Exposition Park (urban park)

This article is about the park in Los Angeles. For the eponymous neighborhood, see Exposition Park (Los Angeles neighborhood).

Exposition Park, Los Angeles

Exposition Park is a 160 acres (65 ha) urban park in the south region of Los Angeles, California, in the Exposition Park neighborhood. Established in 1872 as an agricultural fairground, the park includes the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Banc of California Stadium, the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the California African American Museum. The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is under construction. Bounded by Exposition Boulevard to the north, South Figueroa Street to the east, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the south and Menlo Avenue to the west, it is directly south of the main campus of the University of Southern California.

The park is public open space, managed by the California Natural Resources Agency.

Features

Exposition Park houses the following:

• LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium
• Banc of California Stadium
  • Home of Los Angeles FC
• Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (under construction)
• Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Home of USC Trojans football
• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
• California Science Center
  • IMAX Theatre at California Science Center
  • Space Shuttle Endeavour
• Exposition Park Rose Garden
• California African American Museum
• Concrete hand and footprints signed by Ed Begley Jr. of St. Elsewhere and other actors from medical TV shows such as Ben Casey
• EXPO Center (includes the LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium) and the Soboroff Sports Field (soccer). Originally managed in 2006 by Bentley Management Group, the Soboroff Sports Field was demolished in 2018 to allow construction of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
• Science Center School and Amgen Center for Science Learning (formerly California National Guard Armory)

Dana R. Weller and Paul Engstrom laying the cornerstone of the California Exposition Building in 1910 (Los Angeles Herald)

A Douglas DC-8 near the Air and Space Exhibits Gallery

The cultural facilities mentioned above are operated by both the state and Los Angeles County.

Former venues

• Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

History

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 California 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 and arces on the grounds, while horses, dogs, and even camels competed on a racetrack where a rose garden now sits and blooms. In 1909, a group of civic-minded individuals led by former Pasadena Mayor Horace Dobbins set about reforming the park, removing the racetrack and other activities and replacing them with gardens and museums.

At the 2028 Summer Olympics, the Coliseum will host Athletics as well as the main closing ceremony. The Banc of California Stadium will be one of the soccer venues.

Public transportation

Along the northern edge of the park, the Metro E Line light rail line serves the park with its Expo Park/USC Station. On the northeast, (Flower Street and 37th Street), the Metro J Line bus rapid transit serves Exposition Park & USC at its 37th Street/USC Station on the Harbor Transitway. The J Line station is located on the freeway median level of the 1-110 freeway.

See also

• California State and Consumer Services Agency
• List of parks in Los Angeles

External links

• Official website — Exposition Park.
• University Park Family — an online newspaper and social network focused on the neighborhoods around USC and Exposition Park, and the surrounding areas.
• Leimert Park Beat — a collaborative online community focused nearby Leimert Park: "The Soul of Los Angeles and the African American cultural center of the city".