In 1884, Charles Fletcher Lummis came to Los Angeles by walking the entire distance from Ohio. After his arrival, Lummis became a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Times editor, magazine editor, writer, poet, photographer, head librarian of Los Angeles Public Library, advisor to President Roosevelt, and Indian activist.
Lummis built this home (named El Alisal) from the stones he found in the Arroyo Seco. He entertained local artists and writers and held elaborate parties – he called “noises.”
In 1911, Lummis visited his old college friend Theodore Roosevelt on a trip to Los Angeles.
Perhaps Charles Lummis’ most enduring legacy is the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, which opened its doors to the public in 1914. The museum has one of the largest collections of American Indian artifacts in the world.
Today, the Southwest Museum appears as it did nearly over 100 years ago overlooking the Arroyo Seco and Lummis’ home, El Alisal.
Throwback Thursday is written and produced by Rick Thomas