Los Angeles History Blog
A recorded presentation by our 2023 LACHS Scholarship recipients Araceli Ramos and Hazel Carias-Urbina from California State University, Long Beach. ”The 1956 Machris Brazilian Expedition: A Vehicle for Scientific Discovery and Ecological Conservation” with Araceli Ramos, and "Conspirando en Los Ángeles" with Hazel Carias-Urbina.
You never know what you are going to learn about someone when you start doing historical research; that’s what happened to me when I began to write about the Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights. I came across the name Frederick Roberts and accidentally discovered that there was more to his history than meets the eye. Not only was he the great-grandson of the enslaved Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson (3rd President of the United States), but Frederick was the first African-American to be elected to the California State Assembly in 1919. But as you will read, there were other firsts for the Roberts family.
Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles lies a cherished landmark that once offered Angelenos a glimpse into Dutch culture and culinary traditions from the Netherlands underscored by the smell of freshly baked bread—the Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery headquarters. Built in 1931 in Glassell Park on Fletcher Drive and San Fernando Road, it is a stunning example of Dutch Renaissance Revival architecture with a brick façade, white-trimmed windows, and gabled roofs resembling a Dutch farmhouse. Over the years it quickly became an integral part of the Los Angeles culture and charm.
No, I’m not talking about the 1991 comedy starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss. I’m referring to the iconic chubby-cheek boy with the Pompadour haircut of the 50s with red checkered overalls, who has guarded the Big Boy restaurant on Riverside Drive since 1949. Why is this Bob and the restaurant he stands in front of considered iconic? And why is the restaurant considered a “Point of Historical Interest” by the State of California? To understand that, you must first understand Bob’s history
This blog will focus on the eastside of the City of Angels. When people think about the history of our city, many focus on our downtown area - Olvera Street, the Civic Center, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and historic Broadway and Spring Street. But many of us forget about the eastside of Los Angeles - located east of the Los Angeles River. This includes historic neighborhoods such as Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights (one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles), and El Sereno.
This blog will focus on the eastside of the City of Angels. When people think about the history of our city, many focus on our downtown area - Olvera Street, the Civic Center, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and historic Broadway and Spring Street. But many of us forget about the eastside of Los Angeles - located east of the Los Angeles River. This includes historic neighborhoods such as Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights (one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles), and El Sereno.
