Wandering Through LA History at the Lummis Home

Today (May 4, 2025), I checked out Museums of the Arroyo Day, and it was the perfect way to spend a Sunday.

If you haven’t been, it’s a free annual event where some of LA’s oldest and coolest historic homes and museums open their doors to the public. I spent most of my time at the Lummis Home, and wow, what a gem.

For those who don’t know, the Lummis Home (also called El Alisal) is this hand-built stone house that Charles Lummis—the writer, historian, and major LA personality—built back in the late 1800s. It sits right in Highland Park, tucked near the Arroyo Seco, and it has this raw, artistic energy that’s still very much alive today.

Walking through it got me thinking about real estate in a different way. Homes like this remind you that a property is more than just square footage. It’s about legacy, location, and how someone’s vision can shape an entire neighborhood. Highland Park has changed a lot over the years, but what makes it special is that it’s kept so much of its character.

In real estate, we talk a lot about value. And homes with real history? They carry a type of value you can’t always put in a spreadsheet. You feel it in the details—the thick stone walls, the wooden beams, the stories behind the place.

That charm is why buyers continue to fall in love with areas like Highland Park, Mt. Washington, and even parts of El Sereno.

And let’s be real, inventory is low and competition is still high. If you’re looking for something with soul and you love neighborhoods with history, events like this are a great way to get to know what’s out there.