This blog is written by Daniel Coats, a lifelong Southern California resident. It explores places to visit in and around Southern California, with photos, videos, maps and text. All writing and photography is credit Daniel Coats, unless noted.
On March 8, Angel Studios’ latest movie, Cabrini, will be released. The screenplay is based on the true story of the first American to be named a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, Francesca Xavier Cabrini. Timed for release on International Women’s Day, the movie highlights an often forgotten but pivotal character in women’s history, Italian American history and the American immigrant saga.
Born in Lombardy in 1850, Cabrini was orphaned at a young age, and was a frail young person. She planned to be a missionary in the Far East, but instead was urged by the pope to assist Italian immigrants that were coming to the Americas in large numbers in the late 19th century.
Arriving in New York City in 1889, Cabrini founded 67 missionary institutions to serve orphans, the sick and the impoverished, at a time when the government social safety net did not yet exist and when Italian immigrants were often looked on negatively in American society.
Cabrini died in 1917 in Chicago at age 67 and was cannonized as a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1946.
Cabrini’s Ties to Southern California
Before 1900, the United States was indeed a very large country, decades before air travel.
But Cabrini did visit the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles, founding the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart which then built the Villa Cabrini Academy, an all-girls Catholic school that operated from 1937 to 1970 (Kimber Tunis, daughter of Clint Eastwood, attended this school).
In 1916, Cabrini directed the construction of a small chapel in Burbank, atop Mount Raphael in the Verdugo Mountains. The chapel even served as a beacon for airplane pilots during the early years of aviation in the early 20th century.
The Cabrini Chapel in Burbank.
A Shrine to Cabrini in Burbank
Today, a shrine to Cabrini stands behind the St. Frances Xavier Church at 3801 Scott Road in Burbank, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Italian Catholic Federation in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
A special mass in Cabrini’s honor is held on the second Sunday in November each year, timed with Cabrini’s beatification date.
The shrine is also open between 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. every second Sunday of January, February, April, June, September, and November, or by special appointment.
The shrine includes a small library of works about Cabrini and her impact.
A visit to the Cabrini shrine in Burbank is a great way of exploring the Italian American experience and a great educational activity for those of any ethnicity, especially after watching the Cabrini movie.
In the 2020s, every metro area and even many small towns across the United States have one or more neighborhoods where homeowners join together each December to deck their neighborhood in a dazzling display of Christmas lights, tree-hung ornamentation and winter-themed displays.
Multitudes of locals and visitors alike frequent these seasonal destinations, enjoying the spirit of the season from the warmth of their automobiles or in the frosty air walking down the sidewalks.
But just a few generation, the concept of a residential district of Christmas decorations was unheard of.
The tradition began right here in Southern California, in the Los Angeles foothill suburb of Altadena to be exact, on a 0.7-mile boulevard of deodar cedar trees that lie at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Altadena’s founder, John Woodbury, and his brother Frederick, designed this area in the 1880s. Coming from Iowa and inspired by scenery witnessed on a trip to Europe, the developers planted some 150 conifers on Santa Rosa Avenue.
In 1920, when car culture was just getting started, the president of the Pasadena Chapter of Kiwanis convinced the City of Pasadena and homeowners to participate in a holiday lighting of the trees each December.
As motorists would drive through enjoying the beauty of a Southern California Christmas, they would marvel at the dazzling display of light visible from their car window.
Through the Great Depression, World War II, the postwar suburban boom, economic recessions, and both good times and hard times in between, the tradition has lived on through the generations.
By 1990, the annual display was added to the National Register of Historic Places, a testament to the impact this annual celebration has had on Southern California and the nation.
You might feel like you’re in the forest rather than in the L.A. suburbs at Christmas Tree Lane. And in a sense, you are…it’s just a few miles away from the mountain forests of the largely unspoiled San Gabriels. Photo from January 2024.
Your Visit to Christmas Tree Lane
Compared to today’s holiday spectaculars at theme parks and shopping malls, Christmas Tree Lane might not be as impressive for us as it was for our forebearers.
