Olvera+Street

By Charlotte U, Kara F, and Sarah A. Nathan P, Ethan Johnson, edited by: Jenessa Paniagua and David Hostetter

(Olvera Street Market; the zigzag brick pattern represents the original path of the Zanja Madre)

O ** lvera Street ****, ** a  vibrant ,  internationally renowned Marketplace located in the El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historical Monument on the general site of the birthplace of the city of Los Angeles ,  offers visitors shopping and dining experiences reflecting Mexican and Latino culture and traditions. Exciting Fiestas and Celebrations are held throughout  the year.

Originally Olvera Street was called Wine Street. Olvera Street is the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles, otherwise known as El Pueblo Historic Monument. The colorful village features 27 historic buildings with a traditional Mexican style plaza area. Wander around the marketplace and shop for souvenirs including handcrafted Mexican wares typical of old Mexico.

The original pueblo was built by the 44 settlers of Los Angeles in 1781. Today Olvera Street is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the City of Angels, located right across the street from Union Station, La Placita Church and one block from Chinatown.

In the old days, people used to think that Olvera Street was a dirty, uninteresting ally, but it was and still is a place where many people sell things and make a living. The people who sell things only make a small amount of money, but they make enough to buy food and water. When a woman named Christine Sterling first saw Olvera Street in 1926, she was appalled with the condition of the decaying buildings. She went on a mission to save the whole area of El Pueblo. She raised awareness and the funds to renovate and now it is famous for many yearly celebrations such a Cinco De Mayo and many more wonderful celebrations. Its market place has many restaurants and souvenir shops.

Olvera Street has Los Angeles's oldest surviving building. That building was made in 1818. It was a pueblo that got established in 1953. Olvera Street was made to be a tourist attraction. This historic place was open on April 1930. It has a Zanja Madre(Mother Ditch) which is a early water system that got water from the Los Angeles River.

In the many winding shops and restaurants, many cultures survive. If you look around, somethings can lead into bigger things. Most restaurants serve traditional Hispanic food. They also speak the motherland's language. In the modern days, the plaza and its music bring tourists. Once drawn in to the music and they have noticed the shops, they are sure to buy somethings.

As a tourist attraction, Olvera Street is a living museum paying homage to a romantic vision of old Mexico. he Blessing of the Animals at Olvera Street, an event dating to 1930, is held every ** Sabado de Gloria ** (Holy Saturday, the Saturday before Easter). The event was originally held in conjunction with the Feast Day of Saint Anthony of the Desert, but it was changed to take advantage of better weather. The original procession has grown into an all-day event with vendors, performers, and a procession where participants bring their animals to be blessed by religious authorities and others. On [|Easter Sunday] 1930, Sterling's romantic revival came to pass with the opening of ** Paseo de Los Angeles ** (which later became popularly known by its official street name ** Olvera Street ** ). Touted as // A Mexican Street of Yesterday in a City of Today //, Olvera Street was an instant success as a tourist site. [|La Opinión], the leading Spanish language daily, perhaps reflecting the sentiments among many Mexicans in the city, praised the project as // una calleja que recuerda al México viejo // , "a street which recalls old Mexico."