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

Los Desterrados

Chavez Ravine

Photographed by Craig Baker, November 6, 2021

1. Los Desterrados Marker

Inscription.
Louis H. Santillan, "Lou", founder & president of Los Desterrados (The Uprooted), former residents of Chavez Ravine, July 19, 1979.
(PVLBCHA) Palo Verde, Loma, Bishop Cultural Historical Association.

Erected 2011 by City of Los Angeles.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Hispanic Americans • Industry & Commerce • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1959.

Location. 34° 4.838′ N, 118° 14.273′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Echo Park. It is on Academy Road half a mile west of California Route 110, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 929 Academy Rd, Los Angeles CA 90012, 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: Jackie Robinson (approx. 0.4 miles away); Tommy Lasorda (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chavez Ravine Arboretum (approx. half a mile away); Dodger Stadium (approx. 0.6 miles away); Sandy Koufax (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Jackie Robinson (approx. 0.6 miles away); Roy Campanella (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Tommy Lasorda (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Regarding Los Desterrados.

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Los Desterrados literally translates to The Uprooted and refers to the residents of the Chavez Ravine community who were evicted in order to build a public housing project in 1959. That project proved to be unpopular and was never built. Several years later the area was developed as Dodger Stadium. Los Desterrados is a group of those residents and their descendents, originally organized by Louis Santillan, who still meet regularly in Elysian Park to commemorate the community, every July on the third Saturday. The plaque was dedicated in 2011 to Mr. Santillan, who passed away three years later. Chavez Ravine is named for landowner Julian Chavez, one of L.A.’s first County Supervisors. The names of the three neighborhoods that comprised the Chavez Ravine community were Palo Verde, Loma, and Bishop.

Photographed by Craig Baker, November 6, 2021

2. Los Desterrados Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 15, 2023

3. Los Desterrados Marker

During the annual picnic in 2023.

Los Desterrados Annual Picnic image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 15, 2023

4. Los Desterrados Annual Picnic

Every July on the third Saturday.

Stealing Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times, May 8, 1959

5. Stealing Home

Aurora Vargas is carried by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies after her family refused to leave their home.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,620 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 26, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3. submitted on July 17, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on July 18, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on December 26, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.