Westchester in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Los Angeles International Airport
Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela
| | Theme Building | |
Photographed by Craig Baker, February 6, 2022
1. Los Angeles International Airport Marker
Original Mexican grant to Ignacio Machado in 1844, known as Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela. The bean and barley fields of the old Andrew Bennett rancho made an inviting landing strip for early day pilots, and later was known as Mines Field. Los Angeles City leased the site September 20, 1928, and purchased it October 1, 1937.
Erected 1962 by La Tijera Parlor No. 282 Native Daughters of the Golden West. (Marker Number 570.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Air & Space • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, and the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.
Location. 33° 56.65′ N, 118° 24.128′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Westchester. It can be reached from World Way 0.3 miles west of Sepulveda Boulevard. Located at the iconic Theme Building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 World Way, Los Angeles CA 90045, 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 1955 Academy Awards (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Trans-Polar Air Route (approx. 0.9 miles away); Flight Path
this page online
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. - Hangar One.
Photographed by Craig Baker, February 6, 2022
2. Los Angeles International Airport Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, February 6, 2022
3. Theme Building
Photographed by Craig Baker, February 6, 2022
4. Los Angeles International Airport Marker
Theme Building, 1961. Joint venture architects Charles Luckman, William Pereira, Welton Becket, and Paul R. Williams. Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 570.
Photographed by Craig Baker, September 24, 2019
5. Hangar One
Original terminal building at Mines Field, built in 1928. (See Nearby marker).
courtesy of the Security Pacific National Bank Photo Collection, Los Angeles Public Library, 1928
6. Dedication of Los Angeles Municipal Airport
"Dedication of Mines Field (later L.A. International Airport) watched by large crowd and with planes flying overhead." [Correction: In 1930, an oiled decomposed granite runway and hangars were built (visible in the photo). On June 7, 1930, the facility was dedicated and named Los Angeles Municipal Airport.]
Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 654 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 4, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on February 8, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on January 4, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on January 4, 2022.
