Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Fort Moore
Pioneer Memorial and Park
On this site stood Fort Moore built by the Mormon Battalion during the War with Mexico.
This memorial honors the troops who helped to win the South West.
The Flag of the United States was raised here on July 4th 1847 by United States Troops at the First Independence Celebration in Los Angeles.
The United States 1st Dragoons who fought at San Pasqual.
The New York Volunteers who came by sea.
The Mormon Battalion which made one of the longest and most arduous infantry marches in history.
Erected 1949 by The Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, Mexican-American. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, and the Mormon Battalion series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1863.
Location. 34° 3.455′ N, 118° 14.535′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown Los Angeles. Marker is on North Hill Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located between China Town and the downtown District of Los Angeles. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Los Angeles CA 90012, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker . El Pueblo (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Forced Removal of Mexican Americans (about 800 feet away); Welcome to Chinatown (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Welcome to Chinatown (approx. 0.2 miles away); United States Court House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Los Angeles Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.
Regarding Fort Moore. On January 10, 1847, American forces defeated the Mexicans and took the pueblo of Los Angeles. Two days later the American troops built a fort on a hill overlooking the city, to secure the area from future attacks. It would later be named Fort Moore after a captain killed during the Mexican-American War.
The City of Los Angeles opened a memorial on the site in 1957. It is the largest bas-relief military monument in the United States. The 400-foot wide monument includes a 47-foot-high, 80-foot-wide waterfall. In 1977 the waterfall was turned off during drought conditions. In January 2019 it was turned back on.
Also see . . .
1. Fort Moore. Building Fort Moore was a proposition that progressed in direct proportion to the enemy threat. It started in a state of siege, had a short but eventful history, and then quietly disappeared from the Army rolls. (Submitted on February 12, 2012.)
2. The Siege of Los Angeles and Fort Moore. The material for the fort was obtained from timber in the San Gabriel mountains, with the volunteer Mormon battalion doing most of the work. (Submitted on February 12, 2012.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,312 times since then and 61 times this year. Last updated on January 19, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on February 10, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 12. submitted on September 22, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 13, 14, 15. submitted on February 10, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.