Homestead Museum

“Mr. Los Angeles”: A Press Photo of Joseph Scott, 10 July 1925

by Paul R. Spitzzeri He’s another one of those forgotten names who was once a major figure in the legal, political, and religious realms of Los Angeles and even his 8-foot bronze statue, placed in a position of prominence on Grand Avenue in front of the Los Angeles County courthouse, was moved to a less... Continue Reading →

Confronting Regional History Controversies: Jonathan Temple and the 1836 Vigilance Committee in Los Angeles

by Paul R. Spitzzeri Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Times published an article concerning an ongoing reevaluation at the University of Southern California of the memorializing of key early figures in the institution’s founding and development.  A recent repost on our social media platforms here referenced long-time USC president Rufus von KleinSmid in connection to... Continue Reading →

Shake, Rattle and Roll: The Whittier Earthquake of 8 July 1929

by Paul R. Spitzzeri Many of us clearly remember the Whittier Narrows earthquake of 1 October 1987, which registered 5.9 on the Richter scale and the destruction that was wrought by that shaker, especially in places like Uptown Whittier which is filled with historic houses and commercial structures dating back to the late 19th and... Continue Reading →

Portrait Gallery: Los Angeles County Surveyor and Los Angeles City Engineer Harry F. Stafford and His Wife Charlotte, 1886-1888

by Paul R. Spitzzeri In the Homestead’s fairly substantial collection of portrait photographs from greater Los Angeles dating from about 1870 to 1930, there are a very few that show the subject’s vocation, but tonight’s highlighted artifacts from the museum’s holdings include one such view. It is a striking studio image of Harry Fritsch Stafford... Continue Reading →