German-American History

Between 1934 and 1957, most of this area in Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park, west of Dunsmore Avenue and south of Honolulu Avenue, was a private park owned by the German-American League. The private park, named Hindenburg Park in memorial of former German President Paul Von Hindenburg, was a center for German culture. In 1939, due to growing anti-German sentiment during World War II, the League changed the name of their park to La Crescenta Picnic Grounds.

During the years of private operation, the grounds held hundreds of elaborate German cultural celebrations, featuring bands, plays, dances, and parades, with literally thousands of participants each weekend. These festivities included weddings, church services, Easter celebrations, Mayfest, and Oktoberfest. A kitchen at the park, along with food and beverage vendors provided traditional German fare for every occasion. Although the private park was used for many joyful celebrations, it was also used for more controversial activities.

In the years before World War II, the park was also sometimes used for the promotion of Nazi beliefs through political rallies and the Sutter Youth Camp. At this and similar summer camps in other states, American youngsters were taught physical fitness but were also indoctrinated into theories of Aryan superiority. "Aryan



superiority" was part of Adolf Hitler's racist ideology. It led to persecution and murder of European Jews and any other group or individual who opposed Hitler's Third Reich regime.
As Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power in Germany, supporters of Hitler at times paraded in this park. However, once the U.S. entered the war against Nazi Germany in 1941, many patriotic German-Americans joined the U.S. armed forces to fight Nazism.

Although the events of the 20th century may seem distant, there continues to be a need to guard against all forms of hatred, racism, and totalitarian ideologies of all types. The American ideals of justice and equal opportunity still require our vigilant support.

In 1957 the private park land was purchased by the County of Los Angeles and folded into the larger neighboring Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park to the east.

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Tuna Canyon Detention Station, a War Memorial
The Great Flood of 1934
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Bolton Hall
McGroarty Home
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Miss American Green Cross
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