I’ve seen lots of photos of the famous Angels Flight funicular at Hill and Third streets, downtown Los Angeles, but I don’t recall seeing one before with an observation tower. This photo was taken in 1907, which means there wouldn’t have been any skyscrapers so the view would have been pretty great – even better than the view from the front rooms at the Hill Crest Inn. As there don’t seem to be many photos of it, I’m guessing it wasn’t around for very long.
UPDATE: The observation tower came down some time in the 1960s.
Here is the view from the top of the hill with the observation deck in front:
Although Court Flight had an observation tower, this is definitely Angels Flight. In 1907 the Crocker mansion is still in place just south of the upper end of the railway. It was replaced by the Elks Lodge a year later. The cars, Olivet and Sinai, were still painted white here. They wouldn’t acquire their familiar orange and black until a couple of years later when, under the auspices of the Elks, the familiar upper station house and the lower arch were added. The observation tower actually lasted for several decades, and had a grand view of downtown. Court Flight was located between between First Street and Temple. It ran between Broadway and the end of Court Street near the bit of Hill Street above the Hill Street tunnel, the present site of Grand Park. I lived on Bunker Hill in the 1940’s and 50’s. I could go on (and on).
Thanks, Gordon. You clearly know way more about this than I do. I didn’t even stop to consider that color of the cars. Do you know the exact year when the more familiar orange and brown color scheme was adopted?
Did you know (and I’m thinking that you DO!) that the pillars of the lower arch are preserved along Olive St underneath the overpass of the top of Angels Flight and the plaza? They were in storage but when Angels Flight was rebuilt it was determined that they had deteriorated as well as they were not earthquake safe, so they cast new ones.
I’m a little surprised at your comment regarding the tower on Angel’s Flight. As far as I know, I have the largest Angel’s Flight postcard collection anywhere. Nearly every card, starting in 1905, depicts the tower.
The tower only disappears in the cards “recently”, probably some time in the 1960’s.
My goodness Michael! I looked at the other photos I’ve posted of Angels Flight and there’s that tower! Right in plain sight! Somehow I missed it. Thanks for taking the time to point that out.
Do you know which building was the Kate McCoy Stamps building at Hill and Third Streets? It was a three-story brick building built in 1904 by Morgan & Walls. I would like to find an image of it.
I’ve seen lots of photos of the famous Angels Flight funicular at Hill and Third streets, downtown Los Angeles, but I don’t recall seeing one before with an observation tower. This photo was taken in 1907, which means there wouldn’t have been any skyscrapers so the view would have been pretty great – even better than the view from the front rooms at the Hill Crest Inn. As there don’t seem to be many photos of it, I’m guessing it wasn’t around for very long.
This is probably the Court Flight. It lasted into the 1940s.
J
Jim not sure that it is, Jim. I have a picture of Court Flight and it doesn’t look like it was above a major tunnel.
https://martinturnbull.com/2018/11/24/court-flight-funicular-downtown-los-angeles-1904-1943/
Although Court Flight had an observation tower, this is definitely Angels Flight. In 1907 the Crocker mansion is still in place just south of the upper end of the railway. It was replaced by the Elks Lodge a year later. The cars, Olivet and Sinai, were still painted white here. They wouldn’t acquire their familiar orange and black until a couple of years later when, under the auspices of the Elks, the familiar upper station house and the lower arch were added. The observation tower actually lasted for several decades, and had a grand view of downtown. Court Flight was located between between First Street and Temple. It ran between Broadway and the end of Court Street near the bit of Hill Street above the Hill Street tunnel, the present site of Grand Park. I lived on Bunker Hill in the 1940’s and 50’s. I could go on (and on).
Thanks, Gordon. You clearly know way more about this than I do. I didn’t even stop to consider that color of the cars. Do you know the exact year when the more familiar orange and brown color scheme was adopted?
Did you know (and I’m thinking that you DO!) that the pillars of the lower arch are preserved along Olive St underneath the overpass of the top of Angels Flight and the plaza? They were in storage but when Angels Flight was rebuilt it was determined that they had deteriorated as well as they were not earthquake safe, so they cast new ones.
I’m a little surprised at your comment regarding the tower on Angel’s Flight. As far as I know, I have the largest Angel’s Flight postcard collection anywhere. Nearly every card, starting in 1905, depicts the tower.
The tower only disappears in the cards “recently”, probably some time in the 1960’s.
My goodness Michael! I looked at the other photos I’ve posted of Angels Flight and there’s that tower! Right in plain sight! Somehow I missed it. Thanks for taking the time to point that out.
The tower came down before my time. I think it was the 20’s or early 30’s. Any postcards from later than that must have used earlier photos. I am not sure about when the orange and black color scheme happened but it was probably about 1910. Here’s a link to a lot more information about Angels Flight: http://www.historic-structures.com/ca/los_angeles/angels_flight_railway1.php
Here’s one about the tower and the view from the top: https://losangelespast.blogspot.com/2009/08/view-from-top.html
Do you know which building was the Kate McCoy Stamps building at Hill and Third Streets? It was a three-story brick building built in 1904 by Morgan & Walls. I would like to find an image of it.
I don’t know Tamara, but perhaps someone reading this might know.