Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
South Central & Exposition Park
South Central LA burst into global consciousness with the rat-a-tat-tat rhythm and rhyme
of some of hip-hop's greatest pioneers in the 1980s, and was suddenly defined by its
gangs, drugs, poverty, crime and drive-by shootings, which never told the whole story.
After WWII over five million African Americans left what at the time was a violently
racist South and moved to northern cities in the Second Great Migration. Some of those
families moved west, from Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas to Los Angeles. They found
manufacturing jobs, bought property and built working-class communities south of down-
town. Life wasn't perfect, but it was a step up. Fast-forward 30 years and suddenly the
high-wage manufacturing jobs dried up, drug addiction soared, families fell apart, guns be-
came accessible, gang violence bloomed, and South Central began to earn its reputation.
But recent investment and expanded rail service has helped turn the tide somewhat.
213-763-3466;
www.nhm.org
; 900 Exposition Blvd; adult/students & seniors/child $12/9/5;
213-744-2109213-744-2109, info 323-724-3623323-724-3623;
www.californiasciencecenter.org
; 700
Exposition Park Dr; IMAX movie adult/child $8.25/5; 10am-5pm; )
, home to the recently de-
commisioned
Space Shuttle Endeavor
. Both are located at
Exposition Park
where the Trojans play football, George Lucas studied film, and Will Ferrell became, well,
Will Ferrell.
For a blast of African American culture find
Leimert Park
(Degnan Blvd & 43rd St)
. A fun
February)
when filmmakers from across the African diaspora congregate for two weeks
each February, and show their films at the
Rave Theaters
(
www.baldwinhillscrenshawplaza.com
; 3650 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd; adult/child $14/7)
. A
wonderful arts and handicrafts bazaar takes over both floors of the attached shopping cen-
ter as well.
adult/under 12yr/teen & senior $7/free/$3;
11am-3pm Fri, 10:30am-3pm Sat, 12:30-3pm Sun;
)
,
one of the world's great folk-art monuments.
