Skip to main content

Victoria Bernal

Victoria Bernal

With over 120 years of family history in Los Angeles, Victoria Bernal is a chronicler who follows in her mother's footsteps documenting Southern California's past. In 2009, she and her mother started the hugely popular @lahistory Twitter feed, which draws attention to L.A.'s rich history on a daily basis.

Victoria Bernal
Support Provided By
A view of the iconic landmark, the Bradbury Building, showing dark, ornamental grilling and brickwork and layers of stairs.
While the building’s namesake Lewis Bradbury is often referenced in historical accounts, his wife Simona is rarely mentioned alongside him even though she oversaw his business affairs after his death, including the completion of the iconic Bradbury Building.
A coloring page created by the Los Angeles Public Library's Octavia Lab. An illustration of Manuela C. García sitting next to a phonograph. Behind her is a faint sheet music background.
Born in Los Angeles in the late 1860s, Manuela C. García is the voice behind over 100 songs in Charles Lummis' recordings of Southwest musical heritage. Known mostly by historians specializing in 19th-century Mexican American music, her voice connects California's present musical history with its past.
Close up of the Los Angeles Oil Field
To walk the border of the sprawling City of Los Angeles as it is today (about 503 square miles) seems an inconceivable feat for most. But what if that walk circumnavigated the city as it was in 1781 or 1850, when Los Angeles was square-shaped measuring four square leagues?
La Pastorela (1931)
Still performed today, La Pastorela was among the first theatrical productions staged in Southern California.
Map of Pio Pico's lands published by the Pio Pico State Historic Park
If you call L.A., Orange, or San Diego County home, you may well live on one of Pico's former ranchos.
Nebraska State Picnic, 1925
Newcomers from Iowa famously congregated each year in Southern California for their state picnic. Such gatherings were important for migrants from other parts of the world, too.
EL Lindsey (cropped for FB)
L.A. City Councilmember Estelle Lawton Lindsey made history in 1915 when she served as acting mayor for 36 hours.
Balloon Route trolley
In the early 20th century, countless visitors toured Los Angeles on the red cars of the Pacific Electric's Balloon Route.
Map of Newport Harbor (cropped for header)
The Corona del Mar institution, named after Los Angeles land developer and railway baron Moses Sherman, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Overlooking Palm Springs from the Desert Inn Grounds (cropped)
Nellie Coffman opened the Desert Inn in 1909 as a sanatorium for tubercular patients. It soon grew into a famed resort.
libriarians_top.jpg
For National Library Week, we honor the librarians that made Los Angeles a smarter place.
sunsetpool2.jpg
Sunset Magazine's Los Angeles editors introduced readers to Ranch Homes and Mexican food its home design and cooking sections.
Active loading indicator