Events

Los Encinos State Historic Park

Rosanne and I happened upon this park nearly 15 years ago. Before the front entrance was redesigned during recent earthquake repairs you could drive right by on Ventura Boulevard and never even know it was there.

This historic rancho was home to one of the main ranching and farming concerns in the San Fernando Valley during the early Mission years and beyond.

As the valley was subdivided, more and more of the rancho was sold off. The natural spring on the property was quite unique in the parched valley of the 1800's and was a great draw for the people who owned the Rancho over the years. Today the spring feeds the duck pond. You can even feed the ducks.

There are several buildings remaining on the site (completely restored after the Northridge earthquake), a large green lawn and picnic tables. Park docents host regular "living history" days with a blacksmith, cowboy, music, kids games and a variety of other activities.

Los Encinos is a wonderful place to get away from the city, without leaving the city. It also allows you to enjoy the outdoors while learning a bit about Southern California History.

---

Web sites about Los Encinos

State Park Web Sites

http://www.lahacal.org/losencinos.html

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=619

San Fernando Valley History

http://www.rootsweb.com/~casfvgs/encinos.html

CSUN San Fernando Valley Digital History Site

http://digital-library.csun.edu/cgi-bin/pquery.exe?CISOROOT1=%2FValleyHistory&CISOOP=all&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISORESTMP=%5Ccsun%5Ctemplate1.html&CISOVIEWTMP=%5Ccsun%5Ctemplate2.html&CISOROWS=2&CISOCOLS=5&CISOBOX1=los+encinos

San Fernando Valley: America's Suburb Web Site and Book

http://www.americassuburb.com/HOME.HTML

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/188379255X/thewelchwritecom

(This is an excellent book on the history of the Valley from Indian tribes to Aerospace -- Douglas)

Geocaching.com Virutal Cache

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=23793

Address

16756 Moorpark St.

Encino CA 91436-1068

Phone: 818-784-4849

FAX : 818-784-0621

E-Mail: laha@pacbell.net

Hours
10 AM to 5 PM

Wednesday through Sunday.