text & photos by D'Lynn Waldron
La Señora Research Institute is located in the beautiful Spanish rancho-syle home built in the golden age of Hollywood by the Latino opera singer and movie star Jose Mojica. The Mojica Hacienda is in Santa Monica Canyon and set in spacious gardens that have a tranquility centuries removed from the modern world.
One of the activities of La Sénora is concert galas of classical and historic music in the living room designed by Jose Mojica for concerts. Another activity is screening classic movies in La Sénora's private theatre, often attended by the Hollywood people associated with the movies, who join the guests for refreshments and reminiscences in the gardens.
La Sénora Institute is dedicated to research and education related to the rancho era history of the area from the 1770s to the 1880s. This was the 1839 Mexican Land Grant Rancho Boca de Santa Monica and is where the Pascual Marquez family cemetery, that is now being preserved, is located.
In addition to preserving the cultural heritage of the 1770s-1880s Californianos society, and especially the families of Francisco Marquez and Ysidro Reyes, the grantees of this Rancho, La Senora's programs also explore the early 1900s residents of the Rancho lands and the colorful histories of the old Hollywood residents of the José Mojica Hacienda from the 1920s-1950s.
http://lasenora.org/AboutUs.asp
