Eagle Rock
Near the end of Figueroa Street – map
Declared: 11/16/62
This is Eagle Rock, from which the city got its name. Which city, you ask? Don’t be wise.
Once a part of Rancho San Rafael, Eagle Rock became a city in 1906, was incorporated in 1911, and was finally absorbed into the city of Los Angeles in 1923.
So, what do you think? Does it look like an eagle to you? I don’t know. Maybe if you squint your eyes. Still…
Granted, since the image is formed by the shadows cast by outcroppings, you pretty much have to be in the right spot at the optimum time of day (around high noon) around the right time of year to get the most eagleish shot.
A wider view of the shot above
Special thanks to Mr. Eric Warren at the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society, who helped me with finding some good viewing locations.
More rocky, less eagley
The picture above was taken from Eagle Rock Recreation Center (just a few feet from HCM No. 536, Richard Neutra’s Eagle Rock Playground Clubhouse). This might be the most eaglesque looking shot of all. Too bad all that stuff’s in the way.
Up next: West Temple Apartments (The Rochester)
Up next: West Temple Apartments (The Rochester)
Your site is awesome! Thank you for all your detail entries and humor!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emily!
ReplyDeleteMany people claim the rock was named after the shadow forming an image of "an eagle in flight." But the Militant always thought it resembled the head of an eagle...isn't it obvious? The whole rock looks like an eagle's head! But apparently everyone talks about that shadow...
ReplyDeleteI'm with MA. I have always seen the head of an eagle. I assumed everyone else saw it that way until I was told otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI think the Indians that were here before said that an eagle swooped down and captured an infant baby. While they were chasing it, it hit a rock, which is now the "Eagle Rock", and it dropped the baby safely in the shrubbery below, and left an imprint of the soaring eagle on the rock.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I heard, and I think its printed on the old cartoon map, that you can see at Cindy's and Casa Bianca.
I have been a resident of Eagle Rock since 1943. We used to play, hike in the caves of the Eagle Rock which had evidence of fires used and writings/ picutres on the walls. Eagle Rock is a Eagle flying head first. The head and both wings have eroded over time especially the right wing. I appreciate all who take photos of the Eagle Rock as it is unique for it's shape and location.
ReplyDeleteBack "when" all of us kids played in the flowing stream beneath the Eagle Rock and it would be likely that given good weather, water and natural protection the Eagle Rock could most likely have been home to the earliest inhabitants of Eagle Rock.
Thanks for stopping by, Miss Grey. I'm glad and envious you got to enjoy the rock back in the day. It's being eroded would go a long way in explaining why you need a somewhat good imagination to make out the eagle these days.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Pics! I can remember playing baseball at the eagle rock park when I was a kid in the 70's. My Grandparents lived in Highland park for about 25 years so Ive seen that rock many time.
ReplyDeleteMy mother used to tell me the story about the Eagle stealing the baby and crashing. Brings back very fond memories. Thank you.
We drive to Pasadena from Valley Village quite often and have definitely seen the shadow look more like an eagle in flight. Love the site! (Poet and I didn't even know it.)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt. Siamese cat!
ReplyDelete