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SurveyLA's Phasing Plan
The Office of Historic Resources has developed a phasing plan for the completion of SurveyLA field surveys throughout the city, which generally...
Where is SurveyLA?
Follow the status of SurveyLA, as we progress through the city, neighborhood by neighborhood.
SurveyLA Results Available
As surveys of Community Plan Areas are completed, the OHR is posting results on the Survey Findings portion of our website.

MyHistoricLA.org

You're invited to visit MyHistoricLA.org an exciting new addition to SurveyLA, which is creating an online conversation to identify hidden gems of Los Angeles' history and architecture. The new website is an online forum, or virtual town hall, to identify significant historic resources in Los Angeles. To join the conversation, please register today at MyHistoricLA.org.

MyHistoricLA.org allows community members to share ideas collaboratively, from the privacy of home, school or workplace. It gives participants the opportunity to compete for points that may be converted into prizes, and to create new relationships and communities online.

MyHistoricLA Resource ID Form

Another way to provide information about important historic resources in your neighborhood is by using the MyHistoricLA online historic resource identification form. Think broadly about the history of your community and tell us more about it through MyHistoricLA. While professional historic preservation consultants will be likely to identify buildings and areas with visible architectural significance, they are less likely to identify the more modest buildings or lesser-known places that might have shaped your community.  Focus on resources that are not already designated and make sure they are within the limits of the city of Los Angeles. You may download a printable form in PDF format in English [544.08 KB] and in Spanish [560.03 KB]. If you are interested in heading up a broad-based community effort to provide information for SurveyLA see MyHistoricLA: Guide to Public Participation in SurveyLA.

What is a Historic Resource?

Resources can include individual houses, buildings, sites, structures, objects, cultural landscapes and natural features as well as areas and historic districts (groupings of resources). These places may reflect a broad range of themes significant in the city’s history such as architecture, city planning, landscape design, ethnic heritage, residential development, politics, industry, transportation, commerce, entertainment and others. Examples of individual historic resources include theaters, religious buildings, social halls, canals and bridges while examples of historic districts, include residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, industrial complexes and college campuses. The citywide survey will consider all properties dating from about 1865 to 1980.

How will this information be used?

The public responses received through the MyHistoricLA program provide valuable background information for the survey teams, which use this material during their fieldwork to identify and evaluate potential resourcs according to local, state and federal criteria for evaluation.

Please note: the properties identified through MyHistoricLA will not be officially designated as "historic," nor will they be automatically considered for historic designation. To obtain official local historic designation for a property, you may wish to submit a formal nomination for City Historic-Cultural Monument status.

How should I decide what to identify?

In considering which resources(s) to identify, think about the following questions:

  • What are the neighborhoods, commercial areas, and landscapes that have distinctive architectural, design or cultural characteristics, or reflect important aspects of social history or community planning and development? What are the qualities of these places that make them important?
  • What areas, sites, or buildings served as key gathering places or focal points of your community over the years?
  • Which places were associated with the most important individuals, groups or organizations that shaped your community’s history?
  • Which buildings, structures and districts may have been associated with important architects, builders, designers, developers, or engineers whose work helped define the character of your area?
  • Which places shaped social movements and the cultural evolution of your community?
  • Which places are unique to your community and which reflect larger trends in the development history of Los Angeles?
  • Which places provide a key window into understanding the demographic changes that your community experienced over the years?

Additional Information

For additional information please contact:

Janet Hansen, Deputy Manager
Office of Historic Resources
Janet.hansen@lacity.org
(213) 978-1191