Yettem: A Garden of Eden in Armenian California
How do you preserve the heritage of a place you have to leave? Find out from Ani Mnatsakanyan, who just completed her master’s thesis on the Central Valley town of Yettem. Armenian for “Garden of Eden,” Yettem is a tiny town with a huge impact. Learn how it came to be, how it helped Armenians rebuild their lives after fleeing genocide, and how heritage can both reflect and transcend the physical environment.
All roads lead to Yettem.
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Ani Mnatsakanyan is a recent graduate of USC’s Master of Heritage Conservation program. She was raised in Hollywood’s Little Armenia neighborhood. She is interested in diasporan heritage, intangible heritage, and conserving community identities after experiences of cultural trauma. |
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Trudi Sandmeier is the Director of Heritage Conservation Programs at the USC School of Architecture and co-host of the podcast. |
Want to know more about some of the ideas and places mentioned in this episode? Check out:
[Thesis] Reconstructing Eden: The Armenian Community of Yettem, CA
USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies
Armenian American Museum (Glendale, CA)