Still, visiting the neighborhood is a great way to get into the spirit of the season and learn about Christmas history at the same time.
And since the display goes on until Jan. 7, it can easily be added to a visit to the Tournament of Roses Parade or float preparation or post-event viewing.
If you go on a weekend, anticipate a lot of traffic, so you probably will have plenty of time to take in the full display from your car.
Or you might choose to walk the route. But if you do that, be careful, since there aren’t sidewalks.
Add in some music from KOST 103.5 to add to the holiday flavor and enjoy! This is a true California Christmas!
The Moorish influence in the architecture of the fortress-style Mission San Gabriel is evident. Photo from July 2023.
In 2020, amidst a global pandemic and unprecedented unrest around the world, Southern California nearly lost one of its most valuable historic gems.
Mission San Gabriel, which dates back to 1771 and is the birthplace of modern Los Angeles County, suffered severe damage in an arson fire on July 11, 2020.
But it wasn’t the first time the centuries-old church has had brushes with catastrophe. Earthquakes in 1812 and 1987 caused extensive damage.
In summer 2023, for the first time in more than three years, Mission San Gabriel is again open to visitors as a museum as well as an active Roman Catholic congregation.
The classic Southern California mission façade at Mission San Gabriel. Photo from July 2023
Exploring the Birthplace of the Los Angeles Region
With a population of just under 40,000, the city of San Gabriel is small by L.A. standards. But the community built around the original Spanish mission is proud of its heritage and that it has witnessed every epoch of the Southern California story – from agriculture to cityhood to sprawling suburbia and present diversity.
In a climate of uncertain rainfall, irrigation has always been central to L.A.’s success, and it all started in San Gabriel.
The elaborate (for its time) early 19th century water delivery system can be seen in front of the mission, where the Chapman Millrace stands, which brought water from nearby springs to the upstart community, one of the first manifestations of the Industrial Revolution in California.
When the city of San Gabriel was incorporated in 1913, it had a population of only 1,500 people. The Mission District was the heart of the town, which today includes the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, a century-old performing arts venue, and Spanish colonial revival civic buildings.
An historic site in its own right, the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse from the 1920s is memorable for its fountain and Spanish revival style. Photo from July 2023
A number of restaurants, including Luna’s Mexican eatery, make the downtown a perfect spot for lunch or dinner.
Free parking is available at the mission, near the playhouse when events are not being held, and on the street throughout the district.
The oldest home in L.A. County is in San Gabriel: the 1776 Rancho Las Tunas Adobe, one of three surviving adobe residences in the community.
More common are Victorian homes from the 19th century.
The Chapman Millrace, where California’s battle to bring water to its cities began. Photo from July 2023
Exploring Mission San Gabriel
Visitors to Mission San Gabriel are welcome to attend mass on the weekends or daily during the week.
Otherwise, you’re first stop will be the gift shop, where visitors can pay for admission for the tour ($15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for youths as of July 2023).
Consider purchasing your copy of an artist’s rendering of the mission as it appeared in the 1830s (available for $1). It truly provides a unique look at metropolitan Los Angeles as you have never seen it!
There are two cemeteries on the campus of Mission San Gabriel, the oldest being the Campo Santo Cemetery within the mission gates. It dates to 1778, making it the oldest cemetery in Los Angeles County, and is the resting place of Native Americans, Spanish priests and leaders, and others in L.A.’s early times.
The words of Job – from the oldest book in the Bible – gave comfort to generations at Mission San Gabriel. Photo from July 2023
Above the cemetery are the ruins of the original bell tower, which was damaged in the 1812 earthquake.
The church includes a pulpit believed to date to 1801, statuary from Spain from the 1790s, and a baptistry donated by King Carlos III of Spain.
Other exhibits honor the culture, arts and heritage of the Gabrieleno Indians and the ruins of early industrial sites, such as where candles and soaps were made for sale.
A replica of a traditional Spanish kitchen may interest those of Hispanic heritage who may recall family memories of earlier generations.
A living testament to California’s past is a 1775 grapevine that still produces grapes today. It is also a reminder of the timelessness of plants compared to the relatively short lifespan of humans.
