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History of Our International Headquarters Building and Grounds

1855

Colonel Henry Washington surveys the area including the LA River.

Mt. Washington is named after him.

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1914

Mt. Washington Hotel is made available for lease

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ca. 1918

Convalescent hospital for influenza patients operates out of former hotel building

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1919

Mt. Washington cable car railway closes

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1922

Mt. Washington Military School operates out of the former hotel building

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1925
Paramahansa Yogananda Establishes SRF's International Headquarters

After arriving from his native India in 1920 and spending several years teaching in Boston and other East Coast cities, Paramahansa Yogananda came to Los Angeles in December of 1924. Thousands attended his lectures at the Philharmonic Auditorium downtown. In 1925, Yogananda established the International Headquarters of his society, Self-Realization Fellowship, at 3880 San Rafael Avenue in the Mount Washington area of Los Angeles (site of the old Mt. Washington Hotel).

Paramahansa Yogananda on the grounds of the International Headquarters in 1934. Digitally colored image of Paramahansa Yogananda, produced by Self-Realization Fellowship in 2023 from an original black-and-white photo in SRF's archives.

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