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Regalado
Emily Regalado
English 114B
Professor Kubler
11 February 2015
Fieldwork Ethnography of a Public Space
The space I reviewed was The Autry National Center, in Los
Angeles. It is an area viewed differently to people, and the way people
use it differentiates as well. As a student, I countlessly went on
fieldtrips to museums such as this one. The Autry, like most museums
is so widely attracted to tourists because of its many Western-like
aspects that can appeal to people in certain ways. Gene Autry built it
in 1988 and was designed to interpret the Western Heritage. Besides
their exhibitions, they offer activities for children, lectures, a theatre, a
separate south museum, and special events on designated days.
These are special attributes that help promote their space, which
entitles people to go and adversely use it.
The museum is located directly across the street from the Los
Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. With all of its popularity, we
decided to explore the area and research why it was such a populated
area. One factor recalls for the location, it is built on a park, and in
walking distance of a zoo. It enables for families to be drawn to it.
Although it has been remodeled several times, it still carries its cultural
history throughout the museum. Older elements seemed to be present,

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since so much technology seems to be at peak levels for other
museums. Although it is a generally populated area, for a Friday
afternoon, there seemed to be minimal amounts of people present.
Those that were in attendance were mesmerized by its natural
theme throughout the museum.
An interviewer from Colorado mentioned how she comes to the
museum whenever she comes to Los Angeles because of its beauty.
She felt that it was a getaway from the congested L.A. The way she
observed the space was not only to tour, but to live in the moment.
She went on about how it is such a beautiful and quiet exhibited place.
She compared where she currently resides to Los Angeles, a place she
visits consecutively. One topic she always went over was the feel, the
vibe. She described how the locals were so fond of places like this, and
loved the idea of Urbanism when we discussed our Space project. She
loved the idea of local grown things, and inspiring people who grow
their own food. At this moment she was not talking about the museum
as a whole, but the feeling she gets from being in spaces such as this
one. The older woman, who chose to remain anonymous, enjoyed the
natural feel, without leaving the city. Another interviewee, Tony Padilla,
whom we met in the gift shop, had just finished his tour around the
museum. While he was not initially there to tour, he mentioned how he
loved going there as a child. While he was there for other reasons (i.e.
to get over terrible news he received earlier) he felt that it was a place

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to go and relax and loved the nature and tranquility. The way he
viewed the space was a calm and serene place, something many
people could use it for. The last person we interviewed was there only
for a job he was doing, he admitted to not paying any attention to the
scenery and not being drawn to the space. As this person, Levance,
was only there for a play he was performing in, he revealed that he
would presumably not return.
From this investigation I can conclude that the Autry is a space
widely used to observe its beauty and tranquility. With the ironic ideal
that since it is based off the West, a generally violent time period; it is
a place people go to observe nature, appreciate its beauty and go to
unwind, and take time away from their daily lives.