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Communities United For
SMART Growth
SMART Growth
The History of the Campo de Cahuenga
In 1881 Horace Bell published his three-volume personal history of Los Angeles, Reminiscences of a Ranger
– believed by some to be the first book about Los Angeles to be published in Los Angeles. In referring to the
Cahuenga Pass and the Campo de Cahuenga he notes that more history has happened there than at any
other place in Los Angeles.
The Campo de Cahuenga is not just the birthplace of California; it is much, much more. From the moment of
Jamestown and Plymouth – from the moment of this Nation’s birth – our founding fathers dreamed of a
continental nation which would stretch from sea to sea. They saw that vision as our American “destiny”; our
“manifest destiny”. Generation after generation – for better or for worse – pushed further out our western
boundary. Many found death. Many caused death. But the dream of a continental nation never failed. That
dream was realized at the Campo de Cahuenga. California was born there. America – from “sea to shining
sea” – became a reality there. That is why the Campo de Cahuenga is one of the five or six most historic
places in America.
So much has happened within a short distance of the Campo. Some remembered; much forgotten. Fremont
and Pico are one of the milestones on the Campo road. Keep in mind just some of what the Campo and the
Cahuenga Pass have seen of our history:
1769 Portola and Crespi explore the “Valley of the Oaks” and find fertile rich alluvial flood plains near the
Campo. In this dry valley the water – both above and below ground – flow towards the “low point” of the
Cahuenga Pass – the Campo – modern Toluca Lake.
1774 Anza crosses through the Pass and by the Campo
1809 The Pueblo of Los Angeles and the Mission San Fernando break-out into open “water warfare”
when both lay claim to the Los Angeles river water. Tradition has it that the Mission tried to impede (in order to
control) the river – most likely within a short distance of the Campo.
1826 Jed Smith makes the first overland crossing to California – the first American to visit California via
land route. He befriends Jose Maria Avila and will make a number of visits from the Pueblo to the Mission San
Fernando, crossing by the Campo on his way. His reports of the region will help spawn American interest in
California.
1829 Christopher “Kit” Carson follows Smith…. Probably “scouting” for US interests – he will become part
of the Campo history.
1830 The cries of hate and death can be heard and seen from the Campo at the “Battle of Cahuenga”, as
Jose Maria Avila – in an act of revenge for having been jailed and then publicly humiliated by Governor Victoria
– followed by other Californios, encounters the Governor and Mexican troops heading South for the Pueblo
near the Campo. In a great dramatic moment in history Avila, dressed in his finest Californios garb – lowers
his long pick and charges Victoria. He lances him with one arm and with the other grabs Victoria’s leg and
throws him from his horse. He swings around pulling his pistol only to find himself facing the Governor’s
guard, Jose Pacheco – who Avila has known for years – with his own pistol pulled. Both fire simultaneously.
Both are killed. In an act of honor – both are carried back to Avila’s home at the Pueblo (now on Olvera Street)
and laid in state next to each other.
1845 As the “second” battle of Cahuenga – a.k.a. The Battle of Providencia – rages for three days the
sound and smoke of constant canon fire can be heard from the Campo.
1846 California’s own “Paul Revere” – Juan Flaco – makes his famous ride from Los Angeles to San
Francisco. On September 26, 1846 – pursued by enemy soldiers – he passes through the Cahuenga Pass
and by the Campo. Various stories have Mexican troops shooting his horse out from under him as he
emerged from the Pass near the Campo. Other versions have him hiding in the tall reeds along the Los
Angeles River until the pursuing troops pass – whatever the truth, the Campo and Cahuenga Pass witness
this great moment of history. American troops hold Fort (Moore) Hill but the Californios are preparing a
siege. Juan Flaco will ride to ask Stockton – who is at San Francisco – to send reinforcement. As a result,
Fremont will begin his march south.
1847 January 13, 1847 – that great moment in history. While marching south Fremont meets Dona Ruiz,
the daughter of an affluent Los Angeles family – in San Luis Obisbo. She helps him understand what “terms”
would likely be needed to seek a surrender of California and she introduces him to Jesus Pico, cousin to
Andres. Jesus agrees to travel with him and meet with Andres to negotiate terms. They meet – it is believed –
under the “tree of peace” – a giant oak tree at the adobe of Jose Maria Verdugo at Rancho San Rafael – and
two days later Fremont and Pico sit down at the Campo.
The history of the Campo does not stop there. It will go on to be a Butterfield stage stop and also a Union
post….It is part of the history of the Mission San Fernando and it is part of the history of native Americans in the
region, but that moment on January 13, 1847 is when the Campo de Cahuenga will become part of the fabric
of American history.
