La Placita Church, Los Angeles

The Church of Our Lady Queen of the Angels, commonly known as La Placita, is a historic Catholic church in Los Angeles. It is situated on the historic Plaza de Los Ángeles near Downtown Los Angeles. This church is part of the larger El Pueblo de los Ángeles Historical Monument and has a significant historical background dating back to 1784. It was originally established to support the nearby Mission San Gabriel Arcángel.

However, by 1814, the asistencia (sub-station mission) had been abandoned, and a new church was established in its place. This church is now one of the oldest buildings in Los Angeles.

The Church of Our Lady Queen of the Angels was founded on August 18, 1814, by Franciscan Fray Luis Gil y Taboada. He laid the cornerstone for the new church within the adobe ruins of the original mission, which had served the original settlers of Los Angeles, known as Los Angeles Pobladores, for thirty years. The completed new structure was officially dedicated on December 8, 1822.

In 1861, a replacement chapel named "The Church of Our Lady of the Angels" was constructed using materials from the original church. Later, the title "Reina," which means "Queen," was added to its name. This chapel, often referred to as "La Placita" or "Plaza Church," served as the primary Roman Catholic church in Los Angeles for many years.