DK Travel : Los Angeles : History & Culture

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Petersen Automotive Museum

LA’s evolution from sleepy outpost to sweeping megalopolis is uniquely tied to the rise of the automobile. This is the basic premise of this wonderful museum, which does a lot more than display pretty vintage cars (though there are plenty of those, too). On the ground floor, you’ll follow a Los Angeles “streetscape” through 100 years of car history. You’ll pass dioramas of a 1920s gas station, a 1930s showroom, and a 1950s drive-in restaurant. Upstairs, the cars take center stage. Exhibits change regularly, but usually include galleries devoted to hot rods, motorcycles, and vehicles owned by Hollywood celebrities or used in movies. For children, the Discovery Center makes science fun.
Phineas Banning (1830–85)

The “Father of Los Angeles Harbor,” who also constructed Southern California’s first railroad in 1869.
Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park

This small cemetery beneath Westwood’s towering office high-rises has more Hollywood stars per square yard than any other burial ground in LA. Marilyn Monroe’s remains rest in an above-ground crypt always decorated with flowers (Hugh Hefner has allegedly reserved the adjacent space). Other celebs buried here are Burt Lancaster, Natalie Wood, and Frank Zappa.
Ports O’ Call Village

This is a mock New England seaside village geared to catering to tourists. A cobblestone walkway links a variety of shops selling crafts and kitsch. There are also several restaurants, many of them with harbor views. Dine on platters of fresh shrimp, fried calamari rings, and whatever has been freshly caught that morning. For closeup views of supertankers and cargo and cruise ships, join a harbor cruise, which departs from the village. Whale-watching cruises operate from January to March.
Promenade Deck

This deck held most of the First Class common areas as well as the wonderful wooden outdoor walkway, now worn.
Queen Mary

On its maiden voyage in 1936, the Queen Mary was the most luxurious liner ever to sail the seven seas. Each crossing carried famous faces, along with thousands of regular vacationers and immigrants. During World War II, she whisked as many as 15,000 soldiers per trip from the USA to Europe. The elegant vessel retired in 1964 and became a tourist attraction three years later. Much of the Queen Mary, which also contains a hotel, can be explored on self-guided and guided tours (see Ghost & Legends Tour).
Queen’s Salon

First Class passengers once enjoyed dances, concerts, and religious services in the Promenade Deck grand hall. It is now used for special events.
Ranchos Los Alamitos & Los Cerritos

In 1784, Manuel Nieto, a corporal in the Spanish army, was granted 300,000 acres of land in recognition of his services. The land was later divided into five ranchos, including Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos. The ranch houses are some of the state’s oldest structures.
Rodeo Drive

Rodeo Drive (see Temptations on Rodeo Drive ">) is one of the world’s most famous – and expensive – shopping streets, synonymous with a lifestyle of luxury and fame. Only three blocks long, it is essentially an haute couture runway, with all the major international players represented. You’ll often spot nicely groomed shoppers, though actual star sightings are rare. Rodeo’s southern end is punctuated by the Regent Beverly Wilshire, one of LA’s grandest hotels (see Bastions of Luxury). Architecture fans check out Frank Lloyd Wright’s Anderton Court.
Rose Bowl

Pasadena’s most famous landmark, the Rose Bowl draws worldwide attention every New Year’s Day when two top-ranking college football teams battle it out for the Rose Bowl Game Trophy. College football first became part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902 when Stanford was trounced 49-0 by Michigan. Architect Myron Hunt’s originally horseshoe-shaped structure was later converted into an elliptical shape and enlarged to its current seating capacity of 93,000.