Mount Washington

The boundaries of Mt. Washington are roughly defined by Division Street on the west, El Paso Drive and Avenue 50 on the northeast, Marmion Way on the southeast, and Isabel street on the southwest. One of many beautiful neighborhoods in northeast L.A., Mt. Washington's hills provide mounds of green. Different parts of the neighborhood provide views of downtown L.A., the San Gabriel mountains, tranquil canyons, hillsides, and valleys. Adjacent neighborhoods include Glassell Park to the northwest, Eagle Rock to the north, Highland Park to the northeast, Montecito Heights to the southeast, across the Arroyo Seco, and Cypress Park to the southwest. From Mt. Washington views span from the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles Basin to the Pacific Ocean.

Mt. Washington is split between Los Angeles City Council districts 1 and 14 and is part of California's 31st congressional district. The neighborhood lies mostly within ZIP code 90065, with an eastern portion within 90042.

History

Mt. Washington was founded in 1909 as a subdivision laid out by real estate developer Robert Marsh. Marsh built the Mt. Washington Hotel at the summit of Mt. Washington, and the Los Angeles and Mount Washington Railway Company was soon established as a funicular railway up the hill as an alternative to constructing roads up the area's steep hillsides. The railway operated until January 1919.

As Los Angeles grew outward from its core, Mt. Washington was eventually absorbed into the city proper. 

In the 1950s and 1960s Modernist homes, similar to those found in the Hollywood Hills and Brentwood were built in the district. During the 70's and 80's, the "Hill" attracted a bohemian subculture. Today the neighborhood still attracts those involved in the arts.

In recent years, many home buyers have become attracted to the area as a relatively affordable alternative to the Westside and its proximity to Downtown LA. 

Landmarks

  • Southwest Museum
  • World Headquarters of the Self-Realization Fellowship
  • Eldred Street, between Avenue 50 and Cross Avenue on the northeast side of Mt. Washington, with a slope of 33% grade, is one of the three steepest streets in Los Angeles and one of the steepest streets in the world (Baldwin Street, Dunedin, New Zealand is 35%). 
  • Mount Washington Elementary School, a hilltop campus with beautiful views where students "consistently score among the top schools in Los Angeles on the Academic Performance Index."

Some of this information is courtesy of wikipedia.com