The Getty Villa

    When thinking of The Getty Center, many forget to mention The Getty Villa. Located in Pacific Palisades, California, The Villa is known for its Antiquity Collections. Open daily except for Tuesday, this cultural landmark in Los Angeles is a hidden gem. Admission is free however; all visitors need to print in advance a “timed-entry ticket” from The Getty Villa website. Parking is available for only $15. On this breezy day, our headsets are on and ready to start our tour.   

http://www.getty.edu/visit/

    Jean Paul Getty was born into a business petroleum family in Minnesota. “Getty briefly attended USC, UC Berkeley, and graduated from Oxford University,” said our tour guide. While in Europe, Getty traveled extensively and fell in love with art. By 1945, Getty purchased a sixty-four acre site in Malibu to build his home. A decade later, Mr. Getty exhibited his personal Greek and Roman antiquities from his home, which became his first museum. 
http://www.biography.com/people/j-paul-getty-9309884

    In 1970, Jean Paul Getty hired legendary architect Stephen Garrett to recreate “Villa dei Papiri” from Herculaneum. Herculaneum was a city destroyed from a volcano eruption in 79 A.D. Most of Villa dei Papiri remains unexcavated today. Mr. Getty envisioned inside The Getty Villa a replica of Villa dei Papiri. In 1974, Villa dei Papiri was completed and open to the public; it housed all of Mr. Getty's personal collections. “The Getty Villa is like an archaeological excavation site, upon arrival you must look down to get a glimpse of Villa dei Papiri just as if you were at an archaeological site,” said our tour guide.

    Inside The Getty Villa you will be mesmerized by the architecture, gardens, and theaters. Villa dei Papiri exhibits over 1,200 sculptures; the galleries inside are organized by theme and special exhibits. The outer and inner Peristyle herb gardens at The Getty Villa are surreal. Nothing compares to it; you must see it for yourself. Every year, many plays, lectures and classical drama are scheduled at the theaters. If you wish to attend; make sure to check the schedule online. 
http://www.getty.edu/visit/cal/

    Historic sites such as The Getty Villa are perfect for a fun day with your family. Thank you, Mr. Getty for sharing your collections and educating us at your museums. Everyone who visits leaves inspired by his archaeological site. 

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

    Now that the government shut down is over, let's explore The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.   
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/ronaldreagan 

    The Spanish mission style structure is located on the hilltop of Simi Valley, California. This historical site is home to Air Force One Pavilion. The Presidential Library commemorates Reagan’s early childhood, Hollywood stardom, governor of California and as the 40^th President of the United States. On this beautiful morning our tour cost $16 per person.

    It is simply spectacular inside the presidential museum. Although the museum has 24 stunning galleries, 3 stood out the most. A replica of The Oval Office is breathtaking. Reagan used his western influences to decorate his office with western-like colors. Air Force One offers tours that make you feel like a piece of history. Finally, the Reagan diaries can inspire anyone. “The Reagan library houses over 63 million pages of presidential, gubernatorial and personal papers,” our tour guide said. 

    The greatest love story in presidential history is Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Their love for one another truly is eternal. Mrs. Regan’s favorite love letters, jewelry and couture gowns are on display."God must think a lot of me to have given me you. I thank him everyday for giving me Nancy," said Reagan. On site is her wedding dress. Their relationship is such a love story. 

    The Presidential Library and Museum offer special exhibits year round. The most popular exhibition recently ended featuring Abraham Lincoln. The next upcoming exhibit will be “Spy: The Secret World of Espionage.” This event is a must see and make sure to check the museum’s website for other cool events like meet and greets. 

http://www.reaganfoundation.org

    History is present and alive outside the Presidential Library and Museum. The museum features a full-size piece of the Berlin Wall. It was given to Reagan from various world leaders. The outside lawn of the museum is a replica of the White House South Lawn. It is also the resting place of Ronald Reagan.  

