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Olvera Street
Bryant Irawan
/ Indonesia Media
 With the background knowledge of Los Angeles’ Metro Line stations I learned, I was off to explore new destinations unheard of by many locals. As I skimmed by local tour book, I came upon Olvera Street; a street I never heard about before. Olvera Street
-named after Agustin Olvera ( Los Angeles’ first judge) - seemed like a perfect candidate to travel so I checked my map and luckily for me it was right across Union Station. I quickly went upstairs to pack my bags.
The next day, I headed to Sierra Madre Villa Station. After purchasing my ticket, I played a dangerous game of “slipping through the sliding metal doors as the train is about to run.” Fortunately, I made it just in the knick of time and found an empty window seat.
Once arriving at Union Station, I headed for the exit door, but my stomach told me to turn back to the bagel stall. I grabbed my bagel and walked to the cashier. I looked at the price menu and stared at the cashier blankly. I turned around and put the bagel back on the shelf and exited Union Station with an empty stomach. Thankfully, my wise decision benefited me in the long run for there are many Mexican restaurants ranging from Mexican cuisine to affordable Mexican cantines. After all, when in Rome do as the Romans do.
At Olvera Street, a myriad of souvenir stalls line up in a central aisle while restaurants surround it. First thing’s first, I targeted an affordable restaurant  and satisfied my appetite with a churro stuffed in strawberry, crème, or caramel. However, it has much more to offer than trinket shops and Mexican restaurants. In fact, before Olvera Street was marked a Mexican marketplace in 1930, it was one of Los Angeles first main streets. Hidden behind the restaurants, lies many small walkthrough museums. This is why Olvera Street is home to the oldest house in Los Angeles, a Chinese American Museum, the only Eastlake Victorian Building at El Pueblo, Pico House, and even the oldest Firehouse in Los Angeles. Each museum has a bit of history buried deep inside where visitors can enrich themselves in culture or knowledge.
In the Chinese American museum, visitors can learn about the history of Chinese immigration, struggle, achievement, and community building in shaping American life and culture, especially in Los Angeles while providing artifacts collected by immigrants to show visitors a Chinese American’s daily life in the 20 th century.
 For a more real-life experience museum, head on over to the Avila Adobe house built in 1818 by rancher Don Francisco Avila- , the oldest house in Los Angeles. Entirely built with adobe bricks, it reflects 19 th century architecture and the Hispanic lifestyle of California in the 1840s. As you walk around the museum, readers must note the detail of the architectural techniques used such as the use of thick walls to provide insulation or the use of braziers instead of fireplaces. For another walkthrough museum, the Sepulveda House (est. 1887) is a great option to explore. It is the only Eastlake Victorian Building in the El Pueblo area and boasts a huge two story house containing many walk through exhibits. After a complete walkthrough, visitors may enjoy a short video teaching the audience the early history of Los Angeles.
Another nearby tourist attraction is Los Angeles’ Pico House. The building was completed in 1870 by Pio Pico, the last governor of California under Mexican rule. A few years later, it was transformed to a hotel for visitors. Its last transformation brought the historic hotel into a museum.
Amazingly, in the middle of the 19 th century, the city of Los Angeles had no fire department, no fire extinguishing equipment, and no fire stations whatsoever. If there happened to be a fire, neighbors would form a bucket brigade in an  attempt to save the building. By the time the line was formed, there was no more of a building to spray water at so the city of Los Angeles realized a fire department had to be immediately made which was the sole purpose of constructing The Plaza Firehouse (est. 1884), the first building to be constructed by the City of Los Angeles for housing fire fighting equipment and personnel. Unfortunately, the day was concluding and I started walking home until I spotted a mariachi band in a gazebo located at the entrance to Olvera Street. I guess home could wait.
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