Old and new mingle together in San Gabriel’s residential neighborhoods. Photo from July 2023
The home of San Gabriel’s famous vine. More than two centuries and still going strong! Photo from July 2023
San Gabriel is at the heart of one of the most vibrant Chinese-American and Taiwanese-American communities in the U.S., as evidenced in this photo of a traditional Chinese wedding on the grounds of Mission San Gabriel. Photo from July 2023
San Gabriel is a great destination in its own right. But for a longer or more action-packed day, it can easily be combined with a visit to Old Town Pasadena, The Huntington Library or Los Angeles County Arboretum.
Riverside’s Heritage House decked out for Christmas in 2022.
In the 21st century, peace, prosperity and progress remain goals – often elusive – of many in the world. Ironically, a century and a half ago, these conditions largely existed globally.
During the Victorian era (1837-1901), global society, while far from perfect, developed rapidly in terms of social justice, economic wellbeing, medical advances, scientific achievement and world peace.
Despite their shortcomings, the Victorian generation truly left their world better than they found it.
Each May, many nations celebrate Victoria Day, the birthday of Britain’s most influential monarch and arguably the most impactful woman in human history. More geographic place names have been named after Queen Victoria than any other woman except for the Virgin Mary.
In Southern California, Victorian times spanned the region’s development from a largely unknown outpost of the Spanish Empire to a vital part of the United States.
Southern California may not have the world’s best examples of Victorian architecture, compared to Britain and other Commonwealth nations.
But there are still some great places for the history buff, antiquarian or architecturalist to visit to come face to face with Victoriana.
Here are five spots not to miss.
Carroll Avenue (Los Angeles)
The largest concentration of Victorian homes in the Los Angeles area is on Carroll Avenue in the older Angelino Heights neighborhood, northwest of downtown.
These homes are private residences and should be respected as such, but there are numerous examples of Victorian architecture that can be photographed from the exterior.
This 1891 Queen Anne Victorian home is one of the best examples of this architectural style in the United States. In late Victorian times, Riverside had the nation’s highest per capita income due to citrus industry wealth. And the city had a significant British expatriate population, memorialized in many of the street names.
Heritage House is open free of charge Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays except for July and August. The grounds are also a great place to relax while taking a walk or bicycle ride down Magnolia Avenue.
Each year, Heritage House hosts a number of special events, including a Dickensian-themed Christmas party each December and a springtime ice cream social.
South Orange County’s Victorian past is on display on four acres of land in Lake Forest, home to four restored buildings from 1863 to 1908: a Mexican adobe, an early schoolhouse, an early Episcopal church, and a turn-of-the-century farmhouse.
There is no admission fee and guided tours are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays, allowing visitors to access the buildings. At other times, only the grounds are open.
A Victorian home in Redlands. Photo from Pixabay
Kimberly Crest and Downtown Redlands
Perhaps no Southern California city has as much late 19th century architecture – in quantity and quality – as Redlands.
The foremost example is Kimberly Crest House & Gardens, which is locally famous as both a wedding and event venue and a historical point of interest.
On any day of the week, the house can be easily seen on the trails of Prospect Park, which itself is notable for dramatic vistas of the San Bernardino Valley below.
But a 45-minute tour is also available, with $15 adult admission. Tickets are available online.
An 1898 farmhouse displaying a mix of Queen Anne and Midwestern architectural styles still stands in the midst of heavily developed Huntington Beach.
Once home to one of Surf City’s founding families, the home is open to the public on the first and third weekends of each month.
This is a great historic stop to add to your next beach excursion!
For a complete listing of 86 Victorian era historic home museums in California, check out the list maintained by the Victorian Preservation Association of Santa Clara Valley.
These are great additions to a vacation or family or business trip to another city or an afternoon stop at that older home in your neighborhood you always see but have never explored.
The two three-phase hydroelectric generators rated at 250-kw, 2400 volts, each, that comprised the trendsetting Redlands power project in 1893. Photo from Southern California Edison.
