Lummis House facts for kids
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Lummis House
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Lummis House (in 2012)
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 200 E. Ave. 43, Los Angeles, California |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1897 |
| Built by | Lummis, Charles F. |
| Architectural style | Rustic American Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000148 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1971 |
The Lummis House, also called El Alisal, is a special stone house in Los Angeles, California. It was built by Charles Fletcher Lummis between the late 1800s and early 1900s. The house has a rustic, natural style known as American Craftsman.
It sits near the Arroyo Seco area in northeast Los Angeles. The name "El Alisal" comes from the Spanish words for "alder grove". This house is recognized as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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History of Lummis House
Charles Lummis bought the land for his home around 1895 to 1897. The property was about 3 acres (1.2 hectares). He named it "El Alisal" because of the many alder and sycamore trees growing nearby.
Building the house took a long time, about 13 years. It was a large home, around 4,000 square feet (370 square meters). The main hall had a concrete floor. This made it easy to clean after parties with artists, writers, and musicians.
Many famous people visited or stayed in Lummis's guest houses. These included Clarence Darrow, Will Rogers, John Philip Sousa, and John Muir. Lummis loved the natural beauty of the Arroyo Seco. In 1905, he started the Arroyo Seco Foundation. This group worked to protect the area and encourage people to enjoy it.
In 1940, the Arroyo Seco Parkway was built. This was the first freeway in the area. It was built between the house and a new flood control channel.
Lummis House Today
In 1965, the Historical Society of Southern California moved into the Lummis House. They opened the house to the public for tours. The Historical Society left the house in 2015.
Now, the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department manages the Lummis House. They keep it open for visitors to explore.
Visiting the Museum
The Lummis House is a historic house museum run by the city of Los Angeles. The outside of the house is made of river rocks. It used to have a stone tower, but that was removed later.
Inside the house, you can see some of Charles Lummis's own collections. There are also copies of many of the books he wrote. The museum welcomes visitors for tours.
Gardens at El Alisal
The gardens around the Lummis House are special. They mainly feature drought-tolerant plants. Many of these are native California plants. You can still find California Sycamore trees there. These are the "alder grove" trees that gave the house its name, "El Alisal."
California Historical Landmark
There is a special marker at the Lummis House. It is California Historical Landmark Marker NO. 531. It says:
- NO. 531 LUMMIS HOME - This building was constructed by Charles F. Lummis (1859-1928), author, editor, poet, athlete, librarian, historian, archeologist, etc. He selected this site in 1895 chiefly because of a mammoth, ancient sycamore (El Alisal) which has since died and been replaced by four saplings.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Lummis para niños
