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Vintage Museum Piece Pinback Pin 1897 Antique La Fiesta de Los Angeles Button
This artifact is an original celluloid pinback button from the 1897 rendition of La Fiesta de Los Angeles.
Context & Historical Background
• What it Was: First launched on April 10, 1894, La Fiesta de Los Angeles was a multi-day civic festival and carnival designed by local business leaders to attract tourism and boost morale following the economic depression of 1893.
• The 1897 Event: This specific button commemorates the festival held from April 20–24, 1897. The event featured a grand masquerade theme, costume balls, athletic events, and massive parades through downtown Los Angeles with heavily decorated floats.
• Design Details: The button illustrates a smiling, masked carnival reveler with flowing dark hair. Masked participants were central to the festival's street celebration and costume balls.
• Manufacturing Trivia: This piece was produced by the prominent Whitehead & Hoag Co., featuring a patented unlocking pin design popular in the late 19th century
