Visiting The Lummis House

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Los Angeles is home to a myriad of historic homes. It’s one of my favorite delights to tour the various structures and learn about their historical significance. In my years exploring I’ve visited several houses and have found something to love in each and every one of them. To pick a favorite is near impossible. The Bembridge House, the Adamson House, the Lanterman House, the Banning Museum, the Gamble House, Rancho Los Alamitos and the Homestead Museum are a few standouts. Recently, I visited another location to add to that list – the Lummis Home & Garden.

This magnificent stone structure was hand built by Charles Fletcher Lummis over 100 years ago and was named El Alisal after the alder and sycamore groves that surround it.

Charles F. Lummis was a true Renaissance man. He was a poet, a journalist (and first City Editor at the LA Times), a historian, a champion of Native American rights, a photographer and a librarian. He knew several notable people of the era and guests at El Alisal include John Muir, John Philip Sousa and Will Rogers.

As magnificent as the structure is from the exterior it’s equally as beautiful inside.

In all the places I’ve visited I’ve never seen anything like the Lummis House. The craftsmanship that went into the interior is simply incredible. Take these windows, for instance.

Lummis himself took these photographs and created window panes from them. They surround the main windows of the house and are fascinating to look at. Also fascinating are the fireplaces.

And the woodwork.

Even Lummis’ desk is an item of intrigue.

I could wander around this house for hours.  It’s a shame that it’s not more well known as it is really one of LA’s top treasures.