Many of us remember how quickly the Autry Museum sprang into existence back in the late 80’s.  In a not-so-public process, the City gave the private Autry foundation a long-term lease on ten prime acres in Griffith Park at the rate of $1 per year.  It all happened so fast that many Park users had no knowledge about it until ground was broken.  Now, another fast-track project in Griffith Park is in the making.

In 2003, the City’s oldest museum, the iconic Southwest Museum, merged with the Autry.  The Southwest’s main building had some unfortunate, but fixable, structural problems because of the Northridge earthquake.  Those problems combined with other short-term financial woes led it to the merger table.  Initial promises were made to keep and revitalize the Southwest at its current scenic location on Mt. Washington.  What seemed to be obvious when the merger was struck -- that the two museums would be administered separately at separate locations -- is now severely compromised. 

A 150-200 million dollar fund-raising campaign is silently underway to fund an expansion of the Autry Museum in Griffith Park in order to relocate the Southwest Museum.  According to preliminary sketches seen by some, there are plans to nearly double the size of the Autry.  Then, in a second phase, a private “Institute for Study of the American West” is planned that would include an underground parking structure reaching all the way across the current lawn area to the golf course at the south. Yet, no master plan has been publicly made available to this date as one might expect, given that  the property is solidly within the boundaries of a public City park.

A few weeks ago the LA TIMES reported, “…the building footprint will be maintained, but plans call for doubling the exhibition space.”  Well, in fact, not true.  In fact, Autry CEO John Gray uses the word “footprint” to refer to the ten acres of land, not the actual building.  The Times reporter (like other intelligent persons) assumed “footprint” referred to the building when she got her information.  Don’t be fooled.  The Autry wants to almost double the size of the building itself  And they’d like to break ground next year.

First, let’s look at the implications for Griffith Park.  The Zoo/Autry area of the Park is already on the “slippery slope”.  One might be tempted to say, “There’s already development here, so what’s the problem with adding to it?”  Everyone wants a chunk of Griffith Park!  Indeed, now that the Zoo and the Autry have their stakes in the ground, it appears hard to control their growth.  However, if we continue to open the door to private institutions, such as museums, schools, and foundations, we have opened the door to commercialism, corporate partnerships, and all the other things that a park (our “Urban Wilderness”) is not about.

Furthermore, the expansion will be costly.  No doubt, there will be expanded opportunities for the museum to charge the public for enhanced services, such as a nicer restaurant, additional meeting and facility rentals, and more feature exhibits and programs.  But this leaves fewer opportunities in the Park that are truly “free to the masses”, which is what Colonel Griffith specified when the City accepted his gift of the land the Park now occupies.

Also, if equestrians, hikers and runners weren’t already displaced by the current Autry structure, they most certainly would be displaced when the rest of the ten acre plot is developed.  There will be more traffic and an increased danger for bicyclists and pedestrians using the park for recreational activities.  Mr. Gray stated on KPCC radio that the expansion will attract another 600,000 visitors a year!

Just as important, let’s look at the consequent impact on the Mt. Washington / Arroyo Seco area.  To many, the loss of their treasured Museum, as the landmark white adobe structure boldly towering over the Arroyo Seco, is a sad and shameful outcome.  This area is the heart and soul of the early history of Los Angeles.  The distinction and legacy of hosting LA’s first and oldest museum in the Arroyo is an important consideration for all Angelinos.

The Southwest’s founder, Charles Lummis, put together a vast collection of fine artifacts of the Southwest and raised funds for the museum.  Not far from the Museum is El Alisal, Lummis’s home in the Arroyo, built by him at the turn of the century.  Certainly for any of us today, planning a tour of significant sites for out-of-town guests, a favorite choice is a visit to both locations on the same day -- first to El Alisal, and then the Southwest.  These two sites are so historically integrated that one must question the logic of separating them geographically.

The City brought the Metro Gold Line to the Southwest, and dedicated a light rail passenger station in its honor, an easy walk from the Museum.  This development allowed over 100,000 students, as well as far-away residents to reach the Mt. Washington campus easily, and in an environmentally-friendly manner.  Griffith Park’s access, on the other hand, is mainly vehicular, with no nearby Metro connection.

The Southwest Museum operated continuously since 1907.  Last year, a funeral procession was staged in protest, as the doors closed. 

Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition has a vision for rehabilitating the Southwest Museum, using some of the funds that are currently being raised for the Griffith expansion for the Mt. Washington venue instead.   Their plan helps us protect Griffith Park by significantly reducing the Autry’s expansion and negating the severe impacts to the park of such an expansion, particularly increased traffic. 

Many organizations are joining to support The Friends of the Southwest Museum, both financially and in spirit.  Without an outcry by the public, it seems that the writing is on the wall: the new home for the Southwest will be in Griffith Park.  Please let our board members know how you feel about this issue.

For more information about the Friends of the Southwest Museum, you may go to their website at: www.FriendsOfTheSouthwestMuseum.com.