We're Improving Ways to Walk, Roll and Bike Safely Around Union Station

metro.net/lausforecourt We’re improving ways to walk, roll and bike safely around Union Station. la union station alameda esplanade and la street improvements Fact Sheet – Utility Survey Archaeological Investigations

Project Overview Early History The Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) Alameda Esplanade Inhabited since prehistoric times, the area immediately west and Los Angeles Street Improvements Projects will enhance of the Los Angeles River once supported a wide Gabrielino pedestrian and bicycle access and safety to and from Los network of residential, ceremonial, religious, meeting and Angeles Union Station and surrounding communities. procurement sites known as Yaanga. Of note was the 60-foot These projects implement a piece of the Connect US Action tall sycamore tree known as El Aliso, a landmark seen from Plan, which was finalized in 2015 and identified active great distances. Also known as the Council Tree, it was a transportation improvement projects in the vicinity of Union Gabrielino sacred site. Tribal council meetings were held Station to create safe access for people walking, bicycling and beneath its branches. Burials of important tribal members rolling to and from Union Station. Construction is expected to were said to be interred near the ethnographic village of begin in early 2022. Prior to construction, investigations will Yaanga. In 1781, Spanish explorers founded El Pueblo de be undertaken to identify buried utilities, which may result in Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles here. Due to flooding, exposing archaeological remains that exist below the streets. the Pueblo later moved away from the Los Angeles River to its current location on Olvera Street. The Spanish Plaza, still present today, served as the settlement’s social center.

Vineyards, orchards and gardens soon surrounded the Pueblo and the Native American village was pushed south and southeast along Commercial Street. The Zanja Madre, built by Native American workers, irrigated these fields.

Los Angeles Union Station (courtesy of LAPL)

1850 map of Los Angeles (courtesy of UCLA)

Between 1821-1848, now under Mexican control, cattle ranching came to overshadow the agricultural economy. In 1848, after the Mexican American War, California became part of the United States, and with the Gold Rush and influx of capital, the city’s population grew. Chinese MerchantShop,1920(courtesyofLAPL) dominated thestreetscape. vegetable gardens,asvendorsandinlaundries,which conditions, theChineseresidentsworked inrestaurants, despite substandardtenementhousingandpoorliving In theearly1900s,itoccupied15streetsandalleys. Thriving expanded eastof Alameda Street,whereLAUSnowstands. settled closetotheplaza.By the1880s,Chinatownhad Chinese vegetablevendors,dependentonthenearbyfields, Growth andExpansion requests tojointhemailing list, pleasecontact: For moreinformation, questions,commentsor contact us area ofthecurrentprojectimprovements. at thetimeofitsopening. The red polygon representsthe businesses. The 1938aerialphotographbelowdepictsLAUS Construction ofLAUSdisplaced existingresidencesand multiplied withinthered-lightdistrict. Street, andlater Aliso Street.Saloons and gamblinghouses (sparsely furnishedrooms),concentratedalong Alameda attracted outsideclientele.Numerousbrothelsand“cribs” In the1890s,housesofprostitutionopenlyadvertisedtoand 1938 aerialphoto (courtesy ofEDR)

los @ nanglem@ m 213.922.6913 etro. m a area andthepeoplewhooncelivedworked here. contribute toadeeperunderstandingofthehistorythis documents thearchaeologicalmaterialsandresearch,to archival research. A finalreportwillbepreparedthat removing artifactsforlaboratoryanalysisandconducting discoveries throughdrawings,mappingandphotographs, Management Plan. Treatment willincludedocumentingthe treated inaccordancewiththeproject’s CulturalResources people livedinthepast. All archaeologicaldiscoverieswillbe and Chineseinhabitantscanhelpusunderstandhowthese of pastlifewaysNative Americans, Spanish,Mexican vestiges ofthesebygone days. Artifacts andotherevidence sediments exposedbeneaththegroundsurfacetoidentify and utilityinvestigations. Archaeologists willexplore Archaeological investigations willcoincidewithgeotechnical the red-lightdistrict’s saloonsandcribs. ruins andartifactsfromtheearlyPueblodays,Chinatown artifacts andburials,thelatterisrepresentedbyarchitectural potentially includeremnantsof Yaanga, Native American and historicalarchaeologicaldiscoveries. While theformer Today, theLAUSareaishighlysensitiveforprehistoric prepared fortheprojects. treated accordingtotheCulturalResources ManagementPlan are protectedbyfederal,stateandlocallaws,willbe The area’s culturalresources,includingarchaeologicalsites, Archaeology Archaeologists conductingfieldwork n etro s gele n et/ l o m s lausforecourt a m etro ng etro. e l e s n et