Audio Guide: Los Angeles Downtown Walking Tour (Self Guided), Los Angeles

The history of Los Angeles – "a bright and guilty place," as Orson Welles described it – began on September 4, 1781, when a group of 44 Spanish settlers established a hamlet on the territory of present-day Downtown LA which they called “The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels” (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles).

The land became part of Mexico in 1821, following the Mexican War of Independence, and after the Mexican–American War, in 1848, the whole of California was purchased by the United States. This transformation entailed significant changes including the completion of the Santa Fe railroad which linked Los Angeles to Chicago, in 1885, subsequently bringing the flood of migrants ("overlanders") from the Lower Midwest and South of the country. During the 1880s and 90s, LA's population exploded nearly 10-fold, from 11,000 to 100,000.

By 1920, the city turned into a large metropolitan area, with Downtown LA at its center. Following World War II, and particularly throughout the 1960s, the Downtown suffered a bit of a decline.

However, in the early 2000s, the neighborhood picked up again, becoming especially popular with artists due to the low rent, abundance of loft spaces, and numerous vacancies. As of 2009, Downtown LA has been enjoying a new life, notably described as "a neighborhood with an increasingly hip and well-heeled residential population".

Apart from its film industry, which made Los Angeles world-famous – indeed, "We are all citizens of Los Angeles because we have seen so many movies," D.J. Waldie once said – the city has a strong economic base in tourism. You can see droves of tourists regularly go up and down Angels Flight Railway, or climb 70 floors up at the iconic OUE Skyspace to appreciate "the most beautiful city in the world, as long as it's seen at night and from a distance," according to Roman Polanski.

Those keen on music can't pass The Grammy Museum either, with its interactive exhibits. At some point, having toured the multiple landmarks, visitors often stop for a quick snack at the bustling Grand Central Market or grab a cup of coffee at the historic Pantry Cafe (operational non-stop since 1924!!!).

If you’re looking for a healthy dose of unique architecture, great food, fascinating museums, and countless hours of entertainment, you will find all this and more in Downtown LA – rest assured. Just embark on this self-guided walking tour and explore the heart of Los Angeles, “a microcosm of the United States” to your heart's content, learning about its past, present, and future.