History in Los Angeles

Angels Flight

Los Angeles

Arroyo Seco Parkway

Los Angeles

The Arroyo Seco Parkway (now Interstate 110) is America's first freeway, opened in 1940, connecting downtown Los Angeles with Pasadena. Designed as a landscaped divided highway with no traffic lights, no intersections, and graceful entry ramps, it was a showcase project of the New Deal era. Listed as a National Scenic Byway, it remains notable for integrating high-speed road design with the Arroyo Seco valley landscape.

Battleship USS Iowa

Los Angeles

The USS Iowa is the lead ship of the Iowa-class and one of the most formidable battleships ever to sail under the American flag. Built in the early 1940s, she served first in the Atlantic during World War II before being transferred to the Pacific, where she supported assaults on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After the war she entered the reserve fleet, was reactivated for the Korean War, and played a key role in shore bombardment operations. In the 1980s she underwent an extensive modernization under President Reagan. Since 2012, the Iowa has been anchored as a floating museum in San Pedro, Los Angeles. Visitors can explore gun turrets, engine rooms, and the historic presidential cabin where Franklin D. Roosevelt stayed during his 1943 Atlantic crossing.

California African American Museum

Los Angeles

The California African American Museum (CAAM) in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, is one of the most significant museums in the United States dedicated exclusively to the history, art, and culture of African Americans. Founded in 1981, CAAM places particular focus on California and the American West — a perspective often underrepresented in broader narratives. The collection spans paintings, sculptures, photographs, and historical objects ranging from the era of slavery through the civil rights movement to contemporary art. Rotating exhibitions, educational programs, and community events make it a vibrant cultural hub. Admission is free, making it one of the most accessible museums in the city. It sits adjacent to the Natural History Museum and California Science Center within the leafy Exposition Park.

Campo de Cahuenga

Los Angeles

Campo de Cahuenga is a historic museum in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, marking the site where California history pivoted. In 1847, the original adobe building on Rancho Cahuenga land was where the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed, effectively ending the Mexican-American War in California. The current structure is a faithful reconstruction of that adobe, designated both a California Historic Landmark and a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. It sits near the Universal Studios lot, close to the historic Cahuenga Pass.

Christ Cathedral

Los Angeles

Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, is one of the most remarkable church buildings in the United States. Originally known as the Crystal Cathedral — a glass megachurch designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee, completed in 1980 — the building became famous as the home of Robert H. Schuller's congregation, which at its peak had over 10,000 members and broadcast services internationally for decades. In 2012, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange purchased the building and renamed it Christ Cathedral. Today it serves as the cathedral of one of the fastest-growing dioceses in Southern California, a single structure that carries two distinct religious eras within its walls.

Crypto.com Arena

Los Angeles

Known as the Staples Center from its 1999 opening until late 2021, Crypto.com Arena is one of the most famous indoor arenas in the world. Located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, it holds up to 20,000 spectators and serves as home to the LA Lakers and LA Clippers (NBA) and the LA Kings (NHL). The arena has hosted the Grammy Awards multiple times, world-tour concerts by virtually every major act, and landmark sporting moments including multiple Lakers championship celebrations. Owned by the Anschutz Entertainment Group and connected to the LA Convention Center, it is well served by Metro rail. An evening here — whether for sport or music — is as close to the beating heart of Los Angeles as it gets.

Disneyland Resort

Los Angeles

The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Southern California, is the original home of all Disney theme parks worldwide. Walt Disney opened the first Disneyland here in 1955; today the resort comprises two parks, three hotels, and the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment district. The classic Disneyland Park houses the original rides — Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, Main Street USA — while California Adventure explores the Golden State theme. The resort consistently ranks among the most visited leisure destinations in the world, drawing families with young children as well as adults who grew up with Disney. Booking ahead and planning your day early are strongly recommended for a smooth visit.

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles

Dodger Stadium is one of the most iconic sports venues in the United States, set in the Chávez Ravine valley north of downtown Los Angeles. Home to the Los Angeles Dodgers since its opening in 1962, it is the third-oldest currently active baseball stadium in the country and the largest baseball stadium in the world by seating capacity, holding over 56,000 fans. Privately financed at a cost of $23 million and technically ahead of its time at opening, it has hosted countless World Series games and landmark concerts — from the Beatles to Frank Sinatra. Evening games under the Los Angeles sky, with the illuminated skyline and San Gabriel Mountains visible beyond the outfield, rank among the most memorable sports experiences in North America.

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Los Angeles

The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is one of the most important concert halls on the US West Coast, located in the Music Center in the heart of Los Angeles. Opened in 1964, it bears the name of Dorothy Buffum Chandler, the publisher, arts patron, and tireless promoter of cultural life in Los Angeles, who was instrumental in financing and building the venue. Since 1986 the Pavilion has been home to the Los Angeles Opera, one of the most prestigious opera companies in the United States. For decades the hall also served as the venue for the Academy Awards ceremony, lending it additional fame. The impressive acoustics and elegant interior make attending an opera or concert here a memorable experience.

Egyptian Theatre Hollywood

Los Angeles

The Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard – officially Grauman's Egyptian Theatre – is one of Hollywood's oldest and most iconic cinemas. Sid Grauman commissioned the building in 1922 in the Egyptian Revival style, inspired by the era's fascination with ancient Egypt following major archaeological discoveries. It hosted the first Hollywood premiere in an outdoor courtyard theatre and played a defining role in shaping the glamour culture of early Hollywood. After extensive restoration, it now operates as the American Cinematheque's flagship venue, screening retrospectives, special events and world cinema classics.

First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

The First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles (First AME) is the oldest African American congregation in Los Angeles, founded in 1872. What began as a small community in a racially segregated city has grown into one of Southern California's most influential religious institutions, with approximately 19,000 predominantly African American members. The church played a central role in the civil rights movement in Los Angeles and has hosted figures from Martin Luther King Jr. to Barack Obama. First AME's Sunday services are known for their vibrant gospel choirs and strong community spirit — a cultural experience extending well beyond the religious.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park

Los Angeles

Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Los Angeles, is far more than an ordinary cemetery. Since its founding in 1906, it has evolved into a place where art, architecture and nature combine in a unique way. Life-size replicas of famous artworks — including Michelangelo's David — and elaborate recreations of historic churches dot the sweeping grounds. The park serves as the final resting place of numerous Hollywood icons, among them Clark Gable, Walt Disney and Jean Harlow. Today Forest Lawn is a popular destination that invites visitors to reflect and discover artistic masterpieces in a serene setting.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park

Los Angeles

Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills is one of the world's most famous cemeteries and the final resting place of an extraordinary roll call of film legends, musicians, and artists. Founded in 1906, it was conceived as a park-like sanctuary — manicured lawns, sculpture groupings, and faithful reproductions of celebrated European artworks. Among those buried here are Bette Davis, Liberace, and many other icons of the entertainment world. Located on Forest Lawn Drive in the San Fernando Valley, the site transcends its function as a burial ground and is experienced by many as an open-air museum: a quiet green island amid the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles.

Mission San Gabriel Arcangel

Los Angeles

Mission San Gabriel Arcangel is one of the 21 Spanish Franciscan missions in California, founded on September 8, 1771 — the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. It was the fourth in the chain of California missions and is often called the Godmother of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, as it played a central role in shaping what would become one of the world great cities. Between 1771 and 1834, more than 25,000 people were baptised here. The stone-built mission complex is designated a National Historic Landmark and features the characteristic Moorish-influenced style of early California mission architecture. The mission remains an active parish and is open to visitors.