Homestead Museum

A Crowning Achievement? The Los Angeles Improvement Company and Crown Hill, 1885-1890

by Paul R. Spitzzeri Two days ago, a post here looked at the Centinela Colony, a project launched in 1874 during the first growth and development boom in Los Angeles and headed by F.P.F. Temple.  After land sales commenced in the first part of the following year, the scheme failed as the boom inevitably went... Continue Reading →

“An Act of Providence”: A Union Pacific Train Wreck on San Jose Creek near Puente, 16 February 1927

by Paul R. Spitzzeri We are in one of those exceptional winters in which, instead of receiving the bulk of our rainfall in the first couple months of the year, we have, so far, had most of our rain earlier in the season.  January was essentially bone dry and we had just a middling shower... Continue Reading →

“An Ingenious and Admirable Colonial Project”: The Centinela Colony, 1874-75

by Paul R. Spitzzeri As Los Angeles underwent its first significant and sustained period of growth in the late 1860s and first half of the 1870s, one of the signal features of the boom was the rapid development of the city as well as some of the earliest suburban communities.  Concerning the latter, some prominent... Continue Reading →

Volunteer Spotlight: Christine Vargas

by Steven Dugan We would like to introduce you to Christine Vargas, one of our newest volunteers. She joined the volunteer staff last September and got involved a couple weeks after her volunteer orientation was complete. As an administrative volunteer, Christine has helped out with projects and events: from special tour weekends, small events such... Continue Reading →