Just off the 110 freeway in Los Angeles is an architectural labor of love nestled among a garden of succulents. Lummis House was built in the late 19th Century by Charles Lummis. The entire house was built by hand from stones and wood taken from the nearby riverbed and forest. Lummis founded the Southwest Museum, and was the first city editor of the Los Angeles Times. He was also a librarian, author, and an activist who fought for the historic preservation of buildings.

Lummis was inspired by California Missions and Indian Pueblos. The interior of the house features beautiful wood carvings and handcrafted furniture. The walls of the home are meant to look like adobe, but Lummis was concerned that real adobe wouldn’t last long enough, so the walls are actually made of concrete and wood.

The Historical Society of Southern California is now headquartered here, where they sell their publications, and plants out in the garden. Admission to Lummis House is free.