Endeavour's Parade Route - Details & Tips

Space Shuttle Endeavour is making its final voyage to the California Science Center from LAX this week. As many of you know, parade plans are in shambles and city officials are well on their way to turning an event that could be a highlight in Los Angeles and space shuttle history into an unmitigated public relations disaster. Nonetheless, many thousands of Angelenos will go shuttle watching this weekend. I will do all I can to help Angelenos and visitors celebrate Endeavour along her route.

Here is a detailed map of the route and major stops along the way.

On SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, celebrations are planned at the following locations:

- 9 a.m, Forum parking lot in Inglewood

- 2 p.m., Martin Luther King and Crenshaw at Crenshaw Plaza

- 8:30 p.m., Bill Robertson Lane at Exposition Park

The third stop at Exposition Park is the final stop at the California Science Center. I visited CSC last week and spoke to the staff about the venue. The museum will be open and it's free to get in. They are opening up all parking lots that they have, but they couldn't estimate the number of people that will attend so parking could still be an issue. Remember that the California Science Center is located on the newly opened Expo light rail line. Take the blue line or red line to 7th/Metro and catch the Expo line to Expo/USC station. The CSC entrance is located across from USC through the rose garden. If you see the fountain, you know you're in the right place. Click here for Expo line info and time table.

The other two locations, at the Forum and Crenshaw Plaza are the only two locations where city officials are currently "allowing" the public to see the shuttle. The Forum is a venue with 14,000 parking spaces. Whether that is enough is anyone's guess. Given this event is happening on a Saturday, I very much doubt it. 


The second location at Crenshaw Plaza mall will feature a celebration choreographed by Debbie Allen. The bad news is that the venue accommodates only 3,000 people. 


I will personally scout the route and post more details this week. In particular, I will look for businesses along the route that plan on welcoming shuttle watchers, such as the iconic Randy's Donuts on Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/endeavour-randys-donuts-bills-itself-as-shuttle-crossing.html

Here is a detailed itinerary of Endeavour’s trip from LAX to its permanent new home at the California Science Center:


— Leave United Hangar at LAX
THURSDAY, OCT. 11, 11:30 p.m.

— United Hangar to Twy E17
12:30 a.m. (Friday, Oct. 12)



FRIDAY, OCT. 12

— Service Road to LAX Gate S1A
2:00 a.m.

— Northside Pkwy. to Lincoln Blvd.
2:30 a.m.

— S. McConnell Ave. to La Tijera Blvd.
3:30 a.m.

— La Tijera Blvd. to Drollinger Parking Lot.
4:15 a.m.

Switch Transporters from Narrow Configuration to Wide Configuration Exit Drollinger Parking Lot at 1:30 p.m.

— Sepulveda Eastway to Manchester Blvd.
2:00 p.m.

— Manchester Blvd. to Osage Ave.
2:45 p.m.

— Osage Ave. to S. Glasgow Ave.
3:15 p.m.

— S. Glasgow Ave to La Cienega Blvd.
4:15 p.m.

Set Orbiter to Dollies from 4:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Cross Manchester Bridge from 10:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.

Set Forward End of Orbiter to SPMT’s from 10:15 p.m. to 11:55 p.m.

Set Aft End of Orbiter to SPMT’s from 12:05 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.



SATURDAY, OCT. 13

— S. Ash Ave. to Inglewood Ave.
1:30 a.m.

— Grevillea Ave. to East Hillcrest Blvd.
8:00 a.m.

— East Hillcrest Blvd. to South Prairie Ave.
9:00 a.m.

— South Prairie Ave. to Crenshaw Dr.
10:00 a.m.

— Crenshaw Dr. to Crenshaw Blvd.
11:00 a.m.

— Crenshaw Blvd. to W. 79th St.
11:30 a.m.

— W. 79th St. to West Florence Ave.
2:00 p.m.

— W. Florence Ave. to W. Slauson Ave.
12:45 p.m.

— W. Slauson Ave. to W. Vernon Ave.
1:30 p.m.

— W. Vernon Ave. to MLK
2:00 p.m.

Switch Transporters from Wide Configuration to Narrow Configuration from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

— MLK to Olmsted Ave.
5:00 p.m.

— Olmsted Ave. to 4th Ave.
5:45 p.m.

— 4th Ave. to Western Ave.
7:15 p.m.

— Western Ave. to S. Normandie Ave.
8:00 p.m.

— S. Normandie Ave. to Bill Robertson Ln.
8:30 p.m.

— Bill Robertson Ln. to California Science Center Pavilion Ramp
9:00 p.m.