In 1881 Horace Bell published his three-volume personal history of Los Angeles, Reminiscences of a Ranger
– believed by some to be the first book about Los Angeles to be published in Los Angeles. In referring to the
Cahuenga Pass and the Campo de Cahuenga he notes that more history has happened there than at any
other place in Los Angeles.
The Campo de Cahuenga is not just the birthplace of California; it is much, much more. From the moment of
Jamestown and Plymouth – from the moment of this Nation’s birth – our founding fathers dreamed of a
continental nation which would stretch from sea to sea. They saw that vision as our American “destiny”; our
“manifest destiny”. Generation after generation – for better or for worse – pushed further out our western
boundary. Many found death. Many caused death. But the dream of a continental nation never failed. That
dream was realized at the Campo de Cahuenga. California was born there. America – from “sea to shining
sea” – became a reality there. That is why the Campo de Cahuenga is one of the five or six most historic
places in America.
So much has happened within a short distance of the Campo. Some remembered; much forgotten. Fremont
and Pico are one of the milestones on the Campo road. Keep in mind just some of what the Campo and the
Cahuenga Pass have seen of our history:
1769 Portola and Crespi explore the “Valley of the Oaks” and find fertile rich alluvial flood plains near the
Campo. In this dry valley the water – both above and below ground – flow towards the “low point” of the
Cahuenga Pass – the Campo – modern Toluca Lake.
1774 Anza crosses through the Pass and by the Campo
1809 The Pueblo of Los Angeles and the Mission San Fernando break-out into open “water warfare”
when both lay claim to the Los Angeles river water. Tradition has it that the Mission tried to impede (in order to
control) the river – most likely within a short distance of the Campo.
1826 Jed Smith makes the first overland crossing to California – the first American to visit California via
land route. He befriends Jose Maria Avila and will make a number of visits from the Pueblo to the Mission San
Fernando, crossing by the Campo on his way. His reports of the region will help spawn American interest in
California.
1829 Christopher “Kit” Carson follows Smith…. Probably “scouting” for US interests – he will become part
of the Campo history.
1830 The cries of hate and death can be heard and seen from the Campo at the “Battle of Cahuenga”, as
Jose Maria Avila – in an act of revenge for having been jailed and then publicly humiliated by Governor Victoria
– followed by other Californios, encounters the Governor and Mexican troops heading South for the Pueblo
near the Campo. In a great dramatic moment in history Avila, dressed in his finest Californios garb – lowers
his long pick and charges Victoria. He lances him with one arm and with the other grabs Victoria’s leg and
throws him from his horse. He swings around pulling his pistol only to find himself facing the Governor’s
guard, Jose Pacheco – who Avila has known for years – with his own pistol pulled. Both fire simultaneously.
Both are killed. In an act of honor – both are carried back to Avila’s home at the Pueblo (now on Olvera Street)
and laid in state next to each other.
1845 As the “second” battle of Cahuenga – a.k.a. The Battle of Providencia – rages for three days the
sound and smoke of constant canon fire can be heard from the Campo.
1846 California’s own “Paul Revere” – Juan Flaco – makes his famous ride from Los Angeles to San
Francisco. On September 26, 1846 – pursued by enemy soldiers – he passes through the Cahuenga Pass
and by the Campo. Various stories have Mexican troops shooting his horse out from under him as he
emerged from the Pass near the Campo. Other versions have him hiding in the tall reeds along the Los
Angeles River until the pursuing troops pass – whatever the truth, the Campo and Cahuenga Pass witness
this great moment of history. American troops hold Fort (Moore) Hill but the Californios are preparing a
siege. Juan Flaco will ride to ask Stockton – who is at San Francisco – to send reinforcement. As a result,
Fremont will begin his march south.
1847 January 13, 1847 – that great moment in history. While marching south Fremont meets Dona Ruiz,
the daughter of an affluent Los Angeles family – in San Luis Obisbo. She helps him understand what “terms”
would likely be needed to seek a surrender of California and she introduces him to Jesus Pico, cousin to
Andres. Jesus agrees to travel with him and meet with Andres to negotiate terms. They meet – it is believed –
under the “tree of peace” – a giant oak tree at the adobe of Jose Maria Verdugo at Rancho San Rafael – and
two days later Fremont and Pico sit down at the Campo.
The history of the Campo does not stop there. It will go on to be a Butterfield stage stop and also a Union
post….It is part of the history of the Mission San Fernando and it is part of the history of native Americans in the
region, but that moment on January 13, 1847 is when the Campo de Cahuenga will become part of the fabric
of American history.