Estrada Courts facts for kids
Estrada Courts is a large community of homes for families in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, California. It is located on E. Olympic Blvd & S. Lorena St. This place is famous for its many colorful murals painted on its walls.
History of Estrada Courts
Estrada Courts was built between 1942 and 1943. This was during World War II, when many people moved to Southern California for jobs in factories that made things for the war. There was a big need for more homes! Also, many soldiers were coming back, and the Bracero program brought workers to the area, which also increased the need for housing.
At first, 214 homes out of 30 buildings were set aside for defense workers. In 1954, more homes were added, bringing the total to 414 apartments. Estrada Courts was special because it allowed people from different backgrounds to live together. It wasn't just for one group of people.
After the war, Estrada Courts continued to grow. In the 1970s, something amazing happened: about 80 murals were painted by Chicano artists. These murals helped tell the stories and show the culture of the community.
Today, the City of Los Angeles owns Estrada Courts. The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles helps manage it.
Amazing Murals
Estrada Courts is very famous for its many murals. These large paintings on the walls show the unique culture and traditions of the neighborhood. They tell stories about the people who live there.
The murals often work together, like a big art show. They use symbols and pictures that come from the history and culture of the community. This makes them very special and meaningful.
Some of the well-known murals include:
- Dream World by Norma Montoya (1974)
- Innocence by Norma Montoya (1975)
- Fishes of the Future by Norma Montoya (1976)
- Mural of Children by Charles Felix
- Two Flags by Sonny Ramirez (1973)
- In Memory of a Home Boy by Daniel Martinez (1973)
- Dreams of Flight by David Botello (1973-78, repainted in 1996)
- The Sun Bathers by Gil Hernandez (1973)
- The Artist by Daniel Haro (1973)
- Moratorium - The Black and White Mural by Willie Herron and Gronk (1973)
- La Fiesta by Roberto Chavez with students from East Los Angeles College (1973)
- We Are Not a Minority by El Congreso de Artistas Cosmicos de las Americas de San Diego (1978, repainted in 1996). This mural has a message: "In memoriam to the Guerrillero Heroico, el Doctor Che. Día del Rebelde Internacional XI aniversario Oct. 8th, 1978." You might have even seen this mural in music videos! It appeared in "To Live & Die in L.A." by Tupac Shakur and "Where Is the Love?" by The Black Eyed Peas.
Some of these murals, like Dreams of Flight and two untitled murals by Daniel Haro (1983) and Steve Delgado (1973), were even shown on a TV show called Robbery Homicide Division-City of Strivers in 2002.
Local Schools
Kids living in Estrada Courts go to schools that are part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. These schools include:
- Dena Elementary School
- Stevenson Middle School
- Theodore Roosevelt High School
