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

Brown-Gorsline House

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 2, 2023

1. Brown-Gorsline House Marker

Inscription. Italianate style, built 1878. Declared 2012, Historic-Cultural Monument No. 1021, Cultural Heritage Commission, City of Los Angeles.

Erected 2012 by City of Los Angeles. (Marker Number 1021.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 34° 1.8′ N, 118° 16.947′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in South Los Angeles. It is on Portland Street 0.1 miles north of 28th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2626 Portland St, Los Angeles CA 90007, 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: Second Church of Christ, Scientist (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Salisbury House (about 500 feet away); Jessie Benton Fremont (about 600 feet away); Casa de Rosas/Sunshine Mission (about 600 feet away); John Tracy Clinic (about 600 feet away); St. James Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stearns Residence (approx. 0.2 miles away); Adlai Stevenson (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Regarding Brown-Gorsline House. This home was built for Thomas Bruen Brown,

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an attorney from a prominent Washington DC family. The home originally stood on an 11.7 acre property and was moved to its current location in 1890 when Brown began to subdivide the property for residential development as the Belgravia Tract. The home was later sold to the Gorsline family in 1934, which still owns the property.
Alterations to the Brown-Gorsline House include the removal and partial enclosure of most of the original wrap-around porch in 1935: The current owner has partially reconstructed the porch by reinstalling porch columns based on the original design.

The Brown-Gorsline House was designed by an unknown architect.
Constructed in 1878, this one story single family residence exhibits character-defining features of the Victorian Italianate style. Set back from the street, the subject building is roughly square in plan. The roof is a low-pitched hipped roof covered in composition tile and has a wooden cornice with denticulation. The double-door entrance is slightly off-center and recessed under a porch roof. Supported by square wooden posts, the porch covers two-thirds of the front façade. The corner of the subject building exhibits a projecting bay window. The exterior consists of wooden horizontal banding, wainscoting, wood trim, and decorative woodwork. Windows are double-hung sash windows with decorative surrounds. Significant interior spaces

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 2, 2023

2. Brown-Gorsline House Marker

The marker is to the right of the door.

include 14-foot high ceilings, extensive wainscoting, built-ins, ornate plaster ceiling medallions, and cast-iron fireplace mantels.

Brown-Gorsline House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 2, 2023

3. Brown-Gorsline House

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 2, 2023

4. Brown-Gorsline House

Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 219 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 5, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.