The mural covers a total length of 2,754 feet along the Tujunga Wash channel.
Judith F. Baca founded the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) specifically to facilitate this project.
More than 400 local youth were employed through a city program to assist in the mural's creation.
The mural's narrative includes specific focus on the internment of Japanese Americans and the development of the city's indigenous communities.
The project was initiated as a way to unite diverse neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley through shared historical storytelling.
The Great Wall of Los Angeles is a half-mile-long mural located in the Tujunga Wash flood control channel in Valley Glen. Conceived by artist Judith F. Baca and the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC), the project spanned from 1977 to 1983. It features an extensive pictorial narrative of California history, specifically highlighting the diverse contributions of marginalized groups. Over 400 at-risk youth worked alongside artists, historians, and scholars to paint the segments. The mural spans chronological history from prehistoric times to the 1950s. It stands as one of the longest murals in the world, utilizing the concrete walls of the river channel as its canvas. The artwork is maintained through the SPARC mural conservation program to address environmental weathering. It serves as both an educational landmark and a functional component of the urban flood infrastructure.
The elevated viewing bridge that crosses the channel provides the best panoramic angle of the mural segments.
Park on the residential streets adjacent to the park and walk down into the wash area.
Bring sun protection as the channel is largely unshaded during the day.
Plan to visit during clear weather as the walkway within the channel can become inaccessible after heavy rains.
Do not attempt to walk in the channel floor if there is any active water flow or recent storm debris.
Respect the residential neighborhood surroundings and stay within designated walking paths.