For most of us in the 21st century, electricity is a necessity of life. For several generations, we’ve relied on electrical power to light our homes and businesses and streets. The television, radio and computer all come into our lives through electricity. And now, with the push away from fossil fuels, the importance of electricity is growing even greater, encompassing our transportation and appliances as never before.
The discovery and harnessing of electricity goes back nearly three centuries, with many discoveries and innovations along the way. Benjamin Franklin’s storied lightning experiment in 1752, Michael Faraday’s first electric motor in 1821, and the 1878 launch of the Edison Electric Light Co. are some of the more well known.
But also significant was the advent of three phase electric power, which brings together power generation, transmission and distribution. This is the most commonly used grid system around the world. And it all began in Southern California. Specifically, in Redlands.
The Mill Creek No. 1 Hydroelectric Plant, seven miles east of Downtown Redlands on Mill Creek Road, was the first such system, beginning operation on Sept. 7, 1893.
Today, the plant is still in operation, as are two sister facilities that came later. After being declared an historic landmark, a plaque was erected to note the location, which is visible north of Bryant Street but before entering the San Bernardino National Forest. Take a right at the Mill Creek #3 Power House to see this and other interpretative displays about the pioneers of modern electrical grids.
The Mill Creek No. 1 proved that electricity could be transmitted long distances, making it possible to electrify not just one operation, but an entire city.
So how did Redlands get chosen for this unique honor?
At the time, the Inland Empire was rapidly developing as an agricultural center. But with scarce water supplies, it would be necessary to harness the energy of local streams and creeks to obtain power. Mill Creek was one option for the Redlands community, but the distance involved would require a novel solution. The power would be transmitted to Downtown Redlands using underground wooden power poles.
More than a century later, as policymakers face the challenge of seamlessly providing electrical power for the digital age, we can look back at our late Victorian forbearers for an example of ingenuity and adaptability.
For hot rod enthusiasts and American history nostalgists, Route 66 evokes memories of a simpler, quieter, and iconic era in the development of the United States. In the early 20th century, the motor vehicle was coming to the fore, and the 2,448-mile route from Los Angeles to Chicago served to connect America’s major cities as never before. Many older adults recall traveling Route 66 (considered the country’s “Mother Road”) for family vacations, to visit relatives out of state, for business travel or other purposes.
The interstate highway system established by President Dwight David Eisenhower in the 1950s gradually replaced Route 66. But in recent decades, history buffs have worked together to ensure that much of Route 66 is preserved.
One of the better marked and memorialized sections is in Southern California, particularly in the western Inland Empire from Claremont to Fontana.
A few days after Christmas 2022, I took advantage of the cool and cloudy weather to explore Route 66 in a way few do: By walking a 17-mile section of the route! I began in Claremont in early morning and ended in Rancho Cucamonga in midafternoon, a journey of more than 37,000 steps!
You may not choose to go by foot. But many of the highlights I discovered along the way are great to explore by car as well.
Foothill Boulevard: Route 66 in the I.E.
From Glendora to San Bernardino, Route 66 is known as Foothill Boulevard. It isn’t a freeway in the modern sense, but rather a mult-laned thoroughfare that goes through the business districts of the communities it traverses. Along the way, the Route 66 past is recalled in the names of shopping plazas, strip malls, gas stations, and even schools and churches.
Much of this route is relatively safe to walk, thanks to the modern sidewalks. The views of the San Gabriel Mountains to the north can also be quite spectacular, particularly after a winter’s snowfall. So winter or early spring might be the best time to visit – but there really isn’t a bad time, to be honest.
Claremont, with its iconic Ivy League-vibe downtown that evokes New England charm, is a destination in itself. The core of that community is along Indian Hill Boulevard, less than a mile south of Route 66. From Mediterranean kabobs to gourmet Italian food, Claremont is a diner’s paradise! The musically inclined will gravitate toward the Folk Music Center, a combination musical instrument and exotic record shop and music education center. The autumn colors are very lovely here – often even going into the new year – while spring blossoms are also quite memorable. A stroll through Downtown Claremont can easily last a few hours!
