Tag Archives: Venice Beach
Saint Mark’s Hotel on Windward Ave, Venice Beach, California, circa 1906
In 1905, a tobacco heir opened what he called “Venice of America” but came to be known as “Coney Island of the Pacific,” which we now refer to as Venice. The development never quite reached the lofty plans that Abbott … Continue reading
A gondolier glides across the lagoon at the end of the Grand Canal in Venice of America, Los Angeles, 1912
When I look at this photo, I can almost hear the gondolier singing “La Donna È Mobile.” I doubt any of the gondoliers who plied their trade along the Grand Canal in what was then “Venice of America” but we … Continue reading
Hotel St. Mark, Windward Avenue, Venice, California, circa 1912
Most photos of Venice Beach taken early in its life (the development opened in 1905) are kind of grainy, so a crisp shot like this one is a rare find. We can see Hotel St. Mark where Windward Avenue terminates … Continue reading
The walkway along Venice Beach, California, 1926
The pedestrians perambulating along the Venice Beach walkway in this 1926 photo are fairly heavily dressed, so I’m guessing it wasn’t the height of summer. Still, I envy them all that elbow room. It seems like every time I go … Continue reading
One of the first generation electric trams that ran from Venice to Santa Monica, Los Angeles circa 1910
Here we have one of the first generation electric trams that ran from Venice to Santa Monica, circa 1910. What fun it would have been to zip along the boardwalk on one of those things. Especially in all that 1910s … Continue reading
Cottages lining a canal in Venice, California
Of all the photos I’ve seen of the canals in Venice, California, I’ve never seen this line of cottages. I don’t know where they were, or how long they lasted, but they stretch right down the canal as far as … Continue reading
Venice Pier with the Ship Café visible on the right
I don’t have a date for this shot of the Venice Pier but it’s probably circa 1910s or 20s. On the right we can see the Ship Café, which opened in 1905 by Baron Long (who went on to develop … Continue reading
Windward Avenue, Venice, California, 1914
This photo of Windward Avenue, Venice, California, was taken in 1914, and gives us a glimpse into what Venice looked like when it was newly opened (“Venice of America” opened on July 4th, 1905) and still close to Abbot Kinney’s … Continue reading
Venice Canals as they appeared in 1922 at what is now Main St., Venice, California
I’m so glad that someone thought to take photos of the canals of Venice when they were at their idyllic height. The canal we’re seeing here is now Main Street but oh, how wonderful it looked! With that bridge, the … Continue reading
Looking north along the Ocean Front Walk on Venice Beach, November 17, 1929
Here we are looking north along the Ocean Front Walk on Venice Beach on November 17, 1929. In the distance, we can see the Santa Monica pier rollercoaster. Today, this same view is jam-packed with a never-ending and crazy kaleidoscope … Continue reading