A SPANISH MISSION TO SPACE SHUTTLE

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                2012

     Just for the adventure of it, I drove to the Lankershim Bridge in North Hollywood this morning, in hopes of seeing the final flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavor. It was a splendid experience. As I shared the experience with lots of others, I thought of Constable Wilson Weddington capturing two no good bandits at the south side of the original bridge, where I was standing.  I mused as how the Tongva made their camps and hunted by the Los Angeles River only a few feet away.  Great  Carl Lemley created Universal Studios at the site, a hundred years ago.  Below the aircraft, Col. John C. Fremont and General Andres Pico signed the accord that completed America's Manifest Destiny at Campo de Cahuenga less than a city block away.

   Then ............ from the West, above Ventura Boulevard (El Camino Real) it came!  The crowd pointed and cheered Endeavor America's wonderful Space Achievement, On the back the great aircraft. the shuttle secured above, protected by two guardian jets. 

    Today, yet another milestone in San Fernando Valley history. Hurrah!

 Main Altar of the Chapel - Mission San Fernando de España - Mission Hills - Vintage Postcard
Gift to the Museum of theSan Fernando Valley from Marty Puskas in memory of his mother Ann Stromberg Puskas.  (click on image to enlarge it.)
"Mission San Fernando - Founded September 8, 1797 - The colorful Indian designs compliment the statue of Saint Ferdinand King of Spain over the main altar. The statue, fashioned from wood and plaster was made in Spain, is over 300 years old. 

 Governor's Room in the Mission San Fernando. Gift to the Museum of theSan Fernando Valley from Marty Puskas in memory of his mother Ann Stromberg Puskas.  (click on image to enlarge it.)
"Among the notables who enjoyed the Mission's hospitality were Bishop Garcia Diego, Governor Pio Pico and Col. John C. Fremont.

Two Escaray Bells from Spain, cast in 1686 and 1720, hang from an original beam from the Mission Chapel constructed in 1806.
Gift to the Museum of theSan Fernando Valley from Marty Puskas in memory of his mother Ann Stromberg Puskas.  (click on image to enlarge it.)

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COL. JOHN C. FREMONT IN THE UNIVERSAL CITY SUBWAY STATION

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

 One of America's most famous explorers, and later to be the first Republican candidate for the United States' Presidency was John Charles Fremont. Towns all over the West are named for him. One of Fremont's most important military engagements occurred in the San Fernando Valley, just across from the entrance to Universal Studios, at historic Campo de Cahuenga. You can see this handsome tilework, and other fine works of ceramic art on the subway platform at Universal Station. Campo de Cahuenga will soon be re-opened to the public after years of renovation. (click on image to read Fremont's less than flattering comments about Texas.)

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY NOTABLE GENERAL JOHN C. FREMONT

On January 21, 1813, John C. Fremont was born. His destiny would take him across a largely unexplored North American continent and into Norte California, a province of Mexico. Fremont would engage Mexicans and Californianos, and eventually establish the dream of America's "Manifest Destiny" in a small adobe building that today we call Campo de Cahuenga. Fremont would go on to be the first Republican candidate for the Presidency of the United States, become a competitor to an inexperienced young politician from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, and a general in the Union Army in the Civil War.

2009 - The Year of Valley History

Wild Parrots - photograph by Phyllis Hansen - 2009

Nothing says January in Los Angeles better than wild parrots in your garden. Thanks to Phyllis Hansen, member of the Board of Directors of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley, for sharing her photograph.

The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.