You can be a part of history and reenact the settling of early California.  Lace up your walking shoes Saturday, September 3 and join the descendants of Los Pobladores (the original settlers) for an early morning nine-mile walk from San Gabriel’s Plaza Park, 428 S. Mission Drive to El Pueblo Historical Monument (Olvera Street).  Registration will be open from at 5:00 – 7:00 a.m. and there will be a brief welcome from the San Gabriel City Council at 6:00 a.m. You will be a part of the commemoration of the 1781 founding of El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles.

Everyone is welcome to join this free event made possible by a generous donation from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich.  Register the day of the event at Plaza Park.  Participants will receive a commemorative give-away, refreshments, and a bus token for return transportation.  Visit to download the event flier containing event tobogan hinchable details, course map and a registration form for all participants (parent signature required for youth 18 and under) or call (626)308-2875.

The founding of Los Angeles came 10 years after the 1771founding of San Gabriel Mission. Los Pobladores were not Spanish grandees or members of the aristocracy. They were mostly poor farmers and soldiers recruited from northwest Mexico by Felipe de Neve, Governor of the Californias. Like San Gabriel and Los Angeles today, the Pobladores were a racially diverse group.

The early morning, moderate nine-mile walk heads west along Mission Road and ends approximately 3 hours later at El Pueblo Monument, home to the world famous Olvera Street, where you will enjoy museums, restaurants and family entertainment.  Participants must walk on the sidewalk and follow all traffic laws that apply to pedestrians.  Walkers are encouraged to carry their own water and wear comfortable shoes, hats and sunscreen. Walkers must arrange return transportation or use the free bus tokens they provided at the time of registration for public bus transportation back to the Mission District.  For public transportation information contact Metro at 1-800-266-6883 or www.metro.net.