Exposition Park is located in University Park, Los Angeles, California, across the street from the University of Southern California. Exposition Park houses:
- Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
- California Science Center
- Exposition Park Rose Garden
- California African American Museum
- EXPO Center (includes the LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium)
- Science Center School and Amgen Center for Science Learning (formerly California National Guard Armory)
- Expo Park Farmers Market, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturdays, south lawn of Natural History Museum
The park is public space owned by the state of California. The cultural facilities mentioned above are operated by both the state and Los Angeles County.
The 160-acre (0.65 km2) site served as an agricultural fairground from 1872 to 1910 (hence its original name, "Agricultural Park"). In 1880, John Edward, Ozro W. Childs, and former Governor John G. Downey persuaded the State of California to purchase 160 acres (0.65 km2) in Los Angeles to foster agriculture in the Southland. Farmers sold their harvest on the grounds, while horses, dogs, and even camels competed on a racetrack where a rose garden now blooms.
Soon after USC was built in 1880, the city's most influential families moved into the neighborhood, but they did not appreciate the racing and the gambling that came with it. As a result, the rose garden replaced the racetrack, and the park became what it is today.
Along the northern edge of the park, the Metro Expo Line light rail line serves the park with its Expo Park/USC Station.
Famous quotes containing the words park and/or exposition:
“Is a park any better than a coal mine? What’s a mountain got that a slag pile hasn’t? What would you rather have in your garden—an almond tree or an oil well?”
—Jean Giraudoux (1882–1944)
“Hard times accounted in large part for the fact that the exposition was a financial disappointment in its first year, but Sally Rand and her fan dancers accomplished what applied science had failed to do, and the exposition closed in 1934 with a net profit, which was donated to participating cultural institutions, excluding Sally Rand.”
—For the State of Illinois, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)