Garvanza Pumping Station and Site of Highland Reservoir

Garvanza Pumping Station and Site of Highland Reservoir
Garvanza Pumping Station and Site of Highland Reservoir, photo by Charles J. Fisher, 1988

Garvanza Pumping Station and Site of Highland Reservoir, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #412

Built: 1907  Declared: 01/20/1989

The Highland Reservoir was constructed before 1886, and is the oldest water storage site still serving Los Angeles. It had a capacity of 20.5 million gallons of water spread over 4.5 acres, and was covered with a multi-gabled roof to prevent evaporation (yes, the entire reservoir was covered by a wooden roof). The reservoir has been replaced with a tank, the roof design simulating the original. The reservoir site today serves as a Little League park, a skateboarding park (the Garvanza Skate Park – 2005) and park land. The Mission Revival pumping station, built in 1907, is still in use by the Department of Water and Power.