- Harnsberger Real Estate Los Angeles CA History of Mt. Washington

History of

Mt. Washington

(HARNSBERGER Collection) ©

Nature's gift to an area called Mt. Washington was abundant array of vegetation and wildlife, highlighted by the dazzling colors of the black-eyed Susans, forget-me-nots, purple iris, and sunflowers the fleeting sightings of coyotes and deer, and the more frequent observance of bluebirds, doves, hawks, owls, quails, roadrunners, and woodpeckers.

It is an exceptional mixture of city and country, in relative close proximity to the downtown business district of Los Angeles, and a very treasured area of the northeast part of the city to those who call it home.

©Harnsberger Collection

Originally a part of the huge, sprawling rancho San Rafael, the area was only sparcely owing it to its lack of accessibility. A school was built however, in 1906, near the top of the hill, to accomodate students from a wide area of hillside territory. When the school first opened for instruction, the first through eighth grades were taught in the building of Mission style architecture. There were two teachers.

A spectacular view, which included ships at sea (with the use of binoculars) afloat in the ocean at San Pedro Bay and Santa Monica, some 25 to 30 miles away, was afforded from the upper portion of the hill.

©Harnsberger Collection

The Mt. Washington Hotel, built in 1908 near the 1,000 foot elevation of the hill to take advantage of the panoramic vista, flourished during the early years, and catered to the more affluent members of society. One of the greatest tennis matches played at the time occured on the 4th of July, 1910, on the cement tennis courts of the hotel. May Sutton, former tennis champion of the United States. More than 3,000 spectators filled the grandstands to overflowing, and completly surrounded the playing field. The hotel was easily reached by a cable railway, franchised by the Los Angeles & Mt. Washington Railway Company, wich operated two cars named Florence and Virginia.

The Self Realization Fellowship purchased the structure and grounds in 1925, for use as its international headquarters.

Situated on a steep rise, near the northeast part of the hill, is the Southwest Museum, conceived and developed by Charles Lummis as an institution to explore, research, house, and display the atrifacts and treasures of the native inhabitants of the area covering both North and South American continents. The museum opened for public ue in 1914, and contained four main exhibit halls, displaying such items as Indian art, blankets, clothing, cooking utensils, hunting equipment, dolls, and jewelry. An extensive library of papers and photographs, including those of Lummis and George Wharton James, were preserved and catalogued at the site.

Affiliated with the museum was the Casa de Adobe, an early spanish home, located on Pasadena Avenue (Figueroa Street), across the street from Sycamore Grove. Built by the Hispanic Society of California in 1918, the pre-1850 rancho type house, composed of several rooms, surrounding a central patio, was donated to the museum in 1925.

Prehistoric whale boneshave been excavated at this site located near the top of the hill. An auto road, meandering from Marmion Way up to the top of the hill, was built about the time that the hotel was opened.

Further development of Mt. Washington remained at a slow rate from the 1920'2 inot the late 1940's - usually one house being built at a time, on one lot at a time - allowingfor the area to maintain its natural state.