Sanctuary for a Heritage

Those who scoff and call the idea of San Fernando Valley history an oxymoron clearly have never stayed long. Even the most cursory tour--from the front seat of a car, for instance--reveals myriad street names--Lankershim, Mulholland, Van Nuys or Chandler, perhaps--honoring the long-dead barons whose politics and conniving were every bit as compelling as those of the royal courts.

And closer observation--astride a favorite pony, maybe--reveals a rich unwritten past. Last week, the California State Park and Recreation Commission rode to the rescue of land tucked in the Santa Susana Pass and declared it a historic park. The marks of this land date to before the time of Spanish explorers, when native tribes ground smooth divots into rocks as they mashed food. And there are more modern hints of the past: etchings perhaps carved by someone waiting for a stagecoach or just resting for the night.

Now that the park is named, the trick is preserving these tatters of history for another generation. Some supporters worry that vandals may strike some of the sites. Sadly, there are indeed visitors who think a can of paint only improves already beautiful vistas or that an artifact looks better over the fireplace. To those who might consider such destruction and thievery, think again: Prison and steep fines await. History has won the day, let it carry on for another few hundred years.