HISTORIC LANKERSHIM READING ROOM DEDICATION

Dedication & Public Grand Opening of Historic Lankershim
Reading Room Set May 1 at Andres Pico Adobe Park

Mission Hills, CA – The San Fernando Valley Historical Society (SFVHS) will dedicate the restored Lankershim Reading Room, a new city cultural-historic monument and one of the last remaining structures from the vast Lankershim Ranch, at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 1, 2010 in Andres Pico Adobe Park, 10940 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills (across from the Mission Hills Post Office at Brand Boulevard). This community event is free and open to the general public.

The Lankershim Reading Room was recently designated cultural-historic landmark No. 978 by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission. Built in 1904, the gazebo-style octagonal building represents a time span in Valley history when cattle and sheep ranches gave way to golden wheat farms and agriculture, and finally to home subdivisions and commercial development. The Lankershim Ranch once encompassed most of the southern half of the San Fernando Valley, extending south of Roscoe Boulevard down into the southern hills below Ventura Boulevard and across from Toluca Lake to Woodland Hills.

The Lankershim Reading Room will be formally dedicated to the late James B. Gulbranson, a past president of SFVHS, who is credited with saving the building from a bulldozer back in 2001. At the time, the building was located at Chapel in the Canyon on Topanga Boulevard and was subsequently moved to Andres Pico Adobe Park for restoration. The restored building now houses a collection of memorabilia from the nearly 60,000-acre Lankershim Ranch, which was purchased in 1869 by prominent investor Isaac Lankershim from Pio Pico (last governor of Mexican-ruled California) for approximately $115,000.

Highlights of the dedication ceremony will include presentations by civic leaders, historical speakers, and special performances by the Yesteryears Dancers. Complimentary refreshments will be served. For additional information, please contact the San Fernando Valley Historical Society at 818-365-7810.