Altadena residents are partnering with the Los Angeles Conservancy to create the most comprehensive record yet of the community’s historic and cultural landmarks—and they need your help. The effort, spurred by recent fire damage, aims to document not just buildings, but the stories and traditions that make Altadena unique.
The Los Angeles Conservancy is launching a community-wide effort to map Altadena’s heritage, from historic buildings to cherished local traditions.
- The Conservancy began documenting fire damage in January, but quickly realized Altadena lacked a comprehensive historic resource survey.
- The project will map both physical landmarks and “intangible heritage” like community traditions and oral histories.
- Residents are encouraged to share their knowledge and participate in upcoming public meetings.
- Just 12 historic resources were identified within the Eaton Fire’s perimeter, three of which were destroyed.
What constitutes a historic resource? Historic resource surveys, like the city of Los Angeles’s extensive survey, systematically research and identify important buildings based on design, age, and cultural significance. These surveys influence land use planning and preservation efforts.
The L.A. Conservancy realized the extent of the data gap while mapping the impact of the Eaton Fire, which began January 20, 2024. “What it realized for us is that in the city of L.A., there had been good survey data that existed prior to the fire,” said Adrian Scott Fine, CEO of the Conservancy. “In Altadena, it was much less so. In many ways, we didn’t even know what we lost.”
While some records exist—a 2020 county-run African American historic resources survey and a database maintained by Altadena Heritage—a complete overview has been missing. Fine explained, “This is the way for us to now go forward and say, OK, here’s what is still surviving. What’s the story? Why is it important to acknowledge that and tell that story?”
The expanded mapping effort, which began in early 2025, has already identified hundreds of historic resources impacted by the Eaton Fire. L.A. County planning documents show that of the resources within the fire’s perimeter, 12 were identified as historic, with three sustaining damage. The Conservancy hopes a more thorough understanding of Altadena’s heritage will help mitigate future losses in disasters.
“We traditionally are focused on the built environment — historic buildings, communities, neighborhoods,” Fine said. “We will continue doing that, but I think it’s amplified even more so for us [that] real heritage comes from people.”
The project will also include “cultural asset mapping,” identifying locations significant to artists and legacy businesses. Altadena residents and local organizations are encouraged to participate and share what places and traditions matter most to them. Details about the upcoming public meeting will be announced soon.
