Itinerary: Exposition Park Exposed

Only a few miles south of downtown Los Angeles, there was once a mustard field, an agricultural fairground and mansions belonging to the city’s most prominent families.

Of course, that was more than 100 years ago.

Today, the area known as Exposition Park contains a mix of the old and the new: Queen Anne-style homes within blocks of the new California Science Center and the 3-D Imax theater.

Friday

Start by getting a taste of the past. The area north of the University of Southern California campus is now dominated by student housing and commercial strips, but there are architectural jewels embedded in the neighborhood.

Along West 27th Street, west of Hoover Street, are a handful of Queen Anne-style houses (at 1204, 1160 and 1163, also 2703 S. Hoover St.) that date from the 1890s. A Craftsman at 1194 has Tudor touches and was built in 1904.

Jog north on Hoover Street, follow Adams Boulevard east and then explore what was the heart of the old-money homes. The 20-acre site was laid out in 1895 as a residential park for 13 houses and is now the campus of Mount St. Mary’s College.

Though the college offers tours only at Christmas, it’s certainly worth walking by 8 Chester Place. Known as the Doheny mansion, it was completed in 1900 and was later home to the oil magnate Edward Doheny and his family. Across the street at No. 7 is the Wilson House, an 1897 structure that combines Mission and Islamic styles.

Saturday

Kick off the day with a one-hour walking tour of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (3939 S. Figueroa St. $4, $3 seniors, $2 students, $1 ages 12 and younger. [213] 765-6347). Tours are offered at 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Highlights include the locker room, the field and a fancy new press box.

A national historic landmark, the Coliseum has been home to USC football since it was built in 1923 for less than $1 million. John F. Kennedy delivered his acceptance speech there during the 1960 Democratic National Convention. The Summer Olympics were there in 1932 and 1984. Pope John Paul II addressed the crowd there in 1932 and 1987. And maybe, someday, it’ll hold another NFL team.

Afterward, stroll through Exposition Park. Take your pick among the new California Science Center, the California African American Museum (both free) and the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (admission $8, $5.50 seniors/students, $2 ages 5-12) as a place to spend the afternoon, leaving room for a rest in the rose garden.

End big with a screening of an Imax movie at the Science Center ($3.75-$7.50. [213] 744-2014). “Everest” and “Cosmic Voyage” are in the standard style while “Encounter in the Third Dimension” and “Into the Deep” are in 3-D.

Sunday

Stroll around the campus of USC, the oldest private university in the West. The school opened in 1880 with 12 teachers and 53 students. The original two-story wooden building was moved recently for a third time, and most recently was home to the alumni association.

Other interesting spots: the George Lucas Instructional Building, part of the School of Cinema-Television. Lucas, the creator of “Star Wars,” is one of the school’s famous alums. Others are Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis, John Singleton and James Ivory.

Finish up with the 6th Annual Women’s Theater Festival at the year-old 24th Street Theater (1117 24th St. $15, $12 students/seniors, $5 ages 12 and younger. [323] 660-TKTS or [818] 752-2225).