Neighborhood Spotlight: Mt. Washington keeps a rustic slant

"Located just upstream from where the Arroyo Seco and Los Angeles River merge, Mount Washington has been home base to a former mayor, a world-famous yogi and the official witch of Los Angeles County. The Arroyo Seco - which, after all, begins near a place called Devil's' Gate - has always been a location known for the offbeat, a neighborhood that was keeping it weird before Portland, Ore., or Austin, Texas, ever was."

"Mount Washington first entered the history books in 1909, when Robert Marsh built a hotel atop a mountain just a few trolley stops south of the ostrich farms and resorts of South Pasadena and Garvanza. Below the hotel, he plotted lots with spectacular views, lured potential buyers up to the mountain on his short-lived funicular train and let the vistas of basin, mountains and sea work their wiles."

"The neighborhood below the summit has over the years become a pleasing polyglot of architectural styles, with Craftsman homes and designs by Richard Neutra, Gregory Ain and John Lautner clinging side by side to the rugged defiles of the mountain that has the third steepest street in the city. In keeping with the free-spirited vibe of the arroyo, many artists make their homes in the neighborhood, with nearby galleries offering frequent shows of local works."

Mount Washington emerged as a neighborhood in 1909 when Robert Marsh constructed a hotel atop the mountain and developed surrounding lots with scenic views. He built a funicular train to transport potential buyers up the mountain to showcase the vistas of basin, mountains, and sea. The hotel itself proved less successful than the residential development and eventually became the international headquarters of the Self-Realization Fellowship. The neighborhood evolved into an architecturally diverse area featuring Craftsman homes alongside designs by renowned architects Richard Neutra, Gregory Ain, and John Lautner. The area maintains a free-spirited character consistent with the Arroyo Seco's eccentric reputation, attracting artists and creative residents who contribute to the neighborhood's cultural identity through galleries and local artwork.

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