What Los Angeles looked like in the 1920s Through Fascinating Historical Photos

Woodrow Wilson Road, junction with Cahuenga Boulevard from Mulholland Highway. Mulholland Highway later became Mulholland Drive.

The main span of the completed Macy Street viaduct. This river bridge is part of a group of 12 river bridges notable for their role in the transportation history of Los Angeles and their association with Chief Engineer Merrill Butler, one of the most renowned bridge designers of the period.

Paving of the road from the south approach Riverside Drive on the Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct. Cars and people were walking on the paved road. Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct and Bridge is 56 feet wide, 1,340 feet long, and has thirteen concrete arches. As a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument since 1976, it was designed by Merrill Butler. He was the city's chief bridge engineer in the 1920s and was responsible for constructing most of the city's historic bridges.

Viaduct over Seventh Street. A total of 12 river bridges were built between 1923 and 1928, most of which are significant because of their role in the transportation history of Los Angeles and their association with Chief Engineer Merrill Butler, a prominent bridge designer of the era. In 2008, it was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

Handrail on the Macy Street Viaduct. In Los Angeles, the Macy Street viaduct (bridge) is part of a group of 12 river bridges associated with Chief Engineer Merrill Butler, a prominent bridge designer of the era, most of which were built between 1923 1928. In 1979, it was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

Built in 1909 to replace the first permanent river bridge built in Los Angeles in 1870, it was poor by 1895. It originally carried Old Aliso Road, a segment of El Camino Real later known as Macy Street and now named Cesar Chavez Avenue. In July 1904, the bridge was finally demolished and replaced with the Macy Street viaduct in 1928. In addition to the Macy Street viaduct, 12 river bridges are noteworthy for their role in Los Angeles' transportation history and their association with Chief Engineer Merrill Butler, a major bridge designer of the era, most memorable of which were built between 1923 and 1928.

Looking north across Silver Lake from West Silver Lake Drive. In 1925, real estate developers George W. Dickinson and Company built a new housing project along the west shore of Silver Lake and named it West Silver Lake Drive. The "Moreno Highlands Lake Front homes" were completed between 1926 and 1927. The engineers working on the streets, curbs, and sewers called it "Redesdale," a street in the hills northwest of Silver Lake.

View of West Silverlake Drive from near the Silver Lake Dam. George W. Dickinson and Company developed a new housing project along the west shore of Silver Lake in 1925 that gave rise to West Silver Lake Drive. "Moreno Highlands Lake Front homes" were completed in 1926-1927. Engineers working on streets, curbs, and sewers referred to Redesdale Drive as a street in the hills northwest of Silver Lake.

Arroyo Seco bank protection below Avenue 43 Bridge, looking north from the top of the bank.

Echo Park Avenue, sandbag protection at Duane Street. Madeline Drugs is on the corner.

Located on the south side of East Fourth Street near the corner of Mateo Street. Finkelstein Foundry Supply Company, Western Wholesale Plumbing Supply Company.

Looking east from the site of the bridge across the Los Angeles River from the Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct crossing at Waverly Drive. The Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct and Bridge is 56 feet wide, 1,340 feet long, and has thirteen concrete arches. It was designed by Merrill Butler, the city's chief bridge engineer during the 1920s, and was responsible for most of its historic bridges.

View of Pico Street Viaduct at San Vicente Boulevard from the southern side looking towards Los Angeles.

The Malibu Road Bridge Number 2, located in Rancho Malibu, is owned by May K. Rindge. The Southern Pacific Railroad applied to the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1904 for permission to build tracks connecting the Long Wharf in Santa Monica with their northern lines at Santa Barbara. A straight line was proposed through the Malibu ranch. To keep the giant railroad company from coming through Rancho Malibu, the Rindges built a private railroad through Rancho Malibu because there was a loophole in ICC law preventing condemnation of the right-of-way parallel an already existing railroad. Rindge made 15 miles of standard gauge railroad called the Hueneme, Malibu, and Port Los Angeles Railway in 1908 that remained in use until the 1920s, mainly used to ship grains and hides from the ranches via the Malibu Pier. The line ran from Las Flores Canyon to Yerba Buena Canyon in Ventura County, using the flat sand along the coast and crossing canyons with immense trestle bridges.