When I did my Route 66 walk, I joined Mother Road at Harvard Avenue, just a block or so from the California Botanic Garden that affords some of the best views of Mt. San Antonio, the 10,060-foot mountain towering over the foothill towns.
Upland: An Often Overlooked Downtown With Route 66 History and Iconic Charm
The downtowns of both Claremont and Upland are weekend destinations for travelers on the Metrolink train system. But between the two, Claremont gets most of the attention, likely because of the complex of seven colleges there and the superior marketing efforts of that city’s chamber of commerce.
But Downtown Upland, with mountain vistas, pioneer history, unique architecture and Route 66 nostalgia, shouldn’t be missed.
The center of the action begins at the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Euclid Avenue. There stands the Madonna of the Trail, a timeless memorial to the hardworking, selfless and courageous pioneer women who played an invaluable role in America’s westward expansion.
Situated in a large median, the monument is great for selfies – and for stopping a moment to ponder all these unsung heroines of U.S. history.
The monument also serves as the southern terminus of Ye Bridal Path, a very walkable tree-lined route in the wide median on Euclid Avenue that continues up the foothills to the base of Mt. San Antonio.
To the south on Euclid Avenue is the core of Upland’s downtown, which dates to the first few decades of the 20th century.
Antique shops, boutiques, restaurants and family-owned stores are omnipresent here. Don’t miss Lucky’s Coffee Roasters or Local Baker and Café for a snack while supporting small businesses. The Outatime 80s Retro Shop is one of the best 1980s-themed novelty stores in Southern California. And the architecture of Upland’s civic buildings, including City Hall and the public library, are worth photographing.
Heading back to Route 66, the next point of interest is the Madonna Catholic Gift Shop at 1479 Foothill Boulevard. At first glance, this looks just like any Roman Catholic store, but a closer look reveals the largest collection of nun dolls in the world, representing all of the various orders. The dolls aren’t for sale, but can be viewed, providing insights into the diversity within the Catholic faith.
A Little Piece of the Agricultural Past in Rancho Cucamonga
Grove Avenue serves as the boundary between Upland and Rancho Cucamonga. The latter is usually known as an upscale, newer bedroom community that has become an industrial and logistical hub in its own right. But there are vestiges of the agricultural past here, and one greets you as you enter the city on Route 66: a vast strawberry farm that is still active in 2022!
This section of Route 66 might be a bit more run down, but it is also where you are most likely to see some old hot rods. On my walk, I saw cars from the 1920s and 1930s in this area.
Just a bit further is Sycamore Inn, a restaurant dating from 1848 that still serves guests its crab cakes, filet mignon, lamb and wines in a rustic lodge setting reminiscent of early America.
Then, the road becomes an underpass, with colorful murals memorializing Route 66 history. It is also nearby that the Route 66 Trailhead beckons hikers to see Mother Road from above. The 1.4-mile hiking route is relatively easy and includes interpretative displays. The more adventurous hiker can easily connect with other hiking trails from here.
As recently as a few decades ago, Rancho Cucamonga still had many active vineyards. Most are gone now, replaced by tract homes and warehouses. But the Cucamonga Winery Historic Landmark near the corner of Vineyard Avenue and Foothill Boulevard highlights California’s oldest commercial winery, which is still open. The water wheel is a great selfie spot!
The last historic spot on my route was the Cucamonga Service Station at 9670 Foothill Boulevard. Dating from 1915, this was an active gas station even before Route 66 existed. It is now a small museum and a spot for hot rod events throughout the year.
The Curtain of Courage Memorial includes 14 alcoves honoring the victims of the Dec. 2 attack. Photo from Nov. 2022
Seven years after the worst Islamist terrorist attack in the U.S. since 9/11, the tragedy in San Bernardino on Dec. 2, 2015, can now be recognized as one of the turning points in modern American history. The terrorist couple that attacked colleagues at a holiday party at the Inland Regional Center inadvertently set in to motion the ascendency of Donald Trump to the GOP nomination – and by extension the presidency – since Trump’s tough anti-immigrant rhetoric got a big boost in the aftermath of the attack. Regardless of your views on Trump’s election, many major events in recent years, such as the chaotic response to COVID-19 or the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, would almost certainly not have occurred had Trump not risen to power, which in turn might well have not occurred were it not for the dastardly deed committed by the San Bernardino terrorists.
