The Rich
History of the Glendale, CA Area
Despite the
glamour of nearby Hollywood, Glendale, CA had a comparably humble origin as
home to Native Americans for thousands of years before the arrival of European
settlers. Spanish explorers founded the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel in the area,
which was followed by Mexican settlers after the Mexican War of Independence.
California was ceded to the U.S. in the mid-1800s, which eventually led to
rapid urbanization of Glendale and a large influx of Armenian and Latino
populations. Today, the thriving Glendale, CA community offers numerous
museums, performing arts centers, and parks to explore.
The Alex
Theatre is a performing arts center in Glendale featuring live performances and
film screenings. Built in 1925, it serves as a landmark movie palace, community
hub, and cultural anchor for the region. Animated movie production has a major
foothold in the city, with Disneytoon Studios, Marvel Animation, and DreamWorks
Animation all headquartered in Glendale. In 1961, Walt Disney established a
creative workshop for employees working on the construction of Disney theme
parks and attractions worldwide. Initially named WED Enterprises, the studio
came to be known as Walt Disney Imagineering.
By 1990,
Glendale had a larger proportion of immigrants than either the city or county
of Los Angeles, with 45% of its residents being foreign-born. By the late
2000s, it became a major urban area of its own, partly due to the creation of
the Americana at Brand lifestyle center and residential community. By 2008,
this development featured 75 shops, restaurants, apartments, condominiums, and
an 18-plex cinema. More recently, a "museum row" was formed in
downtown Glendale that includes the Armenian American Museum, the Martial Arts
History Museum, and the Neon Museum.