Washington neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States, above the north-western bank of the Arroyo Seco canyon and stream.

It also had an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic, Spanish colonial, Latino, and Western American art and artifacts.

Charles Fletcher Lummis, an anthropologist, historian, journalist, and photographer, created the Southwest Society, which was the western branch of the Archaeological Institute of America.

He gained the support of city leaders, and with the financial backing of attorney Joseph Scott, opened the Southwest Museum in 1907.

[2] Following years of controversy with the Friends of the Southwest Museum and other local community organizations, the Autry began a partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the City of Los Angeles to develop a long-term plan for the site.

[11][12] In March 2019, the Autry and the National Trust published a Request for Interest for the revitalization and reuse of the historic Southwest Museum campus and Casa de Adobe.