Photo of the Zanja Madre irrigation system. The ditch was unearthed in February 2000 by Craig Howell and Melody Carver, two history buffs who acquaintances say like to dig things up. The irrigation ditch believed to have been dug in 1781 when Los Angeles was founded, was discovered in Chinatown by the two amateur archeologists. The Zanja Madre system ran from the Los Angeles River for more than a mile to the pueblo's plaza, where the Olvera Street marketplace is now. Residents not only got their drinking water from the ditch, but the surrounding vineyards and farmland were irrigated by its water. The site, where the discovery was made, is referred to by many as the Cornfield--a nod to the past, when the parcel produced tons of corn.
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
