Los Angeles State Historic Park, State historic park in Chinatown, Los Angeles, United States
Los Angeles State Historic Park is a green space with walking paths, picnic areas, and open grounds located near Chinatown in downtown Los Angeles. The park features different sections for strolling and sitting among the surrounding buildings.
The site was the Southern Pacific Transportation Company's River Station from 1876 to 1901, where arrivals from the East first disembarked, earning it the name "Ellis Island of Los Angeles." Corn leaking from train cars sprouted along the tracks, giving the nickname the Cornfield. The 32-acre site became a California state park in 2001.
The nickname "Cornfield" comes from corn that leaked from train cars and sprouted along the tracks of the former River Station. Several plaques in the park recount the history of the Cornfield, Chinatown and Downtown Los Angeles, and community fairs and gatherings are held on the grounds.
The park sits right next to the Chinatown Metro Gold Line station, making it easy to arrive by public transit. Parking is limited, so using the nearby station as your entry point works well.
The site forms part of a larger project transforming the Los Angeles River into a continuous green corridor through the city. This initiative connects different parks and creates habitat for birds and other wildlife in urban settings.
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