Water & the Aqueduct

The deal that built the city and emptied a valley: William Mulholland, the Los Angeles Aqueduct, and the Owens Valley "water wars" that let a desert town become a metropolis.

Part of Los Angeles

9 moments in this segment.

1. 1887 — AtwaterVillageLosAngelesMinneapolisTract18871128. Los Angeles, 1887. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
2. 1908 — Construction of the San Pedro government breakwater from shore. Los Angeles, 1908. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
3. 1908 — Development and electrical distribution of water power. Los Angeles, 1908. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
4. 1913 — Opening of the Los Angeles Aqueduct (1913, silent film). The actual silent newsreel of Mulholland opening the aqueduct: "There it is. Take it."
5. 1913 — LA Aqueduct Opening2. Los Angeles, 1913. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
6. 1975 — GARAGE SALE SIGN ATTACHED TO A TREE OFF MULHOLLAND DRIVE IN THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS D…. Los Angeles, 1975. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
7. 2007-05-20 — Mulholland builds the aqueduct (archival). Archival film of the aqueduct project.
8. 2013-11-20 — The aqueduct opens — Mulholland speaks (1913). "There it is. Take it." — the actual opening-day footage.
9. 2026-06-15 — Building the Los Angeles Aqueduct, 1907–1913 (film). Construction footage of the aqueduct across the desert.