Resource Description

Resource Summary

Names
Upper Franklin Canyon Park Historic District (Primary)
Franklin Canyon (Alternative)
Resource Types
District
Important Dates
No dates recorded
Keywords (Subjects)
Department of Water and Power
Works Progress Administration
Franklin Canyon Reservoir
1960s
1950s
1940s
1930s
andy griffith show
film
Star Trek
entertainment
filming location
motion picture
movie
television
Bonanza
Lassie

Location Information

Addresses
Location Description
No descriptions recorded
Administrative Areas
Bel Air - Beverly Crest Community Plan Area (Community Plan Area)
Los Angeles City Council District 4 (Council District)
BEL AIR-BEVERLY CREST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL (Neighborhood Council)
BEVERLY CREST NEIGHBORHOOD (Neighborhood)

Classification

Classification
No classifications recorded
Related Features
No features recorded

Resource Descriptions

General Description
The Upper Franklin Canyon Park is located on Franklin Canyon Drive, less than a mile south of Mulholland Drive in the Santa Monica Mountains. The park is made up of about eleven acres. Most of the improvements in the park were completed by the WPA in 1940, including the retaining wall, the road around the lake and the redwood and pine trees. Other improvements in the park include a system of concrete culverts, tunnels, and walls designed to protect the reservoir from erosion, silt and water contamination. After the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, the strength of the reservoir system was studied. It was decided that both reservoirs would be removed from service and replaced with a new reservoir, Franklin 2. The efforts of conservationist Sooky Goldman and Congressman Howard Berman resulted in the creation of the Franklin Canyon Park in 1981 and the preservation of the upper reservoir and other improvements from 1940.

Summary of Significance
The Upper Franklin Canyon Park was recorded for its strong association with the entertainment industry. Franklin Canyon, and the area around the reservoir in particular, has been used as a film and television location since the 1930s. At that time, the beauty of Franklin Canyon captured the attention of the entertainment industry. It has since been a frequent filming location. Claudette Colbert's famous hitchhiking scene from "It Happened One Night" was filmed here in 1935; the lake was used for the opening credits and reoccurring scenes on "The Andy Griffith Show." Scenes from "Bonanza," "Lassie," and "Star Trek" were also filmed here, among others. The period of significance for the district for its association with the entertainment industry is 1935 to 1964, coinciding with its most iconic film and television appearances. The Upper Franklin Canyon Park is also significant as a reservoir constructed by the Department of Water and Power. It was constructed in 1914 and used to distribute water from the Owens Valley. The period of significance for its association with the history of water and power is 1914, the year of its construction, to 1940, the year the WPA constructed improvements on the property, which expanded its use.

External System References

SurveyLA ID: f863824e-3d6a-41fa-9b8b-8d184e41fd58

Resource Significance

Evaluation Details

Date Evaluated
2013-08-22
Context/Theme
Entertainment Industry, 1908-1980
Filming Locations Associated with the Motion Picture and Television Broadcasting, 1908-1980
Site
Filming Location
Eligibility Standards
  • May be the long-term filming location of a significant television production
  • Original use may have changed
  • May be the filming location of an early motion picture
  • Retains most of the essential physical and character-defining features from the period of significance
  • Filming location of a significant motion picture or television production during the period of significance
  • Motion picture or television production must be proven to be significant within the entertainment industry
  • Should retain integrity of Location, Feeling, and Association from the period of significance
    • Integrity Aspects
    Materials
    Workmanship
    Feeling
    Association
    Setting
    Design
    Retains sufficient integrity to convey significance
    Location
    California Historic Resources Status Codes (explanation of codes)
    3S
    3CS
    5S3
    Significance Statement
    Franklin Canyon, and the area around the reservoir in particular, has been used as a film and television location since the 1930s.
    Periods of Significance
    From: 1935-01-01
    To: 1964-12-31
    Date Evaluated
    2013-08-22
    Context/Theme
    Public and Private Institutional Development, 1850-1980
    Government Infrastructure and Services, 1850-1980
    Municipal Water and Power, 1916-1980
    Reservoirs, Dams and Water Supply Infrastructure, 1916-1980
    Institutional - Infrastructure
    Reservoir
    Eligibility Standards
  • Played an important role in the history and development of water and power in Los Angeles
  • Is associated with Los Angeles Gas and Electric Corp., Bureau of Power and Light or the Department of Water and Power
  • Retains most of the essential character-defining features of the type from the period of significance
  • Should retain integrity of Location, Design, Feeling, Materials and Association
    • Integrity Aspects
    Workmanship
    Feeling
    Association
    Design
    Location
    Retains sufficient integrity to convey significance
    Setting
    Materials
    California Historic Resources Status Codes (explanation of codes)
    3S
    5S3
    3CS
    Significance Statement
    An early component of the system designed to distribute water from the Owens Valley.
    Periods of Significance
    From: 1914-01-01
    To: 1940-12-31

    Related Resources

    Related Historic Resources

    Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir Treatment Plant (Structure, District Non-Contributor, is a non-contributor to / has as a non-contributor)
    Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir Maintenance Shop (Building, District Contributor, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir (District Contributor, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    Heavenly Pond (west of reservoir) (District Contributor, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    2300 Lake Drive (southwest corner of the reservoir) (Building, District Potential Contributor, is a potential contributor to / has as a possible contributor)

    Related Historic Districts

    None

    Related Activities

    None

    Related Historic Events

    None

    Related People/Organizations

    GPA Consulting, Inc. (Surveying Firm, was surveyed by / surveyed)

    Related Information Resources

    Images
    Documents
    SurveyLA: Bel Air-Beverly Crest Historic Resources Survey Report (Document/Text, is referred to in / refers to)

    SurveyLA

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    Office of Historic Resources

    Office of Historic Resources
    Department of City Planning
    221 N. Figueroa Street, Suite 1350
    Los Angeles, CA 90012
    (213) 847-3676 phone
    Email: planning.historicplacesla@lacity.org
    http://www.preservation.lacity.org
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