Exposition Park (urban park)
Exposition Park is a in the south region of Los Angeles, California, in the Exposition Park neighborhood. Bounded by Exposition Boulevard to the north, South Figueroa Street to the east, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the south and Vermont Avenue to the west, it is directly south of the main campus of the University of Southern California.
The park was established in 1872 as an agricultural fairground, the park is now notable for containing several significant museums and sports venues, such as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, BMO Stadium, the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the California African American Museum.
The park is a public open space, managed by the Sixth District Agricultural Association. It has served as the Olympic Park on two occasions and will again in 2028.
Features
Exposition Park houses the following:- LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium
- BMO Stadium
- * Home of Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC
- Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
- Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- * Home of USC Trojans football
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
- California Science Center
- * IMAX Theater
- * Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center - Home of Space Shuttle Endeavour
- Exposition Park Rose Garden
- California African American Museum
- Wallis Annenberg Building, formerly the Los Angeles Armory
- Concrete hand and footprints signed by Ed Begley Jr. of St. Elsewhere and other actors from medical TV shows such as Ben Casey
- EXPO Center and the Soboroff Sports Field. Originally managed in 2006 by Bentley Management Group, the Soboroff Sports Field was relocated to the contiguous parcel in 2018 to allow construction of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
- Science Center School and Amgen Center for Science Learning
Former venues
History
The site served as an agricultural fairground from 1872 to 1910. In 1880, John Edward, Ozro W. Childs, and former California Governor John G. Downey persuaded the State of California to purchase in Los Angeles to foster agriculture in the Southland. Farmers sold their harvest and arces on the grounds, while horses, dogs, and even camels competed on a racetrack where a rose garden now sits and blooms. In 1909, a group of civic-minded individuals led by former Pasadena Mayor Horace Dobbins set about reforming the park, removing the racetrack and other activities and replacing them with gardens and museums.At the 2028 Summer Olympics, the Coliseum will host Athletics as well as the main closing ceremony. The BMO Stadium will be one of the soccer venues.