Introduction on History of Los Angeles, California

Your Los Angeles area travel can be very much fulfilling if you have an overview of the historical background of the place. This can be very helpful in understanding the traditions as well as the residents you will encounter in Los Angeles.

Pre-Colonial Time

The natives of Los Angeles are known as the Tongva, which means people of the earth. Other pre-colonial settlers here are adept fishers and hunter-gatherers known as the Chumash Tribes.

First Western Contact

The Spanish Empire first explored the Pacific shores of Los Angeles, California in the mid 1500s. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo designated the area as the City of God in 1542. He did not choose to establish settlement and continued to explore.

Settlement

Settlement in the area begun more than two centuries later, when Gaspar de Portola and a Franciscan Missionary named Juan Crespi decided that the area has high potentials for development.

Los Angeles as a Town

The area was officially a town by September 4, 1781 and was occupied by Hispanics from the north of Mexico. It was named El Pueblo de Nuestra Se?ora la Reina de los ngeles del Rio de Porciuncula, or the Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels on the Porciuncula River under the rule of the Spanish governor, Felipe de Neve.

Development

Southern Pacific Railroad attributed much of the development of Los Angeles by the completion of the American rail lines. It was in 1892 when oil was found in here. At the turn of the century, growth of the city has increased. They are supplying 25% of the worlds petroleum needs by 1923. This led two major industries, aviation and cinema to develop here. By the late 20th century, Los Angeles was home to one of the biggest industries of the modern world today. One of the first Internet transactions occurred here when the UCLA was interconnected to the SRI International via the network named the ARPANET.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Los_Angeles

Further Details

In the interest of the citys history, a Los Angeles Area travel would best include a visit to its history museum. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm every day, except on special holidays. This museum would be a great place to visit for both the young and old. Even more is that all children below five years of age are free.

http://www.nhm.org/