The original inhabitants of the area were the indigenous
Tongva people (after 1771 referred to by the Spanish missionaries as "Gabrieleño" because they were in the jurisdiction of
Mission San Gabriel). The first Europeans to visit the area were members of the
Portola expedition of 1769. The expedition sought to follow the coastline, but were stopped by the coastal cliffs of the Santa Monica Mountains. The next day they turned around and went inland, finding a way north through
Sepulveda Canyon. Under Mexican rule, the land between
Topanga Canyon and present day Santa Monica was in the
Rancho Boca de Santa Monica. It was used for grazing and firewood by the prominent Marquez,
Reyes, and Sepúlveda families. During the latter 19th-century, the canyon was known as a camping area and rustic retreat near the beach hotels and resorts of nearby Santa Monica.
Abbot Kinney, the developer known for founding the nearby community of
Venice Beach to the south, established an
experimental forestry station and planted
eucalyptus trees in the lower canyon, which still remain. In the late 19th century, the mouth of the canyon was considered as a site for the
Port of Los Angeles, however
San Pedro Bay was used.
Uplifters During the early 20th century, the Uplifters, an offshoot of the prominent
Los Angeles Athletic Club, established a social club and ranch in Rustic Canyon and built many ranch and cabin style houses as second homes for weekend and annual retreats. The Uplifters later developed a relationship with
Will Rogers, whose ranch and estate lay on the other (north) side of Sunset Boulevard, and built a polo field in the canyon. During the
Prohibition era, the Uplifters was known as a high-class drinking club, of which many prominent local politicians and wealthy residents of the city were members. The relative isolation of the area provided an ideal retreat for the wealthy and powerful members of the club, who lived primarily in the upscale areas (of the time) near downtown and in
Pasadena to indulge their appetites without undue notice. A sign reading "Uplifters Ranch" hangs over Latimer Road near the former Uplifters clubhouse, which was designed by the architect
William J. Dodd. Following the Depression the club began to sell off its land in the area, and disbanded in 1947. The clubhouse and adjacent recreational elements, including a swimming pool, baseball diamond, and tennis courts, were donated to the city in the early 1950s. They are now within the Rustic Canyon Recreation Center city park. ==Police service==