Who Really Discovered Los Angeles?
Let's talk about the city of angels, the land of sunshine, and the birthplace of terrible traffic: Los Angeles. You know, that place where everyone's always five minutes away, but it takes an hour to get there. But before it was a concrete jungle filled with Kardashians and overpriced avocado toast, someone had to discover the place. Right?
The Official Story: A Bunch of Explorers and Stuff
So, according to the history books, a Portuguese dude named Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was the first European to stumble upon the LA area in 1542. Imagine his surprise when he saw a bunch of people chilling on the beach, probably wearing way cooler clothes than he was. But let’s be honest, just because he was the first white guy to show up doesn't mean he discovered it.
Fast forward a few decades to 1769, and we have Gaspar de Portolá, a Spanish explorer, who decided to throw his hat into the "discovering LA" ring. He set up a little Spanish outpost, which is basically like planting a flag and saying, "Mine!" But again, let's not forget the people who were already living there, enjoying the sunshine and probably thinking, "Great, now we have to deal with these guys."
The Real MVPs: The Tongva People
Now, here’s a fact bomb for you: the real OG residents of the LA area were the Tongva people. They had been chilling there for thousands of years, living in harmony with nature, and probably laughing at these newcomers who thought they owned the place. They were the true experts on where to find the best avocados, and they probably had a much better system for dealing with traffic.
So, while history books might give all the credit to the Europeans, let’s give it up for the Tongva people, the real MVPs of LA. They were the ones who knew the land, the weather, and probably had a much better idea of where to find a decent taco.
How to Become an LA Historian (Sort Of)
- How to impress your friends with LA trivia: Drop some Tongva knowledge on them.
- How to avoid traffic like a pro: Become one with the traffic. It's a spiritual experience.
- How to find the best tacos in LA: Ask a local. Or, you know, just keep trying different places.
- How to survive in LA: Develop a thick skin, a love for irony, and a really good sunscreen.
- How to appreciate LA's history: Visit El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.