Los Encinos State Historic Park, at the corner of Balboa and Ventura Blvd, in Encino California, was, until the late 19th Century, the hub of human habitation in the Southern San Fernando Valley. This early California rancho includes the original nine-room de la Osa Adobe, the two-story limestone Garnier House, the Reyes Hut, natural springs, and a lake (shaped like a Spanish guitar.) The park contains exhibits on early California ranch life.
Because of the ready source of water, Indians of the tribe now called the "Gabrielino" or "Tongva" lived at the site of the park for hundreds, and perhaps thousands of years. Over a million artifacts have been found in the area, including European beads which may have been gifts from Gaspar de Portola, who, in 1769, led the first European expedition to reach the San Fernando Valley. This valuable location passed through many hands, going from Indian to Mission to Californio to French Basque control through the 19th Century.
