On the way back down the 110 from the Huntington Library and Gardens, I spotted a tan sign advertising a place called the Lummis Home. I was already on a roll with my photos today, so I thought I’d make one more stop. The neighborhood was rough, and the fenced-in enclosure didn’t really grab my attention, but what awaited inside that fence might completely alter the course of my life!
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The house is just rock and adobe, but it was built by hand by Charles Fletcher Lummis, a true Renaissance man, who decided one day to set out from Ohio, on foot, and make a new life in California! He brought with him his skills as an author, poet, and photographer and became a huge advocate for the rights of Native American tribes in New Mexico and Southern California. He even collaborated with Teddy Roosevelt on the matter, with pictures to prove it!
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This place was so cool! I had passed the sign many times before, not realizing it contained such rich history! I wondered if there might be any other sites like this; I think George would love to visit this place! That’s when I noticed the number on the sign: #531. I went home and did some research. There are 1,099 Historical Landmarks, just like this one, in California! 105 of them are in Los Angeles alone! I think I’m going to start visiting more of them, maybe even see them all! If ever there were a quest to lead me to George, this would be it! Hooray!
Let the landmark hunt begin!