Stop 1-Los Angeles River:
Soft Bottom River, Los Feliz
Driving Tour
Although the Army Corps tried to cement the bottom in this area, the cement would not harden and the river in this area still has a mud bottom today. Plants adapt to changes in water levels and over 200 species of birds have been observed here.
- Bridges of Los Angeles-
Pedestrian bridge over river at Los Feliz site
1888-1900
Railroad truss: railroad overpasses; no decorative features
1910-1940
Reinforced concrete arch: decorative features
after 1945
Prestressed concrete
Stop 2-Shakespeare Bridge-Saint George St.
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Glendale-Hyperion Bridge Bridges over Los Angeles River- 4th St; 6th St; Macy St., North Broadway |
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of bridge?
Stop 3-Taylor Railroad Yard-
Owned by Southern Pacific Railroad and active during the height of railroad transportation, the Taylor Railroad Yard is the object of much debate over future land use and development.
- How has the history of Los Angeles' economic development changed the land use of this area over the years?
- How would you restore or develop the area?
-First Interstate World Center- 633 W. 5th Street
With its dramatic crown-like top (1,017 feet high), this building with 72 stories is the tallest building west of Chicago. Next to the tower, a Spanish-style stairway leads down to Fifth Street.
- What are some of the structural considerations in building this tall building in regard to earthquakes?
- How would a tall building like this react to small to moderate earthquakes compared to a two story building? How would it react to a larger earthquake compared to the smaller building?
- Triforum area of Los Angeles Mall- lst Street and Main across from City Hall.
Possible site of the Yang-na Indian village which predates the pueblo. It was hoped that artifacts of the village would be found when tunneling of the Metro Red Line took place, but none were found.
- What environmental conditions would lead people to settle in this area?
- Bradbury Building- 304 S. Broadway
Built in 1893 by Louis Bradbury, who made his forture in Mexican silver mining, and designed by George Wyman, architect, its central well of cast-iron balconies, stairs, and open elevators makes it one of the most magnificent relics of nineteenth-century commercial architecture. Mon.-Sat.10-3; (213)624-2378;
Los Angeles Conservancy tours. (213) 623-2489
Stop 4-El Pueblo de Los Angeles- 622 N. Main St.
Mon-Fri. 10-3, Sat-Sun. 10-4:30; closed holidays (213) 628-1274
1781- Founded by 12 families (46 people) after walking 100 miles from Mexico; built in the bottomlands of the river valley before the river its the plain to the south. Periodic flooding by the Porciuncula River as the Los Angeles River was called caused settlers to move the pueblo a number of times. No one knows where the original site was, but it may have been near the bend of the river near Elysian Park.
The present location of the pueblo was established around 1830. Avila Adobe, 10 E. Olvera Street, the city's oldest extant dwelling dating from the early nineteenth century (1818). Damaged by earthquakes in 1870 and 1971, it has been restored to exemplify California lifestyle of the 1840's. Note the thickness of the walls.
- What environmental conditions would lead people to settle in this area?
- What is the heating and cooling effect of adobe compared with other building materials such as brick, concrete, stucco, etc?
Old Plaza Church ( Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles) on No. Main St. at the Plaza is the oldest church in the city, build in 1822 by the Franciscans.
- Phillipe's The Original-1001 No. Alameda
Pick up lunch at one of the oldest buildings in Los Angeles.
- What was this building used for in the past?
LUNCH -Eat at Olvera Street or at Phillipe's.
Stop 5-Union Station- Alameda and Macy
Built in 1939 as the railroad passenger terminal on the site of the principal Chinese quarter before the mid-1930's. Style is considered streamline moderne. Los Angeles Conservancy tours. (213) 623-2489
- How does the history of Union Station reflect the changes in transportation in Los Angeles?
Stop 6-Metro Red Line
The first segment built was 3.2 miles long from Union Station to Western Avenue. The second segment, 2.1 miles long, opened July, 1996 and extends the line to Western Ave. The average cost is $289 million per mile. Tunneling exposed thousands of artifacts from the original Chinatown which are on displayed in the MTA building. Underground stations are enlivened by diverse artwork.
It is estimated that by the year 2010, 500,000 commuters will get to and from work on a 400 mile combination of above ground light rail, subways, and commuter rail lines.
Runs every 10 minutes between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m., more frequently during rush hours. Fare costs $1.35 regular fare. (213) 626-4455
Pick up at Wilshire and Western.
Stop 7-Watts Tower- 1765 E. 107th Street.
After 33 years of labor, Simon Rodia was able to walk away in 1954 having finished eight clustered towers of coloured pottery shards, shells, tile, and glass embedded in cement on frames of scrap steel and bailing wire utilizing the by-products of technology. Tours: adults $2, children $1.50. (23) 569-8181
- What structural elements can you find that reinforce the tower?
Stop 8-Los Angeles River
Hollydale Park -near Garfield and East Imperial at Gardendale St. in South Gate
Short talk by Ron Lockman, Army Corps of Engineers
This is the part of the Los Angeles River that will have 8 ft. walls built to as part of flood control.
- What is the flow rate? How could you measure it?
- What is the slope of the banks?
Before channelization, the Los Angeles River vacillated between mouths on Santa Monica and San Pedro bays.
| 1783 | Main water ditch from Los Angeles River built. |
| 1815 | Los Angeles River changes course, enters ocean at Ballona Creek. City center moved. |
| 1825 | Los Angeles River reverts to orginal and present course; new buildings are constructed in vacant river channel. |
| 1884 | Los Angeles River floods; 12 people die. |
| 1910 | Last salmon seen in Los Angeles River |
| 1914 | Long Beach was an island during flooding. |
| 1915 | Creation of Los Angeles County Flood Control District |
| 1938 | The most destructive Los Angeles floods of record occurred in March; 49 die, all transportation and communication wiped out, except for radio. Subsequently, major reservoirs were built in San Fernando, San Gabriel, and lower San Bernadino valleys and elaborate levees were constructed along channels leading through the city. |
| 1954 | Los Angeles River "stabilized" in concrete. |
- Why was the Los Angeles River channelized?
- What is the flow rate? How could you measure it?
- What is the slope of the banks?
Stop 9-Mouth of River, San Pedro