Olvera Street, Los Angeles

Olvera Street Marionettes

Olvera Street is located in downtown Los Angeles in the area of the original pueblo established by Mexican settlers in the 1780s. At the time, the pueblo was considered a sub-parish of the mission San Gabriel Arcangel and was named El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora Reina de los Angeles (The pueblo of Our Lady Queen of the Angels). Today Olvera Street is part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument and the area has been a California State Historic Landmark since 1953.

Olvera Street itself is really an alley, framed on both sides by the backs of buildings that have their fronts on the streets running parallel to the alley, Main and Los Angeles Street. The center of the alley is filled with street vendors offering an assortment of hyper-colorful Mexican kitsch.

Olvera Street is well-worth a visit if you are a tourist to L.A. or just looking for something fun and different to do if you are a local resident. Within walking distance are many other sights of downtown Los Angeles including the grand Union Station, Japantown, City Hall, the spectacular Catholic cathedral, Disney Hall, and the M.O.C.A.

Here are a few photos of the colorful wares on sale by the street vendors of Olvera Street.