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_“The closest thing to a day with the late great Huell Howser that
California travel buffs will ever have.” – Pasadena Weekly
_
Join us on an afternoon’s exploration of California’s Mother Road
and the building of its dream in the foothills of the San Gabriel
Valley. From the real estate boosterism of the 1880s to the citrus
industry, health farms, TB hospitals and daffy roadside architecture,
from its earliest days Southern California branded itself as something
new under the sun.
Who says a Route 66 road trip takes several days and requires you to
cross state lines? Route 66 has a lot to offer right here in L.A.’s
backyard. Join us for an afternoon’s exploration of the Mother Road
as it skirts the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley. See the
landmarks that welcomed travelers coming west from Chicago in the days
before freeways, and learn about the fascinating layers of boosterism
and industry that shaped the Southland: real estate, citrus,
sanitariums and of course daffy roadside architecture.
Who says a Route 66 road trip takes several days and requires you to
cross state lines? Route 66 has a lot to offer right here in L.A.’s
backyard. Join us for an afternoon’s exploration of the Mother Road
as it skirts the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley. See the
landmarks that welcomed travelers coming west from Chicago in the days
before freeways, and learn about the fascinating layers of boosterism
and industry that shaped the Southland: real estate, citrus,
sanitariums and of course daffy roadside architecture.
Highlights of the Route 66 tour include:
COVINA BOWL (DALY, POWERS & DEROSA, 1956)
This Egyptian-Polynesian mid-century modern bowling center must be
seen to be believed. Although the bowling alley, banquet rooms and
diner have been closed for years, preservationists have advocated
tirelessly
[https://www.facebook.com/Friends-Of-Covina-Bowl-1699653486994124/]
for adaptive reuse. Now a housing developer has plans to add to the
site, while preserving many of its historic features. We’ll get a
history lesson, and a hint of what’s to come.
E. WALDO WARD CITRUS GROVES & FACTORY
Since 1891, Waldo Ward [http://www.waldoward.com] of Sierra Madre has
been the name to turn to for fine marmalade, preserves, jams, jellies,
pickles and more, a favorite table favor in the Harvey House
restaurants on the transcontinental railroad. We’ll visit the gift
store, tour the canning facility and mini museum, and learn about this
uniquely California company from 4th generation proprietor Jeff Ward.
AZTEC HOTEL (ROBERT STACY-JUDD, 1924)
Not Aztec, rather Mayan, this National Register landmark is the most
spectacular of eccentric architect Robert Stacy-Judd’s buildings
reflecting the soul of the Southwest. His work would influence Frank
Lloyd Wright’s Mayan block houses, and are among the most lyrical
and inventive architectural spaces we know.
MCNEIL & VOSBERG RESIDENCES
Two very different early Azusa mansions tell the tale of the feuding
Slauson sisters, while time and demographic changes have brought a
growing suburb flush to their gates, a reminder of the fragility of
rural ecologies and the incessant crush of progress.
FAIRMOUNT CEMETERY
A remote and fascinating Civil War-era pioneer burial ground
[https://esotouric.com/2009/06/25/fairmount/] in the foothills of
Azusa, newly accessible thanks to infrastructure contributed by the
developers of the brand new suburb that has grown up around it.
This tour is just one of our California Culture tour series
[https://esotouric.com/route66/californiaculture] (formerly known as
the Reyner Banham Loves L.A. series).
culture
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01/03/2020 Last update