Looking specifically at the immediate aftermath of the Dec. 2 attack, 14 innocent people were killed and 24 others were injured. The city of San Bernardino, beset by high crime rates even in the best of times, rallied with the slogan “SB Strong.” And the decision of Apple Inc. to not cooperate with federal investigators in unlocking the terrorists’ iPhone was a major development in the technology and privacy controversy.
The informational plaques, in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, will form the basis of historical education about the events of Dec. 2 for generations to come. Photo from Nov. 2022
The Curtain of Courage Memorial provides a close to home reminder that freedom isn’t free. Photo from Nov. 2022.
Photo from Nov. 2022
In summer 2022, Inland Empire officials unveiled the long-awaited permanent memorial for the events of that December day in 2015.
Designed by world-renowned landscape artist Walter Hood after an international competition for best concept, the memorial is known as the Curtain of Courage and includes 14 alcoves, one for each of the victims.
It is situated on the east side of the San Bernardino County Government Center at 385 N. Arrowhead Ave. That’s a few miles away from the site of the shooting at the Inland Regional Center, but an appropriate spot since most of those who lost their lives were employed at the Environmental Health Services department at the San Bernardino County Government Center.
Downtown San Bernardino certainly has a reputation for high crime, but this memorial is relatively safe to visit, since it is under the surveillance and observation of city and county officials. Plan to go during the daytime and expect to spend around 30 minutes here.
As years go by, this will be a spot for parents and teachers to bring the next generation so they can be aware of the trauma the San Bernardino community faced in 2015.
When examining the alcoves, particularly poignant is the verse on Hal Bowman’s memorial: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). In a world in which violence, division and unrest are increasingly commonplace, these words first written by the Apostle Paul are a call to all of us to live at a higher plane in our troubled times.
La Sierra University’s annual Archaeology Discovery Weekend, held each year on Veteran’s Day weekend, will in 2022 focus on discoveries in Ancient Egypt. The free two-day event on Nov. 12-13 will include expert presentations on Ancient Egypt’s pharaohs, including Tutankhamen, Ramesses and Akhenaton. Among the presenters will be Kate Liszka, Egyptology professor at Cal State San Bernardino. Register online today!
Cesar Chavez in 1974. Photo from Wikimedia Commons
In California and a growing number of U.S. states, March 31 is celebrated each year as Cesar Chavez Day, a remembrance of California’s foremost civil rights and labor movement leader, the late Cesar E. Chavez.
Co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW), which advocates on behalf of working conditions for agricultural workers across the U.S., Chavez has become an icon in the Mexican American community and an inspiration for many activists of all ethnicities who labor toward a more just economic system.
Chavez was born and died in nearby southwest Arizona. But most of his life work was in California, particularly the Central and Imperial valleys, where thousands work to keep the people of the Golden State and the world fed.
Today, there are a number of sites of historical interest in both California and Arizona where the public, students and activists can learn firsthand about Chavez and his legacy. Here are some places to visit.
Cesar E. Chavez National Monument
The Cesar Chavez Gravesite at the national monument in Keene, California. Photo from Creative Commons
Located in Keene, California, between Bakersfield and the High Desert, the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument was established on Oct. 8, 2012, as the foremost monument to the labor and Latino rights leader.
The property was once the headquarters of the UFW and Chavez’s home from the early 1970s to 1993. The burial sites of Cesar Chavez and his wife Helen, a visitor center, the Chavez office and library, memorial garden, and desert arboretum with the flora of Chavez’s birth community are some of the highlights here.
Additionally, the facility has historical significance even prior to serving as Chavez’s headquarters, having been a quarry and tuberculosis sanitorium in the early 1900s.
The monument is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission and parking are free.
Situated along Highway 58, a visit to the monument can easily be combined with a trip to Tehachapi, a historic and picturesque railroad town now developing itself as a wind power capital.
