Institution Type: Municipal-City

Web site: http://www.culturela.org/historic/index.html

Archives and Collections

Description:
Since 1962, the Cultural Heritage Commission has designated properties in Los Angeles as landmarks and reviewed proposed alterations to designated sites. Many of the structures that the commission has designated as Historic-Cultural Monuments were obvious choices—for example, the Bradbury Building, Bolton Hall, Hale House, Janes House, Loyola Theater, Old Plaza Church, Pellissier Building (with the Wiltern Theater), and Watts Towers. Others—such as the Leonis Adobe in Calabasas—have been brought to the attention of the commission by the city’s residents. In 1979, the city amended its municipal code to provide for the creation of Historic Preservation Overlay Zones. This amendment allows certain areas to be identified as historic districts. As a result, the city has been able to protect structures that are reminders of the city’s history or worthy examples of architectural styles. The Cultural Heritage Commission exists not for the purpose of living in the past but rather for the purpose of keeping a permanent record of historically, culturally, aesthetically, or architecturally important sites. It preserves so that future generations might have access to a chronological, living record of the beauty and history of the city. For each of the city’s landmarks the commission maintains files documenting when and how the site was designated. Included in each is a copy of the application for landmark status, which provides historical and architectural information about the property. Other materials held by the commission include building permits, historic building surveys, photographs, slides, architectural drawings, and newspaper and magazine articles.

Regions Covered: City of Pasadena

Type of Materials: Architectural Drawings, Official Records, Photographs

Time Periods: Pre-1848, 1848-1899, 1900-1920, 1921-1949, 1950-1963, 1964-1980, 1981-Present

Languages: English

Management

Catalog System: None. Holdings are organized by street address, subject and architect/contractor.
Outreach: None