Griffith Park in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Spirit of the CCC

Honoring Those Who Served in the Civilian Conservation Corps

— 1933 - 1942 —

Spirit of the CCC Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 14, 2018

1. Spirit of the CCC Marker

Inscription. The CCC had two camps in Griffith Park. Camp Griffith Park, originally located just east of this site, was occupied from May 1934 to May 1936. A statue honoring the CCC was sculpted by John Palo-Kangas as a WPA Federal Art Project and placed in that camp. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated this original "Spirit of the CCC" on October 1, 1935, but the statue disappeared after the Camp was closed. A second camp, Camp Riverside, was located on the present site of Travel Town from November 1938 to May 1941. Prior to use by the CCC, the Travel town site held a boy's camp. After the CCC term, it was used as a WWII Prisoner of War enclosure. This statue is a faithful re-interpretation of the original "Spirit of the CCC."

Erected 1993 by National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni; and City of Los Angeles.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) series list.

Location. 34° 9.271′ N, 118° 18.454′ W.

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Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Griffith Park. It can be reached from Zoo Drive 0.1 miles east of Forest Lawn Drive. Located in Travel Town Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5200 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles CA 90027, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Griffith Park Internment Camp (a few steps from this marker); Tracks Through Time (a few steps from this marker); T-2 Semaphore Signal (within shouting distance of this marker); Four Motor Electric Locomotive (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Automatic Block Signals (about 400 feet away); Pacific Electric Waiting Station (about 400 feet away); Ollie Johnston Depot

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 14, 2018

2. Spirit of the CCC Marker

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Riverside Drive Bridge (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Regarding Spirit of the CCC. During World War II, Japanese, German, and Italian American immigrants were detained for periods of one night to several months, until they could be moved to other camps away from the West Coast. The Army closed this site in 1943 as the need decreased throughout the war effort.
In August 1943, the area became the Army’s Western Corps Photographic Center and Camouflage Experimental Laboratory.
In the late 1940s the area was developed as a transportation museum and was formally dedicated as Travel Town in 1952.
In 2009, all of Griffith Park was designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 942.

Additional keywords. Travel Town Museum, Walt Disney, Carolwood Barn, Disneyland

Travel Town Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 14, 2018

3. Travel Town Museum

Travel Town Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 14, 2018

4. Travel Town Marker

Dedicated to preserving the various types of transportation that helped build our state and nation.

Public Domain

5. Travel Town Museum

Had historic aircraft displays in the 1960s.

Nearby Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 21, 2019

6. Nearby Marker

Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn, rededicated July 19, 1999, in memory of Walt Disney and his love for railroading he shared with the world.

Carolwood Barn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 21, 2019

7. Carolwood Barn

Built in 1950 by Walt Disney in the backyard of his home on Carolwood Drive, now located just east of Travel Town. Open on the 3rd Sunday of each month 11-3.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 861 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on July 29, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 31, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on May 27, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6, 7. submitted on April 22, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.