About

Gabrieleño Indian Site located in Fern Dell area of Griffith Park.

Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #112, declared  March 7, 1973.

The slopes from the Observatory to the Oaks and down to Los Feliz are full of natural springs and seeps that feed the creek. Indigenous tribes built their village here to take advantage of the welcoming shade of the sycamores and the spring water. They did not build their village by the Los Angeles River because they knew that it periodically flooded. The Gabrieleño peoples at one time were the principal residents of the Los Angeles area, inhabiting its plains, foothills and coastline. They lived in round wicker houses covered with thatch. They made ocean-going, wood plank canoes. Native American artists carved animal effigies from soapstone and wove beautiful baskets. Their diet consisted of acorns, fruits, berries, quail, rabbit, deer and fish. Griffith Park provided all of these. Their council grounds was on the hill that is now Laughlin Park. Unfortunately, the coming of Europeans and then Americans to California spelled an end to their traditional way of life.   The Tongva or the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians are honored with Historic-Cultural Monument #112 plaque at the entrance to the lower dell. (Source: Friends of Griffith Park)