Downtown & the Skyline

The built city: Broadway and Spring Street, the streetcars, the 1928 City Hall, Old Chinatown and its 1871 massacre, the towers that finally rose downtown.

Part of Los Angeles

82 moments in this segment.

1. 1871 — The Chinese Massacre of 1871. One of the worst mass lynchings in US history — a mob killed at least 18 Chinese residents in Old Chinatown.
2. 1890 — How oil was drilled in 1890. The drilling that made early LA fortunes.
3. 1890 — Downtown Los Angeles, late 19th century. A view of the growing downtown in the late 1800s.
4. 1901 — Downtown Los Angeles (c.1901). William Henry Jackson’s panorama of the business district at the turn of the century.
5. 1903 — The central business district (1903). Downtown LA in 1903, growing fast on oil and citrus money.
6. 1910 — Broadway at night (c.1910). Broadway lit up — the bright commercial spine of early-20th-century downtown.
7. 1920 — Wilshire & Fairfax from the air (1920). Open land where the Miracle Mile would soon rise.
8. 1927 — Building City Hall (1927). The 1928 City Hall under construction — for decades the tallest building in LA.
9. 1928 — Los Angeles City Hall (1928). The completed City Hall, the icon of the interwar city.
10. 1930 — Aerial view of Los Angeles High School 1930s. Los Angeles, 1930. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
11. 1930 — Hollenbeck Park, Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles, 1930. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
12. 1930 — Eddie August Schneider on August 18, 1930 in Los Angeles, California (600 dpi, 100 quali…. Los Angeles, 1930. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
13. 1932 — "Real Hustling" — Los Angeles (British Pathé, 1932). A 1932 British Pathé newsreel of the city.
14. 1933 — Main Street, downtown (1930s). The bustling commercial heart of Depression-era downtown.
15. 1933 — The Union Stock Yards (1933). The industrial LA that fed the growing city.
16. 1933 — Frank L. Shaw decides between a bowler hat and a straw hat. Los Angeles, 1933. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
17. 1934 — Wrigley Field Los Angeles. Los Angeles, 1934. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
18. 1935 — Photos 10307 large HE box 4995-W.P.A. HE-001-947 4x5 Herald Examiner LAPL 00028113. Los Angeles, 1935. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
19. 1935 — Barton-sewell-ucla-library. Los Angeles, 1935. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
20. 1936 — 1930s Los Angeles at night — neon & movie theatres (home movie). A 1930s home movie of downtown neon, from the PeriscopeFilm archive.
21. 1936 — Untitled - Large Letters. Los Angeles, 1936. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
22. 1936 — Woodystrode collage. Los Angeles, 1936. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
23. 1937 — 1930s Binney family home movies, Los Angeles. Everyday LA life on home-movie film, 1930s.
24. 1937 — Frank L. Shaw at the Los Angeles County Grand Jury. Los Angeles, 1937. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
25. 1940 — TerminalIslandDrillingProduction1940s. Los Angeles, 1940. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
26. 1940 — Paris Inn Cafe souvenir postcard. Los Angeles, 1940. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
27. 1941 — Los Angeles Stock Exchange 1941 WPA American Guide. Los Angeles, 1941. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
28. 1941 — FWP American Guide Series city 1941 California Los Angeles a guide to the city and its e…. Los Angeles, 1941. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
29. 1941 — Alexander Kahn. Los Angeles, 1941. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
30. 1941 — from FWP's American Guide Los Angeles a guide to the city and its environs 17. Los Angeles, 1941. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
31. 1944 — Snow at First & Spring (1944). A rare snowfall dusts the streets below City Hall.
32. 1946 — Rodger Young Village 2. Los Angeles, 1946. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
33. 1946 — Los Angeles in 1946. The postwar city.
34. 1948 — Los Angeles, late 1940s (Huntley Film Archives). Genuine late-1940s street film of the city.
35. 1948 — Morris Nagel Versatogs and Adele California buildings ca1948. Los Angeles, 1948. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
36. 1950 — Meyercard. Los Angeles, 1950. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
37. 1950 — The sprawling lights of LA from Mount Lowe (c.1950). The horizontal city at night, seen from the San Gabriels.
38. 1952 — Cliffie stone circa 1952. Los Angeles, 1952. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
39. 1953 — National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Human Rights Banquet Honoring…. Los Angeles, 1953. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
40. 1953 — The Farmers Market (1953). The Third & Fairfax market, an LA institution.
41. 1956 — Uclalat 1429 b257 95950CK-1 Know Your City No.66 Walkway and steel girder of the 6th Str…. Los Angeles, 1956. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
