City updates the La Mirada History Tour

To commemorate the City’s 60th Anniversary, the City has updated the La Mirada History Tour with signage at various locations throughout La Mirada.  A brochure helps guide residents to places where physical markers highlight historical facts and information. The La Mirada History Tour Guide features 13 landmarks and provides a great way to learn about La Mirada’s rich history. Click here to view the updated brochure and learn more about La Mirada’s past.

The historical sites include:

1. La Mirada City Hall & Eternal Flame – La Mirada City Hall provides a variety of public services for the community and is the location of City Council meetings. The first City Hall was located on the southeast corner of Rosecrans Avenue and Valley View Avenue. To the south of City Hall, an Eternal Flame burns above the names of La Mirada servicemembers who gave their lives for their country since 1960, the year the City was incorporated.
2. La Mirada Civic Center – The La Mirada Civic Center features several facilities serving the community such as City Hall, Splash!, Activity Center, Resource Center, Community Gymnasium, Los Angeles County Library, and Community Sheriff’s Station.
3. Olive Lawn Memorial Park – Olive Lawn Memorial Park is one of the few remaining family-operated cemeteries in Southern California. It was the first business in La Mirada.
4. Biola University – This roadway was once a dirt path. Biola University was built at this location in 1959. This was the location of the first City Council meeting and the former site of McNally Junior High School.
5. Olive Grove at Biola University – Located on the west side of La Mirada Boulevard across from the Civic Center, this site is home to the last contiguous section of olive trees in La Mirada. La Mirada once had a flourishing agricultural industry that raised olives and citrus fruit.
6. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts – The award-winning La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts has served the region’s cultural needs since 1977.
7. La Mirada Post Office – The lobby of the Post Office houses a display of historical photographs, figures, and text depicting La Mirada’s early years. It was dedicated in 1970.
8. Windermere Park – This park was once the location of the George Bell Reeve Estate.
9. Train Depot – The Train Depot built by Andrew McNally in the early 1890s was an iconic location. It was demolished in 1962.
10. Neff Estate – The Neff Estate covers 10 acres and includes three historic buildings. The Neff site was placed on the National Register of Historic places in 1978 in recognition of its role as a historical, educational, and social center.
11. La Mirada First Fire Station – La Mirada’s first Fire Station was located on Valley View Avenue. Current Fire Stations are located in the La Mirada Civic Center and on Beach Boulevard.
12. Valley View Farms – Cornelius A. and Florence Van Dam operated Valley View Farms from 1953 to 1998. The family gave back to the community in many ways.
13. Stage Coach Stop – The southeast corner of this location was once the site of a stage coach stop. A historic marker is found at this location.

If you would like to support historical preservation efforts in La Mirada, donations may be made to the La Mirada Community Foundation at 13700 La Mirada Boulevard or call (562) 902-3177.

Source: City of La Mirada