The Mariposa Street Bridge
National Register of Historic Places
Designed for conveyance of horses and people, the Mariposa Street Bridge is significant for its association with the equestrian history of Los Angeles County.
Situated at the nexus of the cities of Glendale, Burbank, and Los Angeles, the Mariposa Street Bridge spans a channelized portion of the Los Angeles River, leading from a unique commercial-equestrian area historically known as the Riverbottom, a unique residential and commercial equestrian area that includes the cities of Burbank (Burbank Rancho) and Glendale, as well as the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, into Griffith Park. The Riverbottom has long provided equestrian support services like stables, feed stores, horse rentals, and riding academies. Griffith Park includes over fifty miles of bridle trails.
The Mariposa Street Bridge has been in continuous use since its erection in 1939. It is an essential point of conveyance, and the only historic bridge providing equestrian access over the Los Angeles River into Griffith Park. The bridge supports the ongoing, historic equestrian use of the neighborhood and equestrian community more generally.
The Mariposa Street Bridge was constructed in response to flood-control work and channelization of the Los Angeles River.
The bridge is located entirely within the City of Burbank and links the equestrian neighborhoods of the Burbank and Glendale Ranchos and Los Angeles Equestrian Center on the north side of the river with Griffith Park’s equestrian trails at the south side of the river.
The bridge retains a high degree of integrity from when it was constructed and is nearly identical to its original appearance.
Historical Information quoted from National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Completed by Historians Jenna Snow and Kathryn McGee
In 1938, the Burbank City Council voted on a resolution to construct the requested bridge.
At a Council meeting, a letter of support penned by actor and singing cowboy Gene Autry was read, along with thousands of names presented on a petition.
The Council passed a resolution requesting the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and United States Engineers
“construct a crossing which could be used by horsemen and pedestrians in order to gain entrance to Griffith Park.”
“The Mariposa Street Bridge retains integrity of feeling and association.
It literally bridges the equestrian areas on the north side of the bridge with the trails in Griffith Park on the south side of the bridge and continues to serve the function and equestrian audience for which it was designed and constructed.”
— Historians Jenna Snow and Kathryn McGee