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East Los Angeles is a large unincorporated community just east of downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights, governed by Los Angeles County rather than its own city government. The area grew in the early 1900s as streetcar lines pushed east, and by the mid-1900s it had become the heart of Mexican American life in Southern California, with more than nine out of ten residents of Latino heritage today.
East LA has played an important role in Chicano history and culture. In 1968 students walked out of local high schools to demand better education, and in 1970 the Chicano Moratorium march against the Vietnam War passed through the community. Its streets are rich with colorful murals, and Whittier Boulevard has long been famous for lowrider cruising, Mexican bakeries, taquerias and family-run shops.
Landmarks include the ornate 1927 Golden Gate Theater facade on Whittier Boulevard, historic churches decorated with mosaics, and the colorful stations of the Metro E Line. Belvedere Park and its lake offer green space, while East Los Angeles College, the county library and the Mexican Independence Day parade each September keep the community lively.
Whittier Boulevard is East Los Angeles's main commercial street, famous as a cruising strip for lowriders in the 1960s and 1970s. Today it is lined with family shops, bridal stores, bakeries and taco stands, and a large arch marks the boulevard. Walk a few blocks near Atlantic Boulevard to get a feel for local life.
The Golden Gate Theater is a 1927 movie palace at Whittier and Atlantic boulevards with an elaborate Spanish Churrigueresque facade. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The interior is now used by a pharmacy store, but the ornate exterior and entry courtyard are well worth a look and a photo.
East Los Angeles is a center of the Chicano mural movement, and painted walls along major streets, schools and parks show themes of Mexican American history, culture, family and faith. Many date from the 1970s, with newer works added since. Explore by car or on foot along Whittier Boulevard and Cesar Chavez Avenue.
The East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade is held every September and is one of the oldest and largest Mexican American parades in the United States. It features floats, mariachis, folklorico dancers, charros on horseback and community groups. Arrive early for a good curbside spot, and bring water and shade.
Belvedere Community Regional Park is a Los Angeles County park in East LA with a small lake, walking paths, playgrounds, sports fields, a swimming pool and picnic areas. It is a busy community hub on weekends with families and events. It sits next to the East Los Angeles Civic Center and is easy to reach by Metro.
Ruben F. Salazar Park is named for the journalist killed nearby during the 1970 Chicano Moratorium march against the Vietnam War, a turning point in Mexican American civil rights history. The park has murals, a pool, sports fields and a community center. Look for the plaques and murals that tell the story.
Calvary Cemetery on Whittier Boulevard is a large historic Catholic cemetery in East LA, with a grand mausoleum and graves of many notable figures, including Hollywood actors such as Lou Costello and Lionel Barrymore. Grounds are open to respectful visitors during daytime hours; ask at the office for directions to graves.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
Photo: Los Angeles, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Los Angeles, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Los Angeles, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Los Angeles, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Los Angeles, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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