Los Angeles

 

 

History of Los Angeles

When most people think about Los Angeles, they envision the Hollywood Sign located on Mount Lee, the L.A. Lakers professional sports team, and the historic Venice Beach region. But the history of L.A. runs much deeper than A-list actors, sports franchises, and sandy beaches.

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, a sailor from Portugal, is credited as being the first European to explore the area in 1542. But it would take until 1769 before Gaspar de Portolá set up a Spanish outpost in L.A. The founding of L.A. came on the heels of Spain's colonization of California in the 1760s, which was the result of Russian colonization of Alaska and Northern California.

In 1781, Felipe de Neve, Governor of California, along with 44 settlers set up a pueblo, or community, in close proximity to what they called the Río de Porciúncula river. They called the settlement El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles, which means The Town of the Queen of Angels. It was later shortened to Los Angeles.

The Mexican American War and the Union

The Mexican American War, which was triggered by the annexation of Texas by the U.S. in 1845, lasted from 1846 to 1848. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, officially concluded the conflict. Pursuant to the terms of the treaty, the U.S. was supposed to extend citizenship to Indians from former Mexican territories. However, it would take 80 years for this to occur. On April 4, 1850, L.A. was incorporated as a city in the U.S. Less than half a year later, California was brought into the Union.

The California Gold Rush

The year 1848 didn’t only mark the end of the Mexican American War. It also marked the discovery of massive gold deposits, which attracted about 300,000 starry-eyed people from the U.S. and elsewhere to the Sacramento Valley. And thus the California Gold Rush began. This event had a profound and lasting impact on the state by kickstarting substantial agricultural and industrial development.

Oil Discovery

The first-ever well to strike oil within the Southern California region was drilled by Edward L Doheny and Charles A. Canfield in 1892. With a lot of oil present, many drilling companies came to Southern California. This led to rapid growth in the city. In fact, the population in L.A. was north of 100,000 by 1900. Within two years of the find, there were 80 oil-producing wells in the region. By 1897, the tally jumped to 500 wells.

Hollywood Gets Its Big Break

In the early 20th century, Hollywood got its big break. The first-ever film completed entirely in Hollywood was done in 1910. It was called In Old California. Cecil B. DeMille, who between 1914 and 1958 made 70 silent and sound films, also helped make Hollywood the entertainment mecca it is known as. When Los Angeles annexed Hollywood, Hollywood became the center of the entertainment sector.

Second World War and the Post-War Years

The Second World War period led to a large expansion of L.A.’s economy as Southern California played a major role as a manufacturing area for aircraft and other equipment. Following the Pearl Harbor attack by Japan in 1941, the authorities rounded up thousands of Japanese Americans and Japanese nationals in the L.A. region and interned them at camps.

1981 Bicentennial Celebration

By the time the 1981 Bicentennial Celebration had come around, it was clear that L.A. had made it. The tourist attractions, the film industry, the skyline, the transportation infrastructure, the schools of higher learning, the museums, the population, and the racial diversity – L.A. was a city to take seriously. L.A.’s story is still being written, so there’s a lot more to come.

Visiting L.A.

L.A. was on pace to attract 29 million visitors in 2020, which was down about 22 million versus the pre-COVID-19 projection of 51 million visitors. While the pandemic isn’t over--not by a long shot--things are opening up as people try to adjust to a new normal.

If you’re interested in visiting L.A., there’s plenty to do. Some of the top sites:

1. Griffith Observatory
2. Getty Center
3. Huntington Library
4. Grand Central Market
5. Santa Monica Pier
6. Hollywood Bowl
7. Los Angeles County Museum of Art
8. Venice Beach and Boardwalk

 

Getting Around:

There are a number of ways of getting around LA. You can use the LA Metro System which operates subways, light rails buses and bike shares. You can take taxis and you can rent a car.

If you want to go around in style the best option is finding a chauffeur service. A professional driver will get you to wherever you want to go in L.A. Why not let a chauffeur navigate the busy streets? You’ll be able to set back, relax, and take in the sights and sounds of L.A.