3 Eras of History

221 altogether BBuilt along “King’s Highway” (today’s 101 Freeway) MMission San Gabriel 1771

 PANEL 1: San Gabriel Valley pre-Mission time period  What the early Spanish explorers would have seen when they first saw the Gabrielino  (Tongva) Settlement

 They are the Original inhabitants of San Gabriel Valley/L.A. county  Spanish later called them “Gabrielino” after the Mission

 In the Tongva creation story, like all creation stories, in the beginning there was chaos. From this chaos emerged the one god, Quaoar. He was sorrowed by the emptiness in existence and began to dance, whirl, and twirl all about while he sang the Song of Creation. Out of this melody began to form other beings - first was the god of sky, Weywot. Next emerged Chehooit, who became Goddess of the Earth. These two new deities joined in the dance and created the Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon, Tamit and Moar. Together the 5 gods danced and sang, and as each unique divine being joined in, the song became more complex and intricate. Soon the Goddess of the Sea, Manit, and the Lord of dreams and visions, Manisar, were created; and when they joined in the Bringer of Foods and Harvests, Tukupar Itar, was manifested, and then Tolmolak, the Sky Coyote, and finally Shishongna, the Goddess of the Underworld, joined in the singing. These divine beings danced and sang together, creating everything else into existence: they furnished the world with hills, mountains, trees, and rivers. They sang into existence the plants and animals, and finally the first man and the first woman to walk the physical plane.

 Topanga, Cucamonga, Cahuenga, Azusa, Tujunga, Pacoima

 PANEL #2: San Gabriel Valley Spanish Mission time period  A scene representing the mission settlement

 Spanish arrived in San Gabriel Valley  Tongva people tried to stop Spanish Priests from constructing the Mission…  Until…

 A portrait of Our Lady of Sorrows  Tongva Chiefs threw down their weapons at the sight of the heavenly portrait.

 Juan Bautista de Anza Traveled from Sonora Mexico to California 1774  Goal: to create overland route to Mission San Gabriel and beyond  “De Anza Trail”

 44 Settlers total  11 married couples  22 children  Left Sonora, and Sinaloa (Mexico) in February, 1781  Arrived at Mission San Gabriel August 18, 1781

 September 4 th, 1781  11 families walked from San Gabriel Mission to establish their new home …  Along the Los Angeles River

 Established 1781 by the Spanish  (Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821)  Original name: el Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula

 Founded by 11 families  In 1781  11 men, 11 women, 22 children  Settled near Los Angeles River  Modern Day Olvera Street

 San Gabriel Parish Fiesta is meant to celebrate the birthday of City of Los Angeles  Walk from San Gabriel Mission to Olvera Street  L.A. is 233 years old this year  SGM is 243 years old

 PANEL #3: San Gabriel Valley Mexican Period to 1848  A scene representing California before it became a state

 Spanish period ended in 1821  Mexico gained their Independence from Spain 1821  Mexican Period in California

 A rancho (ranch) was a tract of land used for raising cattle, sheep, and horses  "golden days" of the rancho period were the years from 1833 through 1846

 Land owners leaders of California's political and social life  Fiestas – big parties landowners got to show off wealth

 Spanish Authorities start granting “Ranchos”  Huge land grants to wealthier citizens willing to move.  Located in the outskirts

Spanish & Mexican Land Grants

 Jose Maria Verdugo received land in 1784 as reward for serving in Spanish military  36,000 acres!!  Called his land Rancho San Rafael

 Includes modern day: Glendale (1870)  Eagle Rock  Highland Park  Glassell Park  Burbank  Mount Washington  La Canada Flintridge

 cattle, horses, sheep, mules, watermelons, corn, beans, peppers, and fruit.  Senor Verdugo's route to and from Los Angeles, (San Fernando Road ) at his property's southern edge, came to be known as Verdugo Road.

 Manuel Nieto received 300,000 acres !  As a reward for serving in the Spanish military  Acreage reduced in 1790 to 164,000 acres due to a dispute with San Gabriel Mission

 Includes Modern day Whittier, Norwalk, Long Beach, Buena Park, Anaheim, Fullerton, Cerritos…  Cattle rancher  Cultivated corn

 His 4 children inherited land  Land dived into 6 parcels  Daughter Manuela named hers “Rancho Los Cerritos” – (little hills ranch) modern Day Long Beach

 granted to John Rowland by Governor Juan Alvarado as a 17,740- acre rancho for $1,000.  The rancho was enlarged to 48,790 acres in 1845 when Governor Pío Pico  John Rowland and William Workman co- owners

 Mexico takes control of California; encourages settlement by giving land grants for more ranchos

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