Did you know that Los Angeles is a flood basin?

The two photographs are from the 1916 flood in Orange County.  Without the extensive work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the entire LA basin would struggle with water control.  We have dams, levees, man-made rivers, and almost anything else you can think of to control rainwater, the ocean, and other natural elements!

Throughout the month of July, the National Archives at Riverside is taking the opportunity to share images, documents, and records that celebrate our local history.  As the archives that holds permanent federal records for Southern California, Arizona, and Clark County, we have records from the states’ Territorial eras, records relating to the development of the region as a center of commerce and culture, and records depicting the natural beauty and built environments of our unique home.  This July, join us in celebrating our heritage as Americans and our heritage as stewards of the Pacific Southwest!