Exploring the oldest standing house in LA - Avila Adobe. Francisco Jose Avila, a former mayor (alcalde) of Los Angeles, born in Sinaloa, Mexico, built this house in 1818. It was also occupied by the US and used as military headquarters in the Mexican-American war.
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It’s a historic site now, where you can see how Californios - the Mexican residents of Alta California - lived at the time.
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Living in Southern California, I find I am much more aware of how recently this land belonged to other groups. When I lived on the East Coast, though we were taught and knew that the land we lived on was taken from Native Americans, there was little to remind you of this in day-to-day life. Native American lands, populations, and traditions, have been so wholly eradicated from most of their former lands, especially in the Northeast, that besides a few town names on Long Island, not much exists to remind you that another people lived there.
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In California, this is not the case. An enormous Mexican community, along with the prominence of Mexican cuisine and celebrations in Los Angeles (Dia de los Muertos celebrations take place annually) makes you acutely aware of how recently this land did not belong to the US. Spanish names are found on many major streets, towns, and neighborhoods, along with clear Mexican influences on #architecture. Furthermore, there are almost 100 Native American reservations in California alone, with many major reservations in neighboring states as well (Arizona, Nevada). It’s impossible to go on a road trip or anything of the sort and not pass at least four or five.
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Living in California, at least to me, means being constantly aware of the recency of the clashes and displacements that shaped the US. And places like Avila Adobe help you learn and understand this fascinating, and often tragic, history.
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