ART AT L.A. POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TOPANGA STATION

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY      2012

Like most of us, I seldom visit a police station unless there is some sort of trouble going on. But, the Director of The Museum's Tours and Adventures Program, Richard Hilton has trained me to pay attention of art and architecture in public places. So, recently when making a police report, I took time to really look at the San Fernando Valley's new Los Angele's Police Department's Topanga Station. The next time you are in Canoga Park, of if you live there, There are tons of free parking, a really handsome building to see, and an amazing amount of Valley history spread out in bronze plaques at the main entrance.

 Topanga Station of the Los Angeles Police Department

 It's not "if" we will have another earthquake in the San Fernando Valley, it's "when" we'll have one. Earthquake preparedness if part of Valley life.

More folks would use their sun screen if they knew that Canoga Park is at the same latitude as Oran, Algeria and Cairo, Egypt.

 Canoga Park Citrus Lables

Shadow Ranch still serves the San Fernando Valley. Today it is no longer the western headquarters of Valley wheat production but produces strong young bodies through the excellent programs of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks programs.

 

EARTHQUAKE IN SHERMAN OAKS - 1994

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY         2011

I received a package today from my friend Burnet Brown. Among other things, it included three photographs that I took in 1994, a few days after the Northridge Earthquake. With the suffering in New Zealand dramatically before us in today's news, it might be a good time to rethink earthquake preparedness in our own lives.

1994 Earthquake - 1406 Hazeltine Avenue in Sherman Oaks - (refer to photo 2535 )- Photo by Gerald Fecht - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2011.

  1994 Earthquake - Woodman and Moorpark - North West corner in Sherman Oaks - (refer to photo 2536 ) - Photo by Gerald Fecht - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2011.

                           

         1994 Earthquake - Moorpark and Tyrone - North West corner in Sherman Oaks - (refer to photo 25337) - Photo by Gerald Fecht - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2011.

     

LO PRESTI FAMILY SHARES 1994 EARTHQUAKE PHOTOS

2010 - The Year of Valley Adventure - Northridge100
Lo Presti Family Earthquake Photos - Northridge100 (click on images to enlarge) Destruction in Family Room
Earthquake Damage to a Parking Structure - California State University Northridge

No history of the San Fernando Valley would be complete, without accounts of the terrifying earthquake of 1994. Generally called the Northridge Quake, because of the epicenter there, the huge event caused extensive damage far beyond the Valley. Long after houses were put back into order or reconstructed, this area of Southern California experienced massive retro-fitting.

EARTHQUAKES AND THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

In case any of us forgot, it's not "if" the big Earthquake is coming to Los Angeles and our nervous Valley - it's "when!"
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley collects images and information concerning earthquakes in Southern California, and when we acquire exhibit space will regularly cover the issue.
In the meanwhile, your Museum supports John Bwarie's efforts to create great Earthquake Awareness and Preparation.

http://www.shakeout.org/


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