Check out the virtual tour for an in-depth look at the monument. This is great for discussion in academic settings.
The sprawling fields of the Yuma and Imperial valleys, where many agricultural workers still benefit directly from the reforms that Cesar Chavez fought for. Photo from Feb. 2017
Other Sites in California
Several parks, schools, roads, civic buildings and freeways in both Southern and Northern California are named after Cesar Chavez.
One significant memorial is on the downtown pedestrian mall in Riverside, within walking distance of the Mission Inn of Christmas lights fame.
Another site of historical significance is at 452 N. Garfield Ave. in Oxnard, where Chavez lived as a preteen while his parents worked in the adjacent walnut orchards.
Hundreds of miles north in San Jose, a plaque marks the house where Chavez and his wife raised their young family for two years in the early 1950s. Located in the city’s Mayfair neighborhood at 53 Scharff Ave., the home today is a private residence, so please be respectful when viewing the exterior.
Exploring Chavez’s Arizona Roots
Chavez was born in 1927 in North Gila Valley, an agricultural area on the outskirts of Yuma, Arizona. His parents owned a small grocery store and ranch, which they lost in the Great Depression, prompting the family’s move to California as migrant farm workers.
Unfortunately, very little remains from the Chavez Family’s Arizona years. Only two adobe walls still stand of the family homestead and a cement slab is the reminder of a pool hall once operated by Chavez’s father Librado. The boarded-up grocery store the family once operated and Cesar’s childhood school, now an agricultural supply warehouse, are the best-preserved sites here.
But while there is little of traditional historical interest to see in North Gila Valley, perhaps the admirer of Chavez should still visit to experience the lifestyle, culture and economic conditions that formed this man’s outlook and life work.
To this day, the area is a major vegetable-producing area, and migrant labor remains a major local issue.
Cesar Chavez’s journey here on earth ended in the small village of San Luis, about 30 miles from Yuma. He was staying at the home of Maria Hau, a former union official, when he died of natural causes on April 23, 1993.
Once again, there is little for the visitor to see at this pivotal site in Chavez’s life. But the community, situated on the Mexican border, is reported to be among the fastest-growing border towns. It is a good spot for the day visitor seeking to experience a few hours in Mexico, where shopping, dining and nightlife beckon.
For More on Chavez
The Cesar Chavez Foundation is the custodian of the Chavez legacy through maintaining sites of historical interest, coordinating and scheduling speakers on Chavez topics for schools and events, and operating a nonprofit dedicated to educational and economic empowerment.
Communications professionals, educators and others wishing to share Chavez’s perspectives will want to consult the extensive verified collection of Chavez quotes on topics ranging from faith to education to social justice.
And for all of us, regardless of background or ethnicity, we can appropriate for ourselves the slogan of empowerment most associated with Chavez: “Sí, se puede” (“yes, we can”)!
While a major war rages in Europe, a respiratory pandemic is spreading around the world.
Sounds like today’s headlines. But it was the world of the late 1910s. And it was a global experience that set the stage for what we know as the modern world.
My first ebook is coming out on April 25! Focused on a topic I’ve done research on in the past – how World War I continues to impact the modern world – this is a very relevant read in light of the current war in Europe. It’s accessible to the general lay audience, but also great for a crash course introduction for school use at any level. And it has an extensive selection of authoritative titles for further reading, including a book by some colleagues about the World War I experience specific to Southern California’s Inland Empire.
I chose the date of my book release to coincide with ANZAC Day, a World War I commemoration in many countries.
My goal is to make history interesting. Instead of lengthy discussions of battles and leaders, I emphasize how humanity’s first modern war shapes the world we know. Pre-order your access today!
Some highlights covered in the book…
– How World War I shaped the modern Middle East, including the Arab/Israeli conflict – The story of America’s first woman president, who held office in the aftermath of the war – How modern technologies, such as wearable technology, got a big boost during World War I – The role of World War I and Spanish flu in the rise of modern medicine – Why Australia and New Zealand honor World War I veterans each April 25 – Why Hollywood might not be the world’s film capital if it weren’t for the war
Explore Southern California 