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SPANNING HISTORY:
THE BRIDGES OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER
April 10 and 13, 2008

Fourth St. Bridge/Photo by Kevin Break

When is a bridge more than a bridge? When it's part of a unique collection of historic structures that help tell the story of L.A.'s explosive growth in the early twentieth century. Yet many of these historic spans are slated for alteration and, in some cases, demolition.

On January 30, 2008, eleven historic bridges over the Los Angeles River were designated as city Historic-Cultural Landmarks. While this ensures a role for the city's Cultural Heritage Commission in reviewing proposed widening and replacement projects, it does not prevent outright demolition. The fate of the bridges will remain a topic of debate for years to come.

Learn about the bridges' rich past and potential future, and explore them up close with family-friendly activities, in a two-part event organized by the Los Angeles Conservancy in partnership with the Getty Conservation Institute and Friends of the Los Angeles River.

Panel Discussion: April 10 (this page)
"Bridge Mix" Tour and Activity Day: April 13 (this page)
Thanks to Our Sponsors (this page)

Panel Discussion

Thursday, April 10
7 - 9 p.m.
The Getty Center
Admission: Free; reservations required

Photo by Kevin Break

As part of its Conservation Matters lecture series, the Getty Conservation Institute will host a spirited discussion about the history and potential future of the historic L.A. River bridges. Moderated by Larry Mantle, host of 89.3 KPCC's AirTalk, the panel will include:

Glen Dake, a landscape architect and a leader in creating community-designed landscapes and transportation and school improvements in Southern California neighborhoods, where he has practiced since 1987. He was appointed to the Cultural Heritage Commision in 2006 by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Photo by Kevin Break

Eric DeLony, a private consultant for engineering and industrial heritage, and recognized as one of the world's leading authorities on the history of bridges. He was principal architect and later chief of Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), a program of the National Park Service.

Larry Mantle, panel moderator and host of 89.3 KPCC's AirTalk, the longest continuously airing daily radio talk program in Southern California. A fourth-generation Angeleno, he has interviewed thousands of prominent guests on an extraordinary array of topics and has received numerous journalistic awards.

Photo by Kevin Break

Gary Lee Moore, City Engineer of the City of Los Angeles. He leads the Bureau of Engineering, which has a workforce of more than 1,100 engineers, architects, surveyors, and support staff and an annual operating budget of $126 million. He is closely involved with several projects that are expected to transform the face of Los Angeles. One of these is the Los Angeles River Rivitalization Master Plan.

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"Bridge Mix" Tour and Activity Day

Sunday, April 13
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Four sites along the banks of the river
Admission: $30 general public; $25 Conservancy and FoLAR members; $10 children 12 and under

Tickets can be purchased (starting at 10 a.m.)
on Sunday, April 13 at:
SCI-Arc parking lot
350 Merrick Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Click here for directions and detailed tour information.

Join us for a fun-filled day of tours and activities for kids of all ages, near four historic bridges spanning the river between downtown L.A. and Boyle Heights.

The route spans about 2.5 miles, with two sites on each bank of the river. Shuttle buses will run continuously along the route, and we also encourage walking and biking between the sites. Materials and activities will be bilingual (English and Spanish), including a new kids’ guide to the historic river bridges. Events include:

First Street Bridge: Architecture and Engineering

Photo by Mark Lamonica

Learn how bridges are built, what makes them stay up and fall down, and how the L.A. River bridges compare and contrast to other iconic bridges in the U.S. Then build your own!

Fourth Street Bridge: History and Movie Lore

Photo by Kevin Break

Special guests Merrill Butler III (grandson of the bridges’ original designer) and Harry Medved (author of Hollywood Escapes) will discuss and illustrate the bridges’ rich history and countless film appearances, from the 1954 sci-fi classic Them! to 2007’s Transformers.

Sixth Street Viaduct: River Science and Ecology

Photo by Kevin Break

Try your hand at water testing and see how a rare degenerative chemical reaction is affecting the iconic Sixth Street Viaduct, with experts from the Getty Conservation Institute and Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR).

Seventh Street Bridge: L.A. River Master Plan

Photo by Kevin Break

See the vision for the river and the bridges, and use interactive models to create your own, with representatives from the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, Tetra Tech, FoLAR, Latino Urban Forum, and Gallery 727.

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Leader:

Partner:

Sponsors:
The Cygnet Foundation
Nabih Youssef Associates

Supporters:
Film L.A.
John A. Martin & Associates
The Office of Councilmember Jose Huizar
The Office of Councilmember Jan Perry
The Office of Councilmember Ed Reyes
Western Chapter, Association for Preservation Technology