Professor Flores on PBS Blog

Taking a stroll through the streets of downtown Los Angeles, enjoying a nice meal on Olvera Street, or taking a bike ride along the L.A. River, one might not think on a daily basis about the rich history that many of these places hold.

Looking into Los Angeles’ Mexican and Spanish heritage, Spanish professor José Flores describes historical landmarks and their contribution to today’s culture in an article contributed to PBS.

Flores gives context to various locations many Angelenos are familiar with, including El Pueblo de Los Ángeles (Olvera Street), the Avila Adobe House, and the Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Ángeles church. 

“In 1781, near the Río Porciúncula (present-day LA River), an ethnically diverse group of 44 pobladores, or settlers, founded El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles,” said Flores in the article. “The settlement is one of the most important sites in Los Angeles history today and a steadfast reminder of the Spanish and Mexican heritage.”

Visit the PBS website to read the full article.