42. 1956 — Broadway theatre district at night (1950s). The neon marquees of downtown’s movie palaces.
43. 1959 — Chávez Ravine forcible eviction. Los Angeles, 1959. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
44. 1960 — Roslyn Chasan as Nurse at Torrance Medical Practice. Los Angeles, 1960. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
45. 1962 — Bunker Hill razed around Angels Flight (1962). Urban renewal demolishes Victorian Bunker Hill around the funicular.
46. 1963 — CA 1 I10 FHWA 63 1239. Los Angeles, 1963. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
47. 1963 — Wich Stand 60s menu inside. Los Angeles, 1963. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
48. 1963 — Wich Stand 60s menu outside. Los Angeles, 1963. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
49. 1965 — The Miracle Mile (1960s). Wilshire’s Miracle Mile, the linear downtown built for the car.
50. 1965 — KFAC Gas Company Evening Concert 25th Birthday advert. Los Angeles, 1965. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
51. 1970 — Roslyn Chasan Practicing Law. Los Angeles, 1970. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
52. 1971 — Center for Southwest Research University of New Mexico - Underground Newspaper Collectio…. Los Angeles, 1971. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
53. 1972 — LOW-HANGING SMOG - NARA - 542683. Los Angeles, 1972. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
54. 1972 — SMOG, SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS - NARA - 542676. Los Angeles, 1972. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
55. 1972 — MT. WILSON OBSERVATORY - NARA - 542677. Los Angeles, 1972. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
56. 1974 — Jack Albertson on the set of "Chico and the Man". Los Angeles, 1974. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
57. 1975 — GRAFFITI DEFACES ROCKS IN THE MALIBU CANYON AREA NEAR MALIBU, CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS LOCAT…. Los Angeles, 1975. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
58. 1975 — LEO CARRILLO STATE PARK ON HIGHWAY ^1 NEAR MALIBU CALIFORNIA WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE NOR…. Los Angeles, 1975. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
59. 1977 — Chicken Boy on Broadway L,A. 1977. Los Angeles, 1977. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
60. 1979 — Groundlings1979. Los Angeles, 1979. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
61. 1982 — The Chasan Villa - Top View. Los Angeles, 1982. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
62. 1984 — Los Angeles 1984 - Cristieana Cojocaru. Los Angeles, 1984. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
63. 1984 — Los Angeles 1984 - Anisoara Cusmir. Los Angeles, 1984. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
64. 1984 — Los Angeles 1984 - Pe cea mai inalta treapta a podiumului cu echipa Romaniei. Los Angeles, 1984. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
65. 1984 — Barca României, Los Angeles 1984 4+1 vâsle feminin. Los Angeles, 1984. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
66. 1984 — Los Angeles 1984 - Echipa de haltere a Romaniei. Los Angeles, 1984. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
67. 1984 — Los Angeles 1984 - Lotul olimpic de canotaj. Los Angeles, 1984. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
68. 1984 — Los Angeles 1984 - Medaliatii olimpici, la sosirea pe Aeroportul Otopeni. Los Angeles, 1984. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
69. 2005 — Behr-0020 close crop east side. Los Angeles, 2005. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
70. 2005 — Behr-0020 closest crop midblock. Los Angeles, 2005. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
71. 2005 — Behr-0020 crop east side. Los Angeles, 2005. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
72. 2006 — FarEastCafe-LittleTokyo. Los Angeles, 2006. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
73. 2006 — Chavez Ravine. Los Angeles, 2006. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
74. 2007 — Pete rose at bat. Los Angeles, 2007. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
75. 2007 — census Turpin.gif. Los Angeles, 2007. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
76. 2007 — Rose walking onto field. Los Angeles, 2007. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
77. 2007 — census Moisant.gif. Los Angeles, 2007. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
78. 2008 — USC Community House. Los Angeles, 2008. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
79. 2008 — Garnier Building (Los Angeles). Los Angeles, 2008. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
80. 2010 — BroadwayTunnel L.A. Los Angeles, 2010. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
81. 2011 — * - View showing the St. Charles Hotel, originally the Bella Union Hotel. To the left (n…. Los Angeles, 2011. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
82. 2011 — Air View, Famous Signal Hill, Signal Hill, Calif. Los Angeles, 2011. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.