History
Chavez Ravine, a shallow canyon north of downtown Los Angeles, has been tied to the city’s growth since Julián A. Chávez bought land there in 1844. In the 19th century it held a pest house during smallpox outbreaks, the city’s first Jewish cemetery, parts of the water system, and land later added to Elysian Park. By the early 20th century, Mexican-American neighborhoods thrived there and successfully resisted nearby industrial blasting. After World War II, redevelopment and a failed public housing plan displaced many residents. Following a 1958 referendum, the land was transferred for Dodger Stadium, which opened in 1962 after the bitter Battle of Chavez Ravine.
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Los Angeles, California · United States
