Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument facts for kids

La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles, one of the first Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments designated in 1962

Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments are special places in Los Angeles, California. These sites are chosen by the city's Cultural Heritage Commission because they are important for their architecture, history, or culture. When a place becomes a Historic-Cultural Monument, it means the city wants to help protect it for future generations.

Protecting Los Angeles History

The idea to protect historic places in Los Angeles started in 1958. A group called the Historic Buildings Committee, part of the American Institute of Architects, noticed that many old buildings were being torn down as the city grew. They wanted to create a plan to save these important landmarks.

On April 30, 1962, their hard work paid off! The city passed a special rule to protect historic places. Soon after, in the summer of 1962, the first Cultural Heritage Board was formed. This board was made up of five people: William Woollett, Bonnie H. Riedel, Carl S. Dentzel, Senaida Sullivan, and Edith Gibbs Vaughan.

Their very first meeting in August 1962 was important. At that time, the owner of the historic Leonis Adobe wanted to tear it down to build a supermarket. But on its first day, the board quickly named the Leonis Adobe and four other sites as Historic-Cultural Monuments. This helped save them!

In its first ten years (from 1962 to 1972), the commission named 101 places as Historic-Cultural Monuments. By April 2018, there were over 1,150 protected sites!

How a Place Becomes a Monument

When a building or site is named a Historic-Cultural Monument, it doesn't mean it can never be changed or torn down. However, it does add an important step. If someone wants to tear down or make big changes to a designated monument, they first need to get special permission from the commission.

The commission has the power to delay the demolition of a protected property for up to one year. This gives everyone time to try and find ways to save the building or find a new use for it.

Famous Monuments in Los Angeles

Here are some of the well-known places that have been named Historic-Cultural Monuments:

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  Leonis Adobe (Monument #1)

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  Bolton Hall (Monument #2)

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  Eastern Columbia Building (Monument #294)

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  Griffith Park (Monument #942)

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  CBS Columbia Square Studios (Monument #947)

Monuments Outside the City

Sometimes, important historical sites that are connected to Los Angeles, but are located just outside the city, can also be designated. One example is Manzanar.

Manzanar is a very important historical site from World War II. It was a Japanese American internment camp located in the Owens Valley, far from Los Angeles. Even though it's not in the city, the land was owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Manzanar was designated as Historic-Cultural Monument #160 on September 15, 1976, to remember its significant history.

Images for kids

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  Westminster Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles) (HCM #299)