Olvera Street
Los Angeles
Olvera Street is a pedestrian lane in the historic El Pueblo district, next to the old Plaza. It has market stalls, shady porches and some of the oldest houses in the city.
Where the city was born
Around the Plaza stand buildings from the Spanish and Mexican eras and from the first American years. There are adobe houses, made of sun-dried earth, large buildings from the 1800s and others from the early 1900s. This is Tongva land, and they lived here long before the Europeans arrived.
A woman who didn't give up
In 1928 Christine Sterling saw that the oldest house in the city was about to be demolished. She raised money and convinced many people to help her. She dreamed of a place where everyone could discover the city's Spanish and Mexican roots. She invited craftspeople and sellers, and the street was reborn.
The buildings of the Plaza
Pío Pico, the last governor of Mexican California, had a large hotel built here. It was the most elegant building in the city. Nearby are an old firehouse and an old theater, both from the 1800s.
A street of celebrations
Since 1930 the street has been the place to discover the city's Mexican traditions. There are colors, shady porches and handmade objects. Walking slowly among the low houses, you can picture the small town of the 1800s.
