Before the LA riots; before the internment of Japanese-Americans and the massacre of Chinese-Americans; before Slavery; before this land was ever conquered by Spain, Mexico, or the U. S.; before the genocide of Native Americans… millennia after the first humans arrived on the scene, overkilling large mammals to extinction… by the river, within the community of Yang-Na, a sapling sprouted. The sycamore would grow to become a 400-year-old local landmark, called, "El Aliso." Here, a French cooper hybridized the mission grapevine with cuttings from Bordeaux, and together with the terroir, cultivated a vineyard which gave birth to California's wine industry. Indigenous villages and immigrant orchards prepared the ground for what followed: a German brewery; a boxing arena; a mule market; an Edison Electric power station; an artist colony; a gym for indoor rock-climbing; the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States… While the Aliso Tree is no longer standing, it continues to stand for Los Angeles, rooted in history.
NATIVE AMERICANS OF THE PACIFIC COAST, by Edward Sheriff Curtis, Getty Images, and the Library of Congress
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Dance of the Indians of the Mission of St. Joseph in New California / engraved by Letitia & Elizh. Byrne,” by Elizh Bryne, Letitia Byrne, engravers, (the spelling of their last names does not match on the original LOC records,) published by Henry Colburn, London, 1814
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Diegeños [i.e. Diegueños] / Arthur Schoff, del. ; Lith of Sarony & Co., New York,” printed by C. Wendell, 1857
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Mission Indians of Southern California making baskets and hair ropes,” by Frenzeny, Illus. in Harper’s Weekly, Oct. 20, 1877
-Image courtesy of Wikipedia, “Self-portrait” by Edward S. Curtis, circa 1887
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Hamatsa emerging from the woods–Koskimo, Hamatsa shaman, three-quarter length portrait, seated on ground in front of tree, facing front, possessed by supernatural power after having spent several days in the woods as part of an initiation ritual,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Nane–Qagyuhl, Man dressed in a full-body bear costume. The bear had the duty of guarding the dance house,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Sisiutl–Qagyuhl, Sisiutl, one of the main dancers in the Winter Dance ceremonies, wearing a double-headed serpent mask and shirt made of hemlock boughs,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Paqusilahl–Qagyuhl, Dancer representing Paqusilahl (“man of the ground embodiment”), wearing a mask and shirt covered with hemlock boughs, representing paqus, a wild man of the woods,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Masked dancers in canoes [B]–Qagyuhl, During the winter ceremony, Kwakiutl dancers in masks and costumes representing (l to r) Wasp, Thunderbird, and Grizzly-bear, arrive in canoes,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Tsunukwalahl–Qagyuhl, Person wearing Mask of Tsunukwalahl, a mythical being, used during the Winter Dance,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Mask of the octopus hunter–Qagyuhl, Ceremonial mask worn by a dancer portraying the hunter in Bella Bella mythology who killed the giant man-eating octopus. The dance was performed during Tluwulahu, a four day ceremony prior to the Winter Dance,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Nuhlimahla–Qagyuhl, Person wearing ceremonial mask of the Nuhlimahla during the during the Winter Dance ceremony. These characters impersonated fools and were noted for their devotion to filth and disorder,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Dancing to restore an eclipsed moon, Several Kwakiutl people dancing in a circle around a smoking fire, in an effort to cause a sky creature, which they believe swallowed the moon, to sneeze thereby disgorging it,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Nuhlimkilaka–Koskimo, Kwakiutl person wearing an oversize mask and hands representing a forest spirit, Nuhlimkilaka, (‘bringer of confusion’),” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Kwahwumhl–Koskimo, Dancer wearing raven mask with coat of cormorant skins during the numhlin ceremony,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “A Tluwulahu mask–Tsawatenok, Kwakiutl man, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, wearing a mask depicting a loon on top of a man’s head to facilitate the loon changing into the form of a man,” by Edward S. Curtis, November 13, 1914
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Hupa female shaman – Athapascan Hupa woman from northwestern California, half-length portrait, standing, facing front, wearing shell headbands, necklace, and holding up two baskets,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Principal female shaman of the Hupa,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Hupa woman, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, fur and beads around her neck and shoulders,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Hupa woman, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “White deerskin dance costume–Hupa,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Dancer with black deer effigy–Hupa,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Achomawi mother and child,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Achomawi basket-maker,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Hupa fisherman, Indian with spear lying on bank,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Spearing salmon,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Hupa fisherman, Indian standing in canoe, probably Trinity River, Calif,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “A smoky day at the Sugar Bowl–Hupa, Hupa man with spear, standing on rock midstream, in background, fog partially obscures trees on mountainsides,” by Edward S. Curtis, June 30, 1923
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “In the tule swamp–upper lake Pomo,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Cooking acorns–upper Lake Pomo, Pomo Indian woman cooking in front of cane tepee, California,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Construction of a tule shelter–lake Pomo,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Basketry of the Mission Indians,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Coast Pomo with feather head-dress, Head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “A Kato woman, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Maidu man, bust portrait, facing left,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “A Maidu woman, Photograph shows portrait of Native American woman,” by Edward S. Curtis, between 1905 and 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “A Maidu boy, Photograph shows portrait of Native American boy,” by Edward S. Curtis, between 1905 and 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Diegueño house at Campo, California,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “A Southern Miwok,” by Edward S. Curtis, between 1905 and 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “A Southern Miwok profile,” by Edward S. Curtis, between 1905 and 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Otila-Maidu, Photograph shows portrait of Native American elderly man,” by Edward S. Curtis, between 1905 and 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “A Southern Miwok youth,” by Edward S. Curtis, between 1905 and 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “A Southern Miwok woman,” by Edward S. Curtis, between 1905 and 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Steatite vessels from Santa Catalina Island, Photograph shows Indigenous Native American mortar and pestle and bowls made of soapstone from Santa Catalina Island, California,” by Edward S. Curtis, between 1905 and 1924
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Offering to the sun–San Ildefonso,” by Edward S. Curtis, 1927
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Works Projects Administration Poster Collection, “Indian court, Federal Building, Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939 Pomo Indian basket, California / / Siegriest,” by Louis B. Siegriest, 1939
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Works Projects Administration Poster Collection, “Indian court, Federal Building, Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939 Pueblo turtle dancers from an Indian painting, New Mexico / / Siegriest,” by Louis B. Siegriest, 1939
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Works Projects Administration Poster Collection, “Indian court, Federal Building, Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939 Chippewa picture writing, Seneca mask, Eastern woodlands / / Siegriest,” by Louis B. Siegriest, 1939
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Works Projects Administration Poster Collection, “Indian court, Federal Building, Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939 From an Indian painting on elkskin, Great Plains / / Siegriest,” by Louis B. Siegriest, 1939
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Works Projects Administration Poster Collection, “Indian court, Federal Building, Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939 Eskimo mask, western Alaska/ / Siegriest,” by Louis B. Siegriest, 1939
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Works Projects Administration Poster Collection, “Indian court, Federal Building, Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939 Antelope hunt from a Navaho drawing, New Mexico / / Siegriest,” by Louis B. Siegriest, 1939
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Works Projects Administration Poster Collection, “Indian court, Federal Building, Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939 Blanket design of the Haida Indians, Alaska / / Siegriest,” by Louis B. Siegriest, 1939
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Works Projects Administration Poster Collection, “Indian court, Federal Building, Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939 Apache devil dancer from an Indian painting, Arizona / / Siegriest,” by Louis B. Siegriest, 1939
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, W. P. A. California Folk Music Project collection, “Indian women at Pala Mission, group portrait, photograph,” by Sidney Robertson Cowell, 1939
-Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Chumash indian mural in the city of Lompoc, California,” by Carol M. Highsmith, 2012
-Images courtesy of Getty Images. (top) Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Yosemite Valley–California: ‘The Bridal Veil’ Fall / F.F. Palmer del. ; Currier & Ives Lith., N.Y.,” by Fanny F. Palmer, artist, published by Currier & Ives, New York, 1866
Roger Sherman, also of Connecticut, was known to have given one of the shortest speeches in history at a bridge dedication ceremony when he said, "I think it will hold up all right," while testing the strength of the bridge with one foot.
View all posts by Arthur Mullen
Aliso Tree — Los Angeles, rooted in history. 