If one of the reasons why you love to travel is to be able to visit historical sites and to have the opportunity to learn about the rich culture of the destination which you’re touring, it’s well worth visiting Los Angeles. Which boasts plenty of historical attractions which are over 100 hundred years old! If you’re tempted to visit LA, To get you started, just book one of the Los Angeles rental homes and try out these top four activities that you must do when you are in Los Angeles has some amazing ideas to discover a few of LA’s top historical attractions, which are well worth adding to your itinerary!
Explore LA history on your vacation: 7 Historical sites which are well worth adding to your trip itinerary!
1. Learn about LA’s beginnings at the Mission San Juan Capistrano
The San Juan Capistrano Mission was originally built in 1176, long before the creation of the state of California, which was founded in 1850. Today the mission is located in San Juan Capistrano, which is a picturesque area which is located in Orange County, Los Angeles.One of the reasons why it’s worth adding the Mission San Juan Capistrano to your LA itinerary is that it is home to one of the oldest buildings in California.
The Serra Chapel which was built over 400 years ago by Padre Serra, who is now recognized as a saint by the Catholic church. While the mission was originally built to teach and educate the native population and to introduce them to Catholicism, the mission also served as a working farm for much of its history.
So if you’re interested in learning about what life was like for Native Americans and California’s early immigrants, it’s well worth touring the Mission San Juan Capistrano’s buildings and gardens, which feature a wide variety of exhibitions. Which will teach you all you need to know about the beginnings of the state of California.
2. See a concert at the iconic Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl was built in the early 1920s and has been entertaining generations of concert goers for the best part of a century. Examples of some of the headliners to perform at the Hollywood Bowl include Stravinsky, Stevie Wonder, B.B King, Luciano Pavarotti. So it’s well worth planning your LA trip to coincide with a concert held at the Hollywood Bowl. One of Los Angele’s most iconic music venues.
3. Union Station
When it was first built back in 1939 Union Station was the grandest railway station in the country. To this day Union Station remains the largest passenger station in the Western United States and serves around 110,000 every day. Even if you have absolutely no intention of catching a train, it’s well worth visiting Union Station to catch a glimpse of what it may have been like to visit Los Angeles in 1939 and to marvel at Union Station’s architecture which incorporates elements of art deco style with revival architecture.
Union Station features multiple gardens and enclosed garden patios as well as terracotta walls and flooring. You may be surprised to hear that Union Station was designed by John Parkinson and Donald Parkinson, who were also responsible for designing Los Angeles’ City Hall. Which is one of LA’s most iconic buildings. If you’re tempted to visit Union Station, head to download Los Angeles where you’ll see Union Station’s white art deco building, which will be surrounded by palm trees.
4. Los Angeles City Hall
One of the most recognizable buildings in LA is LA’s city hall, which features a tall central tower which stands at approximately 454 feet tall. Which makes the hall the tallest base-isolated building in existence. The hall is thought to have been inspired by the shape of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. An ancient tomb which was built by the Greeks in what is now Turkey.
You may be fascinated to find out that the hall features sand which was collected from all 58 of California’s counties. As well as water from all 28 of California’s missions, one of which is the Mission San Juan Capistrano, which was mentioned earlier in this list. While the top of the hall’s pyramid which is perched at the top of the building’s focal tower is an airplane beacon. Which was designed to honor Charles Lindbergh.
Instead of simply driving or walking past and taking a quick photo, it’s well worth climbing to the top of the hall’s public observation deck which is open from Monday to Friday each week.
5. The Old Plaza Firehouse
If you love touring old buildings, you may be interested in heading to the Old Plaza Firehouse, which is the oldest fire station in California and was originally built in 1184. As well as serving as a fire station, the firehouse also was used as a saloon, a pool room, a cigar house and a cheap hotel. However, the Old Plaza Firehouse has since been restored to its former glory and now serves as a firefighting themed museum.
If you’re interested in touring the oldest firehouse in California, you’ll be able to do so between Tuesdays and Saturdays. As the popular museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
6. The Avila Abode
The Avila Abode is the oldest standing residential structure in Los Angeles and was constructed in 1818 by Francisco Avila, for whom the home is now named. The Avila Abode can be found one of Los Angeles’ most significant historical streets Olvera Street and can be toured by interested tourists. Should you choose to plan a visit, you’ll be able to tour the property’s original kitchen, bedroom, and lounge.
7. Olvera Street
If you’re interested in learning about Los Angeles’ rich history, it’s well worth taking a walk down Olvera Street. Which is one of the oldest streets in Los Angeles. Olvera Street is located in the heart of the city and was originally built in 1781, although it wasn’t renamed Olvera Street until 1877. One of Olvera Street’s focal points is its outdoor marketplace, which doubles as a garden as is always bustling with activity and is as busy today as it was in its heydey, over 100 years ago! If you’re fascinated by what you’ve read about Los Angeles’ rich history, it’s well worth visiting all 7 of the historical attractions listed above!
