Olvera Street Tour
Olvera Street Tour
What can one find on a One Day Olvera Street Tour? More than one can imagine.
Olvera Street is the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles, otherwise known as El Pueblo Historic Monument. Historic Olvera Street started out as a short lane called Wine Street. In 1877 the street was extended and its name changed to Olvera Street in honor of Agustin Olvera, who owned a home at the end of the street across from the Plaza. He was the first county judge of Los Angeles. By 1903 the street had considerably declined and a large and noisy substation was built next to the Avila Adobe to provide power for the city's electric streetcars. The Italian Hall, a center for Italian organizations, was constructed in 1907 at the north end of Olvera Street. Across the street the Italian winery expanded its building in 1914.
Several historic buildings line the street, including the Avila Adobe, built around 1818 by former mayor Francisco Avila, the Pelanconi House, oldest brick house in the city, dating from 1855, and the Sepulveda House, built in 1887 as an Eastlake Victorian business and residential building.
While on the Olvera Street tour you will learn about a religious side of it.
To show where the original Zanja Madre (or mother ditch) had brought water to the pueblo, its path was marked on the street with diagonal bricking. Trees were planted and a large wooden cross erected at the south end of the street which opened with great festivity as a colorful Mexican market place on Easter Sunday (April 20), 1930. It offered Mexican American vendors an opportunity to sell traditional wares and to make the street a place "to preserve and present the customs and trades of early California." One well-known business that moved to Olvera Street in 1930 was La Golondrina Cafe, the first restaurant in the city to serve authentic Mexican food.
The colorful village features 27 historic buildings with a traditional Mexican style plaza area. Wander around the marketplace and shop for souvenirs including handcrafted Mexican wares typical of old Mexico. Stroll through this beautiful street and stop for the popular taquitos or tacos at the outdoor cafes. As you tour through Olvera Street, you will find that it offers a variety of traditional authentic Mexican cuisine, with delicious enchiladas, mole and other native dishes.
For touring information: Olvera Street is open everyday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. However, some stores may open earlier and close later. Olvera Street is free to the public.
What can one find on a One Day Olvera Street Tour? More than one can imagine.
Olvera Street is the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles, otherwise known as El Pueblo Historic Monument. Historic Olvera Street started out as a short lane called Wine Street. In 1877 the street was extended and its name changed to Olvera Street in honor of Agustin Olvera, who owned a home at the end of the street across from the Plaza. He was the first county judge of Los Angeles. By 1903 the street had considerably declined and a large and noisy substation was built next to the Avila Adobe to provide power for the city's electric streetcars. The Italian Hall, a center for Italian organizations, was constructed in 1907 at the north end of Olvera Street. Across the street the Italian winery expanded its building in 1914.
Several historic buildings line the street, including the Avila Adobe, built around 1818 by former mayor Francisco Avila, the Pelanconi House, oldest brick house in the city, dating from 1855, and the Sepulveda House, built in 1887 as an Eastlake Victorian business and residential building.
While on the Olvera Street tour you will learn about a religious side of it.
To show where the original Zanja Madre (or mother ditch) had brought water to the pueblo, its path was marked on the street with diagonal bricking. Trees were planted and a large wooden cross erected at the south end of the street which opened with great festivity as a colorful Mexican market place on Easter Sunday (April 20), 1930. It offered Mexican American vendors an opportunity to sell traditional wares and to make the street a place "to preserve and present the customs and trades of early California." One well-known business that moved to Olvera Street in 1930 was La Golondrina Cafe, the first restaurant in the city to serve authentic Mexican food.
The colorful village features 27 historic buildings with a traditional Mexican style plaza area. Wander around the marketplace and shop for souvenirs including handcrafted Mexican wares typical of old Mexico. Stroll through this beautiful street and stop for the popular taquitos or tacos at the outdoor cafes. As you tour through Olvera Street, you will find that it offers a variety of traditional authentic Mexican cuisine, with delicious enchiladas, mole and other native dishes.
For touring information: Olvera Street is open everyday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. However, some stores may open earlier and close later. Olvera Street is free to the public.
