The Angelenos seen here riding Pacific Electric’s streetcar #149 look as though they’re out for Sunday excursion. The year was 1916 and they’re about to leave Santa Monica for a trip to the Long Wharf which, when it opened in 1894 at approximately 4,700 feet, was the longest wharf in the world. We can see two signs in the background. One of them we’re familiar with – Budweiser – the other one is a sign of the times we no longer see: horse stables.

And here was their destination that day: the aptly named Long Wharf. (It was just a little bit north of Santa Monica Canyon stretching out from what we know of today as Pacific Coast Highway.)