Malibu Road Bridge Number 2, bridge and county road, looking west. Southern Pacific Railroad applied to the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1904 to build tracks linking Long Wharf in Santa Monica with their northern tracks at Santa Barbara. Through the Malibu, the ranch was proposed a straight-line connection. Because of a loophole in the ICC law, the Rindges decided to build a private railroad through Rancho Malibu to keep the larger railroad company at bay. May Rindge built 15 miles of standard gauge track called the Hueneme, Malibu, and Port Los Angeles Railway in 1908, which remained in service until the 1920s, mainly to ship grains and hides from ranch operations via the Malibu Pier. The line ran from Las Flores Canyon to a point near Yerba Buena Canyon in Ventura County, using flat, sandy land along the coast and traversing canyons with enormous trestle bridges.

Los Angeles County condemned Rindge's right-of-way and began building a road in 1919. Mrs. Rindge continued to fight in court and resist survey and construction work, but that only delayed the road. On November 3, 1921, the County Road through Malibu Ranch was finally opened to the public despite May Rindge's objections.

Mrs. Rindge lost her case in the United States Supreme Court on June 11, 1923, and a road easement was granted to the State of California through the Malibu Ranch. In some places, the state highway right-of-way followed the County Road. In others, it was constructed parallel to it. By 1925, the Superior Court awarded the State title to the right-of-way through the Malibu Ranch, and the final condemnation was issued two years later. Pacific Coast Highway, originally named Roosevelt Highway and renamed in 1969, opened to the public in June 1929 between Santa Monica and Oxnard, 22 years after the first court action.

Peat fires began July 1923 from a peat bog under an old river as a relatively small, smoldering fire that initially covered two acres and eventually covered fifteen acres. As a result, fires continued to erupt until four years later when City Engineer Shaw diverted Centinela Creek into an eight-foot-wide by the two-foot deep channel through the peat bogs. A worker jets water at the active fires on the west side of a peat fire above the flood water pond.

There is a long-burning peat fire in Baldwin Hills, looking south from a point outside the frame about 100 feet east of the corner, at the end of Exposition Boulevard and south of Airline Railway. This fire began in July 1923 from a peat bog under an old river. A relatively small smoldering fire eventually spread to fifteen acres, causing widespread smoke and foul odors throughout the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles. The city was unable to put out the fires until City Engineer Shaw, in November 1927, diverted Centinela Creek into an eight-foot-wide by the two-foot-deep channel through the peat bog beds.

Taking a look west from a tower on the east end of the Seventh Street Bridge. The bridge is part of a group of 12 river bridges significant for their contribution to Los Angeles' transportation history and their association with Chief Engineer Merrill Butler, a bridge designer of the time, built between 1923 and 1928. In 2008, it was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

In addition to the Verdugo Road and Glassell Avenue storm drains, construction is underway near the Glendale outfall sewer on Newell Street. Glendale joined Los Angeles' sewer system in 1923.

A peat fire that began July 1923 under an old river began as a relatively small smoldering fire that covered two acres and eventually spread to fifteen acres. After numerous fires erupted, City Engineer Shaw diverted Centinela Creek into an eight-foot-wide, two-foot deep channel through the peat bog beds. Photographed south of Airline Railway, near the end of Jefferson Boulevard, looking east up the temporary flood channel, boys walking along with it. In the background, oil wells in Baldwin Hills.

It began as a relatively small smoldering blaze that covered two acres but eventually spread to fifteen acres from a peat bog under an old river in July 1923. In 1928, city officials were unable to put out the ensuing fires until City Engineer Shaw dug a channel through the peat bog beds eight feet wide and two feet deep.

Three boys cross a temporary bridge across the Centinela Creek channel due to a peat fire that began July 1923 from a peat bog under an old river and started as a relatively small smoldering fire that covered two acres and eventually covered fifteen acres. Until City Engineer Shaw diverted Centinela Creek into an eight-foot-wide by the two-foot deep channel through the peat bogs, city officials could not extinguish the many fires.

