workshops, consulting, & training to support their efficacy and provide support as needed. All this work is done to improve the communication and collaboration of the over 230 heritage organizations across LA as they work to preserve and promote our shared heritage.

LA Heritage Day Speakers Announced

LA Heritage Day is proud to present expert speakers from across L.A. in its Heritage Showcase. Don't miss these compelling and authoritative presentations!

The schedule* for Heritage Day is as follows:

11:15            Richard Atkins, Hollywood Heritage:
                      “History Is Not Always Set in Stone”

11:30             Marva Felchlin, Autry National Center: 

“The Pico House, as Told by Its Original Registry”

11:45            Jerry Fecht, Museum of the San Fernando Valley:

“Surveying the San Fernando Valley's Population of Ghosts”

12:00            Councilman Tom LaBonge

12:15            Charles Perry, Culinary Historians of Southern California:

“How L.A. Spawned the Cafeteria, for Better or Worse”

12:30            Christina Rice, Los Angeles Public Library, Photo Collection: 

“Hidden Photos of LA Public Library”

12:45            Leslie Kendall: Chief Curator, Petersen Automotive Museum

1:15             Keith Rice, Los Angeles United Methodist Museum of Social Justice:

“The Founding Members of La Plaza Church”

1:30             Venice Heritage Museum:

“Envisioning a Venice History Museum & Abbot Kinney's Dream”

1:45             Friends of Griffith Park:

“Anza National Historic Trail”

2:00             Amorette Crespo, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes:

                        “Forgotten Histories: A Place to Speak Freely”

2:15            Marc Wanamaker:  

“The first film studios in downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights”

2:30            Nathan Masters, USC Libraries/LA as Subject:

                        "Roots of LA: Trees & the History of LA"

2:45            Elizabeth Morin, City of Los Angeles Dept. of Cultural Affairs: 

“Los Angeles: The Big Read”

*subject to change

Celebrate Los Angeles at LA Heritage Day!

On Sunday, April 14, 2013, from 11am to 4pm the L.A. Heritage Alliance will host its Annual L.A. Heritage Day to share Los Angeles and Southern California’s history through tours, five museums, children’s activities, presentations, giveaways, food, and other activities. The entire event and all activities are free and will take place at the birthplace of Los Angeles and adjacent to world-famous Olvera Street, making for a full day of free history, fun, and entertainment.

“In an area sometimes perceived as having no ‘real’ history, L.A. Heritage Day is an opportunity for people to learn about and enjoy the fascinating people, places, and events that have shaped Southern California,” said Cindy Olnick, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Conservancy. “It’s also a chance to learn about the incredible variety of local preservation groups, museums, libraries, and historical societies serving people today throughout Los Angeles County.”

This year’s LA Heritage Day will feature a children’s activity area with activities from groups like the Chinese American Museum with a lantern-making workshop. Historic cars of LA will be on display from various museums, including the Petersen Automotive Museum. Twenty presentations will be given including talks on the history of the Pico House as told through its original guest book, culinary history of LA, and their favorite “piece” of LA History by special guests.

The diverse groups participating in this year's L.A. Heritage Day represent the native peoples of Los Angeles to cultural groups to geographically focused organizations from across Southern California. “With so many groups attending this event, there will be something for everyone.  The legacy of the Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Spanish and African immigrant communities along with our region's indigenous people will be honored for their role in making Los Angeles the diverse metropolis it is today,” said Chris Espinosa, General Manager of El Pueblo Historical Monument.

L.A. Heritage Day takes place inside the historic Pico House and in the Plaza at El Pueblo Historical Monument (http://elpueblo.lacity.org/), adjacent to Olvera Street and across the street from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. El Pueblo is the birthplace of L.A., the site of the early pueblo where the city was founded in 1781. Special tours of Olvera Street, Avila Adobe, Chinese American Museum, and Plaza Firehouse Museum will be available, as well as the newly opened América Tropical Interpretive Center.

Parking is available in surrounding paid lots and attendees are also encouraged to bike or take public transportation:

Metro provides Bus and Rail transportation to L.A. Heritage Day located at the Plaza at El Pueblo de Los Angeles. Take the Metro Red, Purple, or Gold Lines to Union Station and walk across Alameda Street to El Pueblo Historical Monument. For your best route or more info, visit the Metro Trip Planner or call (323) Go Metro or (323.466.3876).

L.A. Heritage Day is Sunday, April 14, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is presented by the LA Heritage Alliance and El Pueblo Historical Monument, in association with the El Pueblo Park Association (EPPA).  Admission is free, including tours and activities. The event is made possible through support from the Office of LA City Councilman Tom LaBonge, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, and FutureStudio. 

LA Heritage Day Sponsor Announced

The LA Heritage Alliance is proud to announce a Silver Sponsor for LA Heritage Day: The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Los Angeles Aquaduct in 2013, the LADWP is a strong partner and influences much of LA's history for over a century. We're proud to have them support this important community event that impacts organizations across LA. Make sure to thank them when you visit their booth on April 14th at LA Heritage Day!

LA Heritage Day Participants Announced

LA Heritage Day is coming on Sunday, April 14th, 2013 from 11am to 4pm at the Pico House at El Pueblo Historical Monument, home of the world famous Olvera Street!

As of February 28th, over 50 groups have registered. We have space for more heritage organizations, so if you're not on the list yet and want to be, please register today at this form.

Here are the groups attending so far:


African American Firefighter Museum
Alhambra Preservation Group
American Cinematheque (pending)
Art Deco Society of Los Angeles
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
Conference of California Historical Societies
Culinary Historians of Southern California
Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum
Drum Barracks Civil War Museum
Drum Barracks Civil War Museum
Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society
El Pueblo Park Association
Friends of Banning Museum
Friends of Griffith Park
Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians - Kizh Nation
Genealogical Society of Hispanic America - Southern California
Grier Musser Museum
Heritage Square Museum
Highland Park Heritage Trust
Historical Society of Centinela Valley
Hollywood Heritage
Homestead Museum
Horses Across the Valley Project (Art Initiative Division of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley)
LA as Subject
La Senora Research Institute
Lanterman House
LAPL Photo Collection / Photo Friends
Las Angelitas Del Pueblo
Leonis Adobe Museum
Little Landers Historical Society/Bolton Hall Museum
Little Tokyo Historical Society
Long Beach Heritage
Los Angeles Conservancy
Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation
Los Angeles Police Museum
Los Encinos Docent Association
Malibu Adamson House Foundation
Monrovia Historic Preservation Group
Montebello Historical Society
Muckenthaler Cultural Center
Occidental College Library
Pasadena Heritage
Petersen Automotive Museum
Point Fermin Lighthouse
San Fernando Valley Historical Society
Santa Monica Conservancy
Southern California Genealogical Society
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
Venice Heritage Museum
Venice Historical Society
West Adams Heritage Association
Western Educators, Shooters & Troopers (WEST)
Yesteryears Dancers