     This Historic site is only 45 minutes away from Los Angeles. Everyone should visit this place at least once in their lifetime. One of my favorite Ronald Reagan quotes concludes my tour: "America's best days are yet to come. Our proudest moments are yet to be. Our most glorious achievements are just ahead."

The Watts Towers of Simon Rodia

     A stunning piece of art, The Watts Towers of Simon Rodia in south Los Angeles is an aesthetic and architectural gem. Locals refer to the Towers as “Nuestro Pueblo,” or “Our Town” in English, a name given by its creator Simon Rodia. Rodia was born around 1879, in Italy, and migrated to the US in the 1890s. Although illiterate, Rodia was fascinated by Marco Polo travels and Leonardo Da Vinci artwork. 

http://www.wattstowers.us 

     Today, The Watts Towers are registered as a National Historic Landmark. Public tours are offered Thursday- Sunday for $7. Our tour and exploration of this unique place begins on a warm and beautiful Sunday morning. 

      In 1921, Rodia purchased a triangle shape lot that measured 1/10th of an acre in Watts.  Immediately after his purchase, construction on The Towers began from 1921 to 1955.  The Towers were hand made from structural steel and covered in mortar; machinery was never used. Each Tower was decorated with broken glass bottles, mosaic tiles, shells, plates, rocks, and pottery. Surprisingly, the structure resembles a ship and many believe Rodia is paying homage to Marco Polo’s ship.

    “The Watts Towers consist of 17 major sculptural forms and is the largest folk art structure in the world constructed by one individual,” tour guide Lucy De La Tore said. “The tallest of the three main towers in 99 ½ feet tall and contains the longest slender reinforced concrete column in the world.” 

     Rodia worked on these towers for over 33 years. At age 75, Rodia gave away his property to a neighbor and moved to Martinez, Calif. A decade later, in 1965 Rodia died. Many architects believe he was a true genius. Check out this cool video. 

      Yearly, The Towers’ welcome thousands of students from Southern California for field trips. This historic site also has a courtyard for children to play in and relax. The Cultural Affairs Department through The Watts Towers organizes two must see annual events: Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival and The Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival. 

http://wattstowers.org/Calendar_of_Events.php

      After today The Watts Towers became my favorite historic site in L.A. After learning its rich history, this fantastic site was worth every penny. Rodia once said, “I had in mind to do something big and I did it.” This quote concludes my tour—simply magnificent!

El Pueblo De Los Angeles

    Viva, El Pueblo de Los Angeles! The original settlement of our beautiful city is a hidden gem. Today, the birthplace of El Pueblo de Los Angeles is simply known as, La Placita Olvera or Olvera Street. This important site pays homage not just to the City of Angels but also to the early settlers of California. 

http://www.olvera-street.com/About-Us/about-us.html

    Inside, La Placita Olvera you will find many vendors selling traditional Mexican art and crafts, clothes, and food. Although the shopping is great, the coolest part of Olvera Street are its three historical sites. The Avila Adobe house, constructed around 1818 is considered one of the oldest surviving homes today. Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Angeles church was founded in 1781; which reflects the Catholic culture of the Mexican community. Finally, The Sepúlveda House, constructed in 1887 by one of the wealthiest and most influential early settler families. All three sites, are a must see. 

    Once you are done touring these cool historic sites, sit down, and enjoy the Mexican culture scenery which is very much alive here at Olvera Street. Mariachi band members walk around and sing traditional songs while children are running around getting authentic Mexican candy. OMG, lets not forget about the authentic Mexican food. One word, YUM! 

    Organizers from La Placita Olvera plan yearly events that unite the Hispanic community. Such events like, Day of the Dead, Mexican Independence day, and Blessing of the Animals pay homage to the early Mexican settlers of our city. 

    After a long day at La Placita Olvera, why not end it with a Mexican Margarita at La Golondrina Café, located inside one of the oldest brick houses in the city. Come and experience a different side of Los Angeles. This historic site is free and perfect for a funday.
 http://elpueblo.lacity.org/elpau.htm