Tag Archives: 1800s
Train passengers pose in front of a Santa Fe Railway locomotive in the Arroyo Seco near Pasadena, California, 1888
This photo is a real early one! It was taken in 1888, when a group of around 30 passengers posed in front of Santa Fe Railway locomotive #13. They’re in the Arroyo Seco near Pasadena, which later became also the … Continue reading
Horses and buggies lined up in front of the St. Charles Hotel on the 300 Block of N. Main St, downtown Los Angeles, 1875
This is photo dates all the way back to 1875, and shows horses and buggies lined up in front of the St. Charles Hotel (formally the Bella Union) on the 300 Block of N. Main St in downtown Los Angeles. … Continue reading
Opening of the electric railway from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, April 1, 1896
In this photo we’re lucky enough to have had someone on hand with a camera, which I doubt would’ve have been too common in 1896. This scene shows us the April 1st opening of the electric railway from Los Angeles … Continue reading
Stereoview card image of “Avenue of Palms” south of downtown Los Angeles, circa 1900
This is a turn-of-the-century image taken from a stereoview card of a palm-tree-lined street known as the “Avenue of Palms” which used to exist near the intersection of Adams Blvd and Figueroa St south of downtown Los Angeles and north … Continue reading
The Second Street Cable Railway running up Spring St’s steep incline, Bunker Hill, downtown Los Angeles, 1898
I’m sure Angelenos were glad when the first cable car system opened in Los Angeles. The Second Street Cable Railway started operations in 1885, and ran from 2nd and Spring to 1st and Belmont, a run of around a mile … Continue reading
Open-air cars on the first electric railway along Pico St (later Blvd) in downtown Los Angeles, 1887
I’m glad that someone had a camera on this day back in 1887 when the first electric railway line opened for business on Pico St, in downtown Los Angeles. It wasn’t installed as public transport, but as to assist in … Continue reading
Looking west along Requena St (later Market St) toward North Main St, downtown Los Angeles, circa 1890
Most of the pre-1900 photos I’ve seen of downtown Los Angeles show a bustling metropolis, crowded with pedestrians, streets cars, horses, carts, and the odd dog. But this tranquil scene is quite different. We’re looking west along Requena St (later … Continue reading
One of Los Angeles’s first cable streetcars travels north along Broadway as the photographer faces south from 2nd Street, downtown Los Angeles, 1893
Before Los Angeles’ famous streetcar network became electrified, the city ran cable-driven streetcars much like the ones up in San Francisco. In this 1893 photo, we seeing one of LA’s first cable cars as it runs northward up Broadway at … Continue reading
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Tagged 1800s, Broadway, Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Hall, Streetcars
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Sixth Street Park (later Pershing Square), downtown Los Angeles circa late 1880s
Yesterday I posted a 1951 shot of Pershing Square after it had been dug up in preparation of the multi-level parking structure that was built under it. In researching that photo, I came across this much nicer, much earlier photo. … Continue reading
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Tagged 1800s, Churches, Downtown Los Angeles, Pershing Square
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Fully dressed Angelenos enjoying the sun at Santa Monica Beach and pier, Los Angeles, 1880
I know that the people in this 1880 photo were Victorians with a very strong and rigid sense of propriety, but still, just the idea of spending the day sitting on Santa Monica Beach and strolling along the pier while … Continue reading