This book is inspired by El Alisal, the handcrafted home of Charles Fletcher Lummis (1859–1928), who was a writer, editor of the L.A. Times, first Los Angeles city librarian, and champion of the American Southwest. Known for his 1,000-mile walk to Los Angeles, he dedicated his life to preserving Native American culture, founding the Southwest Museum, and promoting California’s heritage. Despite his status, Lummis hand-built his house with his son, using boulders from the nearby Arroyo Seco. Known for its mystery and charm, the house includes a hidden attic room, which inspired me to conceal a secret mini-book within the main design, a nod to Lummis’s spirit of curiosity and craftsmanship.
