“NOBODY WALKS IN LA” - DTLA WALKING TOUR

THIS IS ONE YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS — please read thoroughly for all details.

Join us for a guided walking tour of Downtown Los Angeles led by Brande Jackson, Professor of American Studies at CSULB. This immersive experience will take you through both iconic landmarks and hidden gems—places you’ve always been curious about, along with discoveries you didn’t know existed.

This is a comprehensive tour covering approximately 4–5 miles, filled with engaging stories, historical context, and fascinating insights at every turn. It is rated Adventure Level 5, so come prepared with a sense of curiosity and flexibility, as the itinerary may evolve along the way.

Tour Cost: $20 per person
Payment is accepted via Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal and will go directly toward supporting Professor Jackson’s educational initiatives for her high school students.

Payment Options:

• Venmo: @yvonnebrizula
• Zelle: Yvonne Brizula (562-846-5222)
• PayPal: @yvonnespeck

Getting There:
Taking the train is highly recommended—it adds to the experience, especially when arriving at Union Station, which truly feels like stepping into another era.
I’ll be taking the Metrolink OC1661 from Santa Ana, departing at 9:35 AM. For the return, I’ll take OC1668 at 4:27 PM (the last train). If you plan to ride, let me know your departure station—we can coordinate and sit together.
You'll buy your Metrolink ticket on your day of departure. Arrive early to allow time to buy at ticket at the machine. Choose the weekend ticket $10.

If you prefer to drive, parking at Union Station West Lot B, D & G Short-Term Parking is approximately $16. There is a parking lot at Union Station East Short-Term & Long-Term Parking that is $8. It's hard to find.

Meeting Details:

• Time: 11:00 AM
• Location: Outside Union Station West (left side when facing the front of the West building)

We’ll spend about 20 minutes gathering, making introductions, and exploring the station before beginning the tour.

Tour Route:
From Union Station, we’ll explore Downtown LA on foot. If you need to leave early at any point, you can easily access nearby Metro stations (Gold or Red Line) to return.

End Time:
Approximately 4:00 PM, near Union Station.

What to Expect:

• Comfortable walking pace with some hills
• Opportunities for snacks along the way
• A potential lunch stop (possibly at Grand Central Market)

What to Bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• A sense of adventure

DETAILS

“Inspired by the tours previously lead by Dr. Mike Steiner of the CSUF American Studies department, and the book A People's Guide to Los Angeles, the Los Angeles walking tours are designed to provide a link between local history, community, and the ways that urban spaces transform when explored by foot. Tour organizer Brande Jackson teaches in the American Studies departments of both CSUF and CSULB, and also serves as the program director of Living Histories, a non-profit organization devoted to community and creativity. She set out to 'revive' the walking tour tradition of CSUF AMST in early 2016 as part of her 'California Cultures' class, and has since expanded it into a larger community project.
Each walk brings together a mixture of high school and college students with community members, who, as a group, explore the place they collectively call home. The walks emphasize the often overlooked and untold stories that shaped the unique history of Los Angeles, and some tours also emphasize “the city as creative inspiration” via street photography and writing. A key element of the tours, though, is simply helping people see 'their city' in new ways; many participants of the tours comment on how 'they had always meant to go...' to the various stops on the tour, and are surprised by the depth and history that such a small part of a large city has to offer.

The tours happen as part of a larger project coordinated by Living Histories: "Telling the Stories of Where We Are From." Living Histories is currently seeking funding to expand this program, a mixture of Los Angeles history with individual memoir of residents, to a diverse range of communities in the city.