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

Dr. Paul Carlson Memorial Park

First Park in Culver City

By Michael Kindig, November 26, 2011

1. Dr. Paul Carlson Memorial Park Marker

Inscription. This land was first traversed by Native Americans, called Tongva, (later known as the Gabrielinos). Under Spanish rule, it was settled as a portion of Rancho La Ballona. After Culver City was incorporated in 1917, the property became a horseracing track (1923-24), and in 1924, a reported 50,000 people attended the opening of "The Speedway," a board racetrack.

This section was designated as "Victory Park," the first park in Culver City in 1927. The name was changed in 1964 by the city council to honor United States medical missionary Dr. Paul Carlson, who was born in Culver City in 1928. Dr. Carlson was killed in 1964 while serving in the Republic of the Congo and he was survived by his wife and two children. In 1993, President William Jefferson Clinton addressed Culver City citizens in this park on health care.

Erected 2010 by Culver City Historical Society. (Marker Number 12.)

Location. 34° 0.831′ N, 118° 23.914′ W. Marker is in Culver City, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is at the intersection of Braddock Drive and Le Bourget Drive, on the right when traveling east on Braddock Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10437 Braddock Drive, Culver City CA 90232, United States of America.

Other nearby markers.

Dr. Paul Carlson Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

By Michael Kindig, November 26, 2011

2. Dr. Paul Carlson Memorial Park

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Augustine's Church (approx. half a mile away); Culver City (approx. half a mile away); Civil War Union Camp Latham (approx. 0.6 miles away); American Legion Building (approx. 0.6 miles away); La Ballona School (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Hull Building (approx. 0.7 miles away); Main Street (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Culver City.

Also see . . . Self-Guided WalkingTour. As you tour Downtown Culver City, you will see informative plaques installed on all city-designated Landmark and Significant structures, sites marked by the Culver City Historical Society and structures designated with National Register status. (Submitted on November 29, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Long Beach, California.)

Categories. • Notable Places •

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on November 29, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Long Beach, California. This page has been viewed 529 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 29, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Long Beach, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.