Rancho Tujunga facts for kids

Rancho Tujunga was a very large piece of land, about 6,661-acre (26.96 km²), in what is now Los Angeles County, California. It was a Mexican land grant, which means the Mexican government gave this land to private owners. The rancho was located in the western Crescenta Valley and northeastern San Fernando Valley. In 1840, the Mexican governor Juan Bautista Alvarado gave this land to two brothers, Francisco Lopez and Pedro Lopez.

Today, the area that was once Rancho Tujunga includes parts of Los Angeles like Lake View Terrace, Sunland, and Tujunga.

What Does 'Tujunga' Mean?

The name Tujunga (or Tuxunga) comes from the languages of the local Native American tribes, the Fernandeño and Gabrieliño people. It means "old woman's place." The word Tuxu means "old woman."

This name might come from an old story called Khra'wiyawi. In this story, the wife of a chief was very sad because her daughter died. She went into the mountains and turned into a stone. People believe this story is why the village was named Tujunga. There is even a large rock in Little Tujunga Canyon that looks like an old woman sitting down!

History of Rancho Tujunga

The Mexican government officially gave the land grant for Rancho Tujunga to the Lopez brothers, Francisco and Pedro, in 1840. Francisco Lopez is famous for being the person who discovered gold in Placerita Canyon State Park in 1842. This was one of the first gold discoveries in California!

In 1845, the Lopez brothers traded their large Rancho Tujunga (6,661-acre (26.96 km²)) for a smaller piece of land called Rancho Cahuenga (388-acre (1.57 km²)). Rancho Cahuenga was owned by Miguel Triunfo, a Native American who had worked at Mission San Fernando Rey de España.

• In 1850, Miguel Triunfo sold half of Rancho Tujunga back to Francisco Lopez.
• He then sold the other half to two merchants from Los Angeles, David W. Alexander and Francis Mellus.
• In 1851, Francisco Lopez sold his half of the rancho to Agustin Olvera.

After the Mexican–American War ended in 1848, California became part of the United States. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo said that the U.S. government would respect the land grants given by Mexico. Because of this, a claim for Rancho Tujunga was filed in 1852 with the Public Land Commission. The ownership of the rancho was officially confirmed for Alexander, Mellus, and Olvera in 1874.

• In 1856, Alexander and Mellus sold their share of the rancho to Agustin Olvera.
• Then, in 1875, Olvera sold all of Rancho Tujunga to Andrew Glassell.
• There were some disagreements about the exact borders of the rancho in 1888.

Historic Places on the Rancho

• Bolton Hall: This building was built in 1913. It was recognized as a special historic place (Historic Cultural Monument #2) by the City of Los Angeles in 1962.
• Adobe house: An old house made of adobe bricks.

See also

In Spanish: Rancho Tujunga para niños