4th Largest Unofficial City in America!
Jun 6, 2016
This next weekend — June 12 — is the third Sunday of the month. That means you can visit a little piece of the Magic Kingdom! Or where some of the ideas for model trains in the kingdom were being worked out by Walt Disney in this little studio. The barn was moved to Griffith Park from Disney’s home in Holmby Hills. As one author has dubbed it,...
May 15, 2016
The San Fernando Valley was the location of the biggest transfer of territory to the United States after the Louisiana Purchase. In 1846, the Mexican Californios found themselves deserted by the central government in Mexico City. They were ordered to fight off the invading U.S. army, but did not have a trained militia. They armed their own cowboys, servants,...
May 14, 2016
In SFV Granny’s opinion, this hidden site is one of the most important places in CA history. Campo de Cahuenga’s importance to US history can’t be ignored either! Tucked under the shadow of the NBC skyscraper at the edge of the Universal Studios property is this relic from 1847. This is the birthplace of American CA! It was here that the...
May 14, 2016
When you visit Campo de Cahuenga at the base of Universal hill and the 101 (which has changed drastically from the historic drawing), you meet all the characters who were involved in the U.S. takeover of California from Mexico. The names Pico and Fremont are familiar to us, if for nothing else than towns and streets are named after them. But forgotten to most...
Feb 14, 2016
Twice a year the Orcutt Ranch allows the public to pick fruit from the orchards. In January, SFV Granny and Mom gleaned several bags of grapefruit. Early in July, a summer variety of oranges will be ripe for picking. This historic ranch (Rancho Sombra del Roble – Ranch in the Shade of the Oaks) was developed by an early oil tycoon and discoverer of La...