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On the Radio
The completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct 100 years ago this month forever changed the course of the city’s history. But other projects did, too. On November 5, I spoke with Alex Cohen of KPCC’s Take Two about four more civic projects that transformed Los Angeles–the subject of my article in the November 2013 issue…
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Don’t Overlook This Historic Parking Garage in Downtown L.A.
Parking garages don’t often receive attention as architectural objects or historical monuments, but this one might deserve a second look. Designed by one of Los Angeles’ leading architectural firms, Wurdeman and Becket, the General Petroleum Corporation Parking Garage opened on Feb. 28, 1949, on the northwest corner of Flower and Eighth streets in downtown Los…
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Actually, It’s 107 Years of Digging at the La Brea Tar Pits
There’s been a lot of buzz today about “100 years of digging” at Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits, but the claim just doesn’t add up. In fact, scientific excavations began under paleontologist John C. Merriam of the University of California in 1906 — 107 years ago. Merriam was alerted to the fossil beds by…
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L.A.’s Beer History Stretches Back to the 1850s
Thirsty Angelenos have been sipping locally brewed ales and lagers since the 1850s, when Christian Henne opened the New York Brewery at the corner of Third and Main streets. In the early 20th century, bars served local brands like Eastside — named in reference to the brewery’s location on the east bank of the Los…
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Los Angeles From the Air, 1887 vs. 2013
Floating some 9,000 feet above the city in a hot-air balloon in 1887, Edwin H. Husher took what may be the first aerial photo of Los Angeles. (I tell the full story behind this historic image and its creation over at Los Angeles Magazine.) After seeing the photo, The Atlantic‘s Alexis Madrigal had a great idea: why not…
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Summer Rain in L.A.?
Dry summers—they’re one of the perks of living in Los Angeles. Ninety-two percent of precipitation falls between the months of November and April. But while it’s rare, summer rain does sometimes dampen L.A.’s summertime fun, forcing Angelenos to fumble through their closets in search of an umbrella. Aside from marine layer drizzle, the main source of warm…
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KCET Miniseries on Angels Flight and Other Incline Railways
I’ve had the privilege of writing and directing a miniseries for KCET.org about the incline railways of Los Angeles history. Angels Flight is an L.A. landmark, but many Southern Californians are not aware of the other, lesser-known funiculars that once scaled steep slopes across the region. The first episode looks at Angels Flight and its…
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Remnants of Fort Moore?
Could this flagpole and the two cannons be remnants of Fort Moore, the earthworks constructed by American troops in 1847 during their occupation of the city? This week, at Los Angeles Magazine’s City Think blog, I write about the city’s first Fourth of July celebration in 1847. A 150-foot flagpole crafted out of two pine tree trunks…
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The Story of L.A.’s Oldest Palm Tree Continues…
Palm trees are one of my pet research topics. Beautiful native trees grace Los Angeles, but to me imported plants like the palm often prove more interesting as cultural and historical artifacts. Last year, Ed Fuentes alerted me to the fact that a once-famous palm tree — the palm that from 1888 to 1914 greeted…
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I’m in the June 2013 issue of Los Angeles Magazine
The June 2013 issue of Los Angeles Magazine has hit newsstands, and I’m proud to announce that inside you’ll find two contributions by yours truly. On page 34, I explain what’s changed at Echo Park Lake after a multi-year renovation. (Note that at press time, the reopening date was mid-May. We’re still looking forward to…
Nathan Masters 