Asphaltic concrete paving around the east end of the Seventh Street Bridge, looking northeast. One of 12 river bridges associated with Chief Engineer Merrill Butler, a prominent bridge designer of the time, most of which were built between 1923 and 1928, this bridge plays an essential role in the transport history of Los Angeles.

Additional construction on the North Outfall Sewer. Sets and heading for 3'6" precast pipe drain at Lakeside Country Club, adjacent to Toluca Lake. With 55 miles, the North Outfall sewer is the most extended in the United States. It originates in Canoga Park, near the Los Angeles River, and resembles a snake that grows as it becomes more prominent, winding its way along with the Los Angeles After running alongside the river to downtown Los Angeles. Then past Exposition Park and the Playa del Rey hills, the channel crosses under Pershing Drive to Vista Del Mar Boulevard before emptying into the ocean-fronting Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Construction of the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant. The new sewage screening plant, completed in 1950, replaced an aging plant built in 1924—a view looking south at the transformer substation and pump house. The construction pier is in the background, and the Standard Oil Refinery pier is south. West of construction is the Pacific Ocean, and east is El Segundo.

Atkinson-Spicer Company Contractors construction sign for the Macy Street Viaduct and Bridge. Among a group of 12 river bridges, Macy Street is notable for its role in the transport history of Los Angeles and its association with Chief Engineer Merrill Butler, a prominent bridge designer at the time. Macy Street provided an unimpeded crossing at high water for northern and eastern sections of the rapidly developing city to access the city.

Bel Air Bridge, near St. Pierre Road and Beverly Glen Boulevard.

Avenue 60, Old Bridge, another view.

Franklin Avenue bridge, the site at the beginning of construction, November 11, 1925

Construction under Universal City Bridge for Carl Laemmle's Universal City Pictures on the former Taylor Ranch in Lankershim Township.

Sunset Boulevard Road Cut at Delfern Drive. It May have been preparatory work for roads to the new UCLA campus opened in 1929.

San Fernando Bridge over Big Tujunga Wash (San Fernando Road) with a view from the south end on the west side.

Wilshire Boulevard to Veteran Avenue, finishers doing final work after spreaders have moved.

East Fourth Street viaduct (old), general view of river spans of highway structure from upstream on westerly bank

Arroyo De La Sacatela storm drain, which passes through a tunnel. In the early 20th century, Sacatela Creek was a perennial stream in the Franklin Hills and joined Ballona Creek in Koreatown/Mid-City, between Westchester and Country Club Drive. Near today's Beverly Boulevard and Madison Avenue, a seasonal stream flowed into Sacatela Creek from the Silver Lake Reservoir area. In 1929, the storm drain was built in the stream's path, and the creek was filled.

Riverside Drive and Dayton Avenue Viaduct, inspectors, contractors, and employees. It replaced the earlier Dayton Avenue Bridge built-in 1903. Riverside Drive-Dayton Avenue Bridge, alternately known as Riverside Drive-Figueroa Bridge, was renamed when Dayton Avenue was renamed North Figueroa to continue the original Figueroa Street. In 2008, the bridge was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

Subgrade of Sunset Boulevard, 400 feet west of Groverton Place, unpaved road. It May have been preparatory work for roads to the new UCLA campus opened in 1929.

Trucks dumping concrete from the central mixing plant and crew spreading concrete from trucks on Wilshire Boulevard to Veteran Avenue.

Wilshire Boulevard to Veteran Avenue, crew spreading concrete from the central mixing plant. Houses on the hill east of Veteran.

Woodrow Wilson Road, looking north from Loyal Terrace with Pacific View.

The Arroyo de la Sacatela storm drain is seen from Effie Street at Silverlake's west end. Sacatela Creek (also called Bimini Slough) and Bimini Hot Springs, a perennial stream from Franklin Hills, joined Ballona Creek in Koreatown/Mid-City between Wilton, Westchester and Country Club Drive formed the storm drain. The creek was filled after the storm drain was completed. A photograph shows a ditch with vertical dirt walls on both sides and wooden poles and planks in the left foreground. Each side of the ditch has piles of dirt. You can see telephone poles in the right background, while houses can be seen on both sides of the ditch. Two men are working on the storm drain.

Looking east across Mateo Street from the roof of the Motor Freight Terminal building at the Fourth Street Viaduct.

General view of the river spans of Old East Fourth Street viaduct, railway trusses downstream on the west bank.

Pacific View Drive, looking west from Viso Drive, retaining wall near the junction with Woodrow Wilson Road.

Fourth Street viaduct, general view looking easterly from the roof at Fourth and Mateo Streets.

Old East Fourth Street viaduct, railroad trusses over tracks west of the river.

Woodrow Wilson Road, junction with Cahuenga Boulevard from Mulholland Highway. Mulholland Highway later became Mulholland Drive.

First Street Viaduct, view of river spans looking upstream from the west bank at track level.

Wilshire Boulevard to Veteran Avenue, crew spreading concrete from trucks.

Aldama Street and northeast of Avenue 50, uneven gutter in front of houses numbered 5039 and 5041.

Old East Fourth Street viaduct, southeast from the window of railroad building.

Looking west from Maxwell House Coffee Company's roof corner at Fourth and Mateo Streets, showing Fourth Street widened and Fourth Place and surroundings.

Wilshire Boulevard to Veteran Avenue, crew spreading concrete from the central mixing plant. Houses on the hill east of Veteran.

At Third Street and New Hampshire Avenue, an automobile falls into a cut in the street grade, and a streetcar is halted west of the wrecked vehicle. Another man stands by the car, hands folded, hat firmly placed on his head, while the driver sits in the car.

Cahuenga Boulevard's sanitary sewer construction is looking southeast. Automobiles, trucks.

Verdugo and Glassell Avenue storm drain placing steel for reinforcement of twenty-four-inch cast iron sewer pipe.

View of Pico Street Viaduct at San Vicente Boulevard from the southern side looking towards Los Angeles.

Verdugo Road and Glassell Avenue storm drain placed the concrete base on the boxing section, looking at 300 feet, with the increased concrete flow to the box section.

Lankershim Boulevard was surfacing and grading at Cahuenga near Universal City, looking easterly.

Laurel Canyon storm drain on La Brea Avenue south of Hollywood Boulevard. Dempsey Sharkey fight at Olympic Stadium placard, manual workers, ditch.

West Approach to original East First Street Viaduct. Bench, railroad station, Santa Fe, and Union Pacific tracks. The original steel bridge built in 1889 would be replaced in 1928 by a new arch concrete bridge designed by engineer Merrill Butler.

During construction of the Hyperion-Glendale Bridge, looking east towards Riverside Drive. The Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct is 56 feet wide, 1,340 feet long, and has thirteen concrete arches. Listed as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1976, the bridge was designed by Merrill Butler. He was the city's chief bridge engineer during the 1920s and built most of the city's historic bridges.

Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct seen from the end of Waverly Avenue Bridge. A Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument since 1976, the bridge was designed by Merrill Butler. He served as the city's chief bridge engineer in the 1920s and built most of the city's historic bridges still standing. The Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct and Bridge is 56 feet wide and 1,340 feet long. It was completed in 1928, and it has thirteen concrete arches.

Cahuenga Boulevard, end of construction of storm drain, looking easterly.

Verdugo Road and Glassell Avenue storm drain. Curing base of boxing section along Los Angeles Railway tracks.

Looking across the easterly flood water pond showing the mass of peat left by washes due to floodwaters from Centinela Creek diverted to the bog by the city engineer.

Excavation of Arroyo Seco below Avenue 52 from the west bank.

Viaduct and bridge over Dayton Avenue. View of the Main span from the downstream point in the stream bed. The concrete bridge replaced the earlier 1903 Dayton Avenue Bridge. Later, the bridge was renamed Riverside Drive-Dayton Avenue Bridge, or Riverside Drive-Figueroa Bridge, when Dayton Avenue became North Figueroa as a continuation of original Figueroa Street.

Redesdale Avenue looking northeast over Silver Lake

Los Angeles Railway tracks supported I beam to remove old culverts, looking southerly toward San Fernando Road.

Looking downstream from the old North Spring Street Bridge called Downey Avenue Viaduct initially. A photo taken during construction of the New Spring Street bridge shows the Downey Avenue bridge built shortly after the Macy Street bridge. Downey Avenue is presently a portion of North Broadway east of the Los Angeles River.