Aliso Tree — Los Angeles, rooted in history.
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.
"On the ground now occupied by this brewery, stand five old sycamores that have defied the elements for over ninety-five years. Legendary history tells us that this spot was famous as a meeting place for the Spaniards and Indians: that here the swarthy 'Dons' of Mexico and the weather-beaten sachems of the plains met to smoke the pipe of peace."
"The wealth of this state was better known after the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall, January 1848. The gold rush quickly populated California and held the undivided interest in mining for several years to follow. It was not until the diggings became poor that attention was turned to agriculture and the mass of… Continue reading HISTORICAL IMPORT OF THE ORANGE INDUSTRY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, by Jessie Edna Boyd, 1922
"A big thank you to the institutions who make discovering the history of Los Angeles so much fun. Recommended websites for those interested in taking a historical deep dive include: The Huntington Digital Library, USC Libraries Digital Collections, and the Los Angeles Library Digital Photo Collection."
Aliso Tree — Los Angeles